2025 Pre-Season Challenge - Trials

[possm]

Interesting to read all the comments re last night
The positives
Couchman’s looked good

Guller an astute buy and will improve

Lawson needs to be in top 30 asap

Holmes very classy and can create things needs our fastest / best winger outside him

Gutho looking to be heavily involved so offloads by forwards now a priority

Cook doing Cook things is a plus

Most of the youngsters showing promise

Defence was better organised and more committed

All of the above needs to be rationalised to the fact that we played a very under strength and inexperienced Roosters side so needs to be repeatable against better opposition.

The negatives
We still played dumb with lots of errors and stupid penalties

Our attack looked clunky and disorganised and is anything but slick

Kicking game still poor and in the 1st 30 minutes you could have easily thought Hunt was still playing.

Hopefully C T can play right wing outside Suli as his lack of speed will not be exposed as he’ll never get a decent pass.

Whilst defence was better organised still an issue with leg drive in 1st contact getting the ball carrier to the ground

Now I know others will say it will take time to form combinations etc but if you look at some of the other trial games there were cobbled together sides that looked far superior to us and with the experience we have added I truly think we should look better.

Hopefully just some nerves etc and the C S will bring it together.

We are short one experienced first-grade prop. If we can't sign Hazelton for whatever reason, we should move Leilua to prop, Suli to left edge forward, move Rava on, and promote Lawson to left center.

Yes, a lot of changes but I feel this would work if we can't sign a prop.

 

[baggygreen man]

Only a trial guys but it got this old codger excited for an improved '25. Loved our new look faster defensive line speed which gave us better field position. Our improved middle and on line defense as well. The new play making combo and new spine is promising but will be a work in progress for a while.

 

[Saints supporter]

* Yes. Definitely got larger as the game progressed.

Yep, certainly warmed into the game as fatigue took its toll on the Roosters big men. We may have been fortunate Collins, Radley and Watson weren't on deck for the Roosters.

 

[Old Timer]

I forgot to put in my post how curios I am as to how they are handling big Luciano

He gets a start despite looking the most unfit of the entire squad.

He shows glimpses of great ability but to be brutally honest they are too few and far between.

After an energetic spurt in attack he often lapses in defence.

A true conundrum that needs to be unwound.

 

[baggygreen man]

We still lack that big unit experienced bookend to replace Molo. We may have to improvise, with say Luch moving to prop. Is Tom Hazleton coming next year or not. Nothing either way in recent dispatches.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

Like others have said, perhaps Luciano needs to be part of the prop rotation. He is never going to be fit enough to play 80 minutes on the edge.

One of the younger fitter Couchmen brothers could possibly play left edge.

 

[Saints supporter]

I forgot to put in my post how curios I am as to how they are handling big Luciano

He gets a start despite looking the most unfit of the entire squad.

He shows glimpses of great ability but to be brutally honest they are too few and far between.

After an energetic spurt in attack he often lapses in defence.

A true conundrum that needs to be unwound.

Yep he's always been the same in my view. I was surprised when they signed him on big money. He can be a game breaker on his day or can lose you a game with lazy defence.

 

[dungay dragon]

Like others have said, perhaps Luciano needs to be part of the prop rotation. He is never going to be fit enough to play 80 minutes on the edge.

One of the younger fitter Couchmen brothers could possibly play left edge.

LL was brought in to be the ball playing back rower , adding some variety esp in attack , and playing on the edges
He is not a Prop , aka same as Couchman
We need to find one and quick , or patch up the Molo drama

 

[Saints Forever]

What is the contract status of Conor M? I thought he was solid in the 2nd half. Also think he is a better option than Glover....
If we get an injury in the halves we are in trouble I reckon. Not much depth there....

LKT is a capable replacement

Glover will be overtaken by Reed by mid season

 

[InFlannoWeTrust]

Few take away from last night . Few have been mentioned.

Think CT & Finau should start on wings. Both energetic players. As much as Lawson did ok, I think the two above are infront .

Illias kicking MUCH better than Hunts. One play we were 40m out and instead of a useless Hunt bomb illias found the corner 10m out.

We’re definitely one forward short! Yes Sele to return though has been injury prone. Would love to sign one more.

Rava needs to go!!

Kade reed better than glover in kicking game & energy.

Guler won’t win us a game or make 200m a game but will take the tough carry’s . Thought he did well .

And how good were Gutho few kick returns. Actually making 30m. Instead of Sloan’s 10m. So we should be on the front foot quite often

 

[Saints Forever]

Interesting to read all the comments re last night
The positives
Couchman’s looked good

Guller an astute buy and will improve

Lawson needs to be in top 30 asap

Holmes very classy and can create things needs our fastest / best winger outside him

Gutho looking to be heavily involved so offloads by forwards now a priority

Cook doing Cook things is a plus

Most of the youngsters showing promise

Defence was better organised and more committed

All of the above needs to be rationalised to the fact that we played a very under strength and inexperienced Roosters side so needs to be repeatable against better opposition.

