Best pack in the comp?

[OVP]

Civoniceiva
Priddis
Woolnough
Pritchard
Waterhouse
Lewis

F. Puletua
T. Puletua
Moors/Rodney/Grant
Aiton/Sammut

Not too bad if they all play to their potential. Could be devastating. Petero hopefully will help keep their mind on the job.

That's potentially right up the very top of the pile. But its Penrith ... so hard to tell if they will pull their finger out. If they do, then WATCH OUT !!

Brisbane also should be right up the very top as well. I rate them second favourites for the comp, unlike the bookies.

 

[The Survivor]

8. Armit
9. Hughes
10. Hickey
11. Williams
12. Ryan
13. Matuia

14. Tsoulos
15. Kouparitsis
16. Te Maari
17. Sullivan

Struggle street at Belmore.

Hopefully they get David Sillington and then they wont look as bad...they are definately one good solid front rower short. I rate Te Maari and Koopa really made me eat my words last season. Armit doesn't convince me and Hickey isn't much chop imo, good for impact, not for anything else.

Shillington is staying with Easts.

 

[Big Mick]

I agree Mack...you just never know.

From what I saw of Waterhouse this season, he was right back on his game prior to getting injured. Back to breaking tackles, offloading and hitting hard...I think he would have been well in line for Origin contention if he didn't get injured, and I definately think we wouldn't have got the spoon if he was around.

Its no coincidence, when he was there first 5 rounds, we won...when he was around last 5 rounds, we won. He is the linchpin of our pack. Next year he wont have to work as hard with Civo there...

I think someone like Civoniceiva will finally bring out the best in Pritchard. Pritchards current mentor is a lazy player. Tony Puletua while great when on his game, only has 3-4 "on games" a year. Not enough to warrant his salary. And as such Pritchard believes he can do the same.

Petero's influence on Pritchard and other young promising forwards at the club will be invaluable long after he leaves. He will be able to instill a work ethic not really seen since Martin Lang and Scott Sattler were around.

I think next year we'll see the best of Pritchard as well as the emergence of other forward stars such as Joseph Paulo, Junior Moors, Tim Grant, Sam McKendry, Brendan Hlad, Shane Blackett and Daniel Penese.

Hopefully Shane Rodney also comes back from his injuries. Top quality player, but I think his career may be over. 2 and a half years out of the game and 5 surgeries are not good, and I don't think he'll ever be the same player again. I sincerely hope i'm proven wrong as Rodney is a player I rate quite highly.

 

[Big Mick]

Shillington is staying with Easts.

Not what i'm hearing.

I'm hearing there is still trouble in little China about Mason's signing and a couple of Fringe players need to depart, otherwise somethings gonna go down.

 

[Finchy]

8.Ross
9.Degois
10.Douglas
11.Thompson
12.Gallen
13.Bird

14.Norrie
15.Williams
16.Sua/Selmes/Snowden
17. ?

Not to shabby, ross needs to get back to the form which he had before the knee injury, douglas is a future rep if not as early as next yr. Degois is handy and the backrow speaks for themselves.

 

[skeepe]

I pretty much agree with all you have named and maybe throw Parra in.

Hindmarsh is worth 3 quality forwards.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Hindmarsh is the sole reason the Eels have the worst pack in the comp.

 

[Big Mick]

8. Norrie
9. Kingston
10. Douglas
11. Thompson
12. Gallen
13. Bird

14. Ross
15. Snowden
16. Williams
17. DeGois

Good pack from the Sharks. Norrie needs to start. Very similar player to Stapleton. Hard working, good lateral movement in defence, will make plenty of hitups for 6-7 metres a go. Honest toiler...good person to have in the trenches at the start, before you unleash Ross.

From what I saw of Snowden so far he's got great potential. He seemed to put on weight and be quite bored at the Knights. I think this will change at the Sharks in a new environment and I think he'll train the house down and realise his potential if not this season then the next.

I'd start with Kingston and then bring on DeGois when defence gets tired around the ruck. Very creative player, but let Kingston do the defending initially and wear down the opposition.

 

[Big Mick]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Hindmarsh is the sole reason the Eels have the worst pack in the comp.

I'd take Hindmarsh over any of your forward pack...including Alan Tongue.

Hindmarsh is far more consistent than your current second rowers and provides a lot more in defence and leadership, which makes up more than what your attack can offer.

TLL and Costigan are very, very hot and cold.

 

[Dogaholic]

8. Armit
9. Hughes
10. Hickey
11. Williams
12. Ryan
13. Matuia

14. Tsoulos
15. Kouparitsis
16. Te Maari
17. Sullivan

Struggle street at Belmore.

Hopefully they get David Sillington and then they wont look as bad...they are definately one good solid front rower short. I rate Te Maari and Koopa really made me eat my words last season. Armit doesn't convince me and Hickey isn't much chop imo, good for impact, not for anything else.

9. Hughes
10. Hickey
11. Williams
12. Ryan
13. Matuia

14. Tsoulos/Tamati Nathan
15. Cleal/Leano
16. Te Maari
17. Sullivan

*Kouparitsas is out for half the season with an injury similar to Gasnier

 

[yobbo84]

Souths pack is crap, they don't rate.

LOL. I'd take Souths pack over Sydney's wannabes and has-beens anyday.

