Blues Team

[macavity]

1. Gidley
2. Hayne
3. Gasnier
4. Cooper
5. Stewart
6. Anasta
7. Wallace
8. White
9. Buderus (c)
10. Cross
11. Gallen
12. Laffranchi
13. Bird

14. Lewis
15. Tupou
16. Hoffman
17. Mason

what I would pick.

Kidley is our best weapon, is absolutely wasted on the bench, and is certainly not a 7. Stewart as a winger works against the outside backs they will pick, and he can sniff around the ruck too. its a win-win, despite what the Manly stooges think.

Forwards picked for mongrel. Kite is an overrated hack with no aggression.

#7 is the big question. Was tempted to pick Mullen there but a) he hasnt played much footy this year and b) he is a far FAR better 6 than 7 - he is the second best 7 at the Knights, so how could he be the best in NSW? Wallace and Pearce have been the most impressive NSW 7s, both are young, but I think Wallace has slightly shaded Pearce. Other option is Finch I guess, if we want to play it safe.

Luke Lewis is close to the ultimate bench utility - can cover outside backs, back row and halves at a pinch. very impressive in an ordinary Penrith side under a crud coach. I think he could be a real wildcard. Only weakness is no real cover for hooker (could he do it?). Could put Farah (if fit), Ennis or Finch there I guess. Other option is shift Stewart to FB, Lewis to wing and have Gidley cover hooker.

Having said that, quite happy if no Knights get picked, I would rather the Knights win than NSW win.

 

[Serc]

#7 is the big question. Was tempted to pick Mullen there but a) he hasnt played much footy this year and b) he is a far FAR better 6 than 7 - he is the second best 7 at the Knights, so how could he be the best in NSW?

3rd best depending on how you see things

 

[macavity]

well Kidley is about the 4th best 7 at the Knights

and apparently the best 7 in NSW. go figure.

 

[Ghoulies]

If Wallace were still in contention for the 7 jersey before today, he would have pretty much sabotaged his chances with this afternoons display.

 

[NK Arsenal]

What it should be.

1. Kurt Gidley
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Chris Lawrence
4. Mark Gasnier
5. Brett Stewart
6. Braith Anasta
7. Brett Finch
8. Willie Mason
9. Danny Buderus (c)
10. Brett White
11. Anthony Laffranchi
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Craig Fitzgibbon

14. Ben Cross
15. Mark Minichello
16. Greg Bird
17. Michael Ennis

But it won't look anything like that.

 

[Earl]

1. Luke Patten
2. Anthony Quinn
3. Joel Monaghan
4. Jamie Lyon
5. Brett Stewart
6. Mark Gasnier
7. Brett Finch
8. Brent Kite
9. Danny Buderus
10. Anthony Tupou
11. Paul Gallen
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Greg Bird

14. Kurt Gidley
15. Willie Mason
16. Chris Heignington
17. Todd Payten

 

[Vicious]

NSW
1.Brett Stewart
2.Jarryd Hayne
3.Mark Gasnier
4.Jamie Lyon
5.Matt Cooper
6.Braith Anasta
7.Kurt Gidley
13.Greg Bird
12.Paul Gallen
11.Willie Mason
10.Ben Cross
9.Danny Buderus
8.Brent Kite

14.Todd Carney
15.Ryan Hoffman
16.Anthony Tupou
17.Mark O`Meley

 

[Harold Bishop]

1. Stewart
2. Hayne
3. Gasnier
4. Lyon
5. Monaghan
6. Anasta
7. Carney
8. Kite
9. Buderus
10. Cross
11. Gallen
12. Hoffman
13. Bird

14. Gidley
15. Lafranchi
16. Mason
17. Heighnington

 

[lotti]

apparently Orford was brilliant today against the Broncos fingers crossed the NSW selectors saw it, I missed the game but I did tape it.

 

[lockyno1]

he was not brilliant, and to be honest Finch was MUCH better than Orford was.

 

[nöyd]

he was not brilliant, and to be honest Finch was MUCH better than Orford was.

Orford must have had a f**king shocker then.

 

[lockyno1]

Finch wasn't bad today, and did kick the field goal to win the match. Orford is just ordinary, and to be honest today whilst Manly won, was not due to Orford, it was due to the forwards, and Matai who was outstanding today

 

[lotti]

how was Mr. Wallace? I do hope Orford ran circles around him.

 

[mrbishi]

how was Mr. Wallace? I do hope Orford ran circles around him.

that he did i find it hard to believe that they'd rather put gidley at half than give orford a chance, he's been one of manly's best week in week out

 

[icewind]

its pretty hard to dominate when ur forwards are getting smashed all over the park and seemingly forgotten how to stop 2nd phase play.

even so, there were three or four times Orford was caught with the ball (mainly by ennis) when he shouldn't have. Orford wasn't even in the top 5 on the field.

1. Hunt, Matai, Ennis, cuthbertson, Ballin and Lestrange were all better than Orford yesterday.

 

[lotti]

he still ran rings around Wallace so fingers crossed he's rewarded with the sky blue number 7 jersey.

 

[lockyno1]

He still was not good, he wasn't bad but he wasn't good. The best half was Lyon to be honest

 

[icewind]

something i was thinking, but was afraid i might have been the only one. whoda thunk it.

 

[Raider_69]

You can stratch joel monaghan from calculations, apparently he was vying off with cooper and quinn to snear one of a wing or centre position. He's done himself an injury and will miss 4 weeks apparently

I think they'll go with
1. Stewart
2. Quinn (which is a selection i do not rate one bit)
3. Gasnier
4. Cooper
5. Hayne
6. Bird
7. Giddley
8. Kite
9. Buderus
10. Mason
11. Fitzgibbon
12. Hoffman
13. Gallen

14. Topou
15. Cross
16. Laffranchi
17. Heighnington

I think they should name a half on the bench, because giddley and bird is too risky not to name one... Anasta would probably be the form option but they may go with a wallace or pearce... imo the raiders have played TC out of contention for game 1, he's tried hard but struggled to work with a side being completely dominated the past 2 weeks. But if by some mircle he was selected, he'd do the job, he's a class player, if you put class players around him he'll make it happen as he did in City/Country

 

[Dazzat]

You can stratch joel monaghan from calculations, apparently he was vying off with cooper and quinn to snear one of a wing or centre position. He's done himself an injury and will miss 4 weeks apparently

The selectors saw Monaghan as the only winger tall enough and with enough aerial skills to match Falou and Inglis ... Quinn is a midget in comparison and will get found out.