The negatives
We still played dumb with lots of errors and stupid penalties

Our attack looked clunky and disorganised and is anything but slick

Kicking game still poor and in the 1st 30 minutes you could have easily thought Hunt was still playing.

Hopefully C T can play right wing outside Suli as his lack of speed will not be exposed as he’ll never get a decent pass.

Whilst defence was better organised still an issue with leg drive in 1st contact getting the ball carrier to the ground

Now I know others will say it will take time to form combinations etc but if you look at some of the other trial games there were cobbled together sides that looked far superior to us and with the experience we have added I truly think we should look better.

Hopefully just some nerves etc and the C S will bring it together.

Agree with much of what you say OT

Only thing I disagree with is the suggestion that the attack was clunky and disorganised. Wasn’t perfect, but was better than what you suggested

 

[Get2dachopper!]

LL was brought in to be the ball playing back rower , adding some variety esp in attack , and playing on the edges
He is not a Prop , aka same as Couchman
We need to find one and quick , or patch up the Molo drama

Yes, that’s true. But we all thought by now he would be fitter and be able to play 80 or at least 60 minutes. He still looks unfit and would be a target in defence.

We might not be able to find a Molo replacement before round 1, so may need to manufacture a prop from what we already have.

 

[Victoire]

I think it'd take a catastrophe for Glover to see first grade this year. We're thin for depth in the halves but after LKT I suspect Flanno would look at shifting Cook or Gutho in before using Glover.

 

[Trifili13]

We have JDB that can play half (according to a former club employee who had the title of head coach - I am assuming he is no longer on the payroll somewhere).

 

[Jeremy Dragon]

Previously, suggestions of Rava in forwards, has been all but howled down.

Now with Molo out, desperate times call for desperate measures

Definitely worth a trial or two

We could have no forwards left and you still shouldn't pick him
Rava is not and never will be a forward

 

[Saints Forever]

I think it'd take a catastrophe for Glover to see first grade this year. We're thin for depth in the halves but after LKT I suspect Flanno would look at shifting Cook or Gutho in before using Glover.

I would play LKT, Sloan, Gutho then Reed before Glover

 

[dungay dragon]

Yes, that’s true. But we all thought by now he would be fitter and be able to play 80 or at least 60 minutes. He still looks unfit and would be a target in defence.

We might not be able to find a Molo replacement before round 1, so may need to manufacture a prop from what we already have.

The white jumper certainly doesnt do him any favours
Appears way behind the others , fitness wise
Thought hed be best used in 20 min bursts ,looking for gaps on ruck edges , with his deft passing game
flanno may have other plans for him
Couchmans and jdb are more of your defensive work horses in our pack

 

[dungay dragon]

Few take away from last night . Few have been mentioned.

Think CT & Finau should start on wings. Both energetic players. As much as Lawson did ok, I think the two above are infront .

Illias kicking MUCH better than Hunts. One play we were 40m out and instead of a useless Hunt bomb illias found the corner 10m out.

We’re definitely one forward short! Yes Sele to return though has been injury prone. Would love to sign one more.

Rava needs to go!!

Kade reed better than glover in kicking game & energy.

Guler won’t win us a game or make 200m a game but will take the tough carry’s . Thought he did well .

And how good were Gutho few kick returns. Actually making 30m. Instead of Sloan’s 10m. So we should be on the front foot quite often

Thought Lawson was outstanding on Debut , as did most on here in post match reviews
Has speed and strength , and a real attacking weapon
If all fit thinking Flanno will opt for Lawson and Sloan ..
Not sure of the deal Lawson is on , so assuming he is right to play

 

[RufusRex]

I forgot to put in my post how curios I am as to how they are handling big Luciano

He gets a start despite looking the most unfit of the entire squad.

He shows glimpses of great ability but to be brutally honest they are too few and far between.

After an energetic spurt in attack he often lapses in defence.

A true conundrum that needs to be unwound.

He shows glimpses of great ability but to be brutally honest they are too few and far between.
After an energetic spurt in attack he often lapses in defence.

He had more carries than any other forward of ours for more metres including multiple carries in sets. He missed one tackle.

The conundrum is people basing their opinions on anything more than the girth of his guts and not what he actually does.

 

[Saints Forever]

For those of us that emphasise the Roosters were under strength, we did lead 18-0 after 30 minutes

then the seconds basically played the balance of the match