8. Peter Cusack
9. Issac Luke
10. Roy Asotasi
11. David Kidwell
12. David Fa'alogo
13. John Sutton

14. Dean Widders
15. Luke Stuart
16. Manase Manuokafoa
17. Michael Greenfield
18. Scott Geddes
19. Jaiman Lowe
20. Eddy Pettbourne

Quality, variety and depth.

 

[Big Mick]

Agreed. Souths pack like this year, is very good.

And with the continued improvement of guys like Greenfield, Luke, Lowe, Pettibourne, Manukafoa and McPherson...Souths will have better depth this year.

But the best thing is they finally have good halves. Jeremy Smith is useless.

6. Craig Wing
7. Eddie Paea

Will guide the way for the Bunnies. The Paea/Luke combination is a mouth-watering one even for me!. Paea's only problem is his defence, but from what i'm hearing there are motions to improve that over the coming two seasons to avoid a "Marshall" style injury.

Only problem is that they will pick Hegarty.

They need to go with 1. Merritt, 2. Talanoa, 3. Vagana, 4. Gordon, 5. Sam Huahiuhau (can't spell his name) hahaha.

If they go with that...there is plenty of Power and Speed in that backline which should accommodate more points and allow a more attacking style of play to be demonstrated.

 

[Timmah]

Knights fans.... FYI it's Cory Paterson, not Corey Patterson.

 

[yobbo84]

Agreed. Souths pack like this year, is very good.

And with the continued improvement of guys like Greenfield, Luke, Lowe, Pettibourne, Manukafoa and McPherson...Souths will have better depth this year.

But the best thing is they finally have good halves. Jeremy Smith is useless.

6. Craig Wing
7. Eddie Paea

Will guide the way for the Bunnies. The Paea/Luke combination is a mouth-watering one even for me!. Paea's only problem is his defence, but from what i'm hearing there are motions to improve that over the coming two seasons to avoid a "Marshall" style injury.

Only problem is that they will pick Hegarty.

They need to go with 1. Merritt, 2. Talanoa, 3. Vagana, 4. Gordon, 5. Sam Huahiuhau (can't spell his name) hahaha.

If they go with that...there is plenty of Power and Speed in that backline which should accommodate more points and allow a more attacking style of play to be demonstrated.

Agreed with all above. I'm glad some people here actually watch footy other than their own teams. Hegarty will start the year in the 5 jersey, but as long as Sam H stays fit then he WILL press for selection. In fact last year when Paul Mellor was injured, Sammy was filling in for him in all the training plays/moves. I know JT holds him in high regard. He was easily our best player in the 2006 SG Ball GF side - better than Pettybourne and Paea.

IMHO our best 17, which will probably eventuate a couple of months into the season, would be as you said:

1. Nathan Merritt
2. Fetuli Talanoa
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Yileen Gordon
5. Sam Huihahau
6. Craig Wing
7. Eddie Paea
8. Peter Cusack
9. Issac Luke
10. Roy Asotasi
11. David Kidwell
12. David Fa'alogo
13. John Sutton

14. Dean Widders
15. Luke Stuart
16. Manase Manuokafoa
17. Michael Greenfield

Merritt is getting better at fullback, 2 steam trains on the wings, solid centres, attacking halves and hooker, and a great pack. I have no reason (bar a very bad run with injuries) to see why Souths would not improve in 2008.

 

[Big Mick]

8. Cross
9. Buderus
10. Sargeant
11. Paterson
12. Simpson
13. Bailey

14. Wicks
15. Houston
16. Fa'aoso
17. Hilder

Many possibilities with this pack. If the bench steps up and plays to their potential they will be good.

The starting pack is solid and will get the job done.

Chris Bailey I see turning into a ball-playing lock and I think will do an effective job there. Wont win you a game but will be a solid team player.

 

[julian87]

Ross, Kingston, Douglas, Thompson, Gallen, Bird, Norrie, Williams, De Gois etc is the best forward pack IMO.

In terms of depth though, i think Canberra are on top:

Thompson, Logan, Tilse, Miller, Weyman, Thurling, Costigan, TLL, Tongue, Plum, Campese, Jones, Turner, Chalk, Picker, Withers and Hinchcliffe.

 

[sooperdooper]

why in the hell does everyone rate The Sharks pack?
I dont rate it at all....
gotta love Skeepe...yet again showing his worth

 

[Big Mick]

Depth - Canberra I agree

I don't think Sharks have the best pack. I think they are good...but they can be monstered and are not dominant. And their bench is a bit pissy. I think there are better packs but they arn't the worst.

 

[steven_tiger]

What about this one?

8. Payten
9. Farah
10...

Ah, why bother...

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

we are certainly looking better than last year. I think Bailey will be lock though, or maybe Tolar. Hilder is 90kg. he will cover for 6,7,9. We also run very deep this year.

As for the best - well, the Rooters would be up there now. Chooks of War.... :crazy:

Still makes me smile that Perry is goneski's..... Hated him maybe a nice bloke but did nothing for us and put in no effort.

Tolar.... Beggining to think he was a one hit wonder and w/ Bailey not sold yet.

 

[Fast Eddie]

8.Rapira
9.Fien
10.Price
11.Wiki
12.Mannering
13.Luck

14.Henderson
15.Lauaki
16.Tuimavave
17.Fai/Koopu

Solid.