Cannings to the front row, Cayless to the back row.

[The Colonel]

I reckon its a very smart idea. I always considered Dean Pay more dangerous playing in the second row than in the front row - some of his best games for NSW and Aust. were in the second row. Similarly I always thought Dave Gillespie was a better pick in the second row as well. I think that Cayless is a very similar player to Deano and Cement. Cayless will find a new lease of life in the second row - his footwork and ball handling skills will be better utilised out wider and he can pick and choose when to put on the big hits ala Cement. Rotating the props between Cannings, Vella, Pearson, Tsoulos and Kaufusi will provide the go forward we have lacked in recent years.

 

[Cupid Stunt]

8. Cannings
9. Morris
10. Pearson
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins

off the bench
15. Tsoulos
16. Vella
17. Kaufusi/Widders/Muckert/Muspratt/Armit/Stapleton

That would be my pick with the exception of Tsoulos as a definite. Replace him with Armit & ink in Widders as the third benchy & I'd be happy.

I'm surprised Armit doesnt seem to rate with people around here. For mine he's as solid as they come & with a good season in the top grade under his belt will turn into a future rep, keeping in mind he is only 20.

 

[The Godfather]

cannings is a poo poo head.

You gave us Cannings
We gave you a soft, lazy lump called Heckenberg.
Enjoy !

 

[The Colonel]

8. Cannings
9. Morris
10. Pearson
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins

off the bench
15. Tsoulos
16. Vella
17. Kaufusi/Widders/Muckert/Muspratt/Armit/Stapleton

8. Pearson
9. Morris
10. Vella
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins

Bench

15. Armit
16. Cannings
17. Wagon

 

[PB]

8. Cannings
9. Pearson
10. Tsoulos
11. Kaufusi
12. Cayless
13. Hindmarsh
:lol:

OUCH!

i'd love to see that pack in a direct colision course with Willie Mason.

Theres no soft under belly there.

(replace pearson with Hopkins)

Mason doesnt run near the forwards, so you won't see that collision.

I agree with colenal's comments about Dean Pay playing his best footy in the back row, and this could indeed suit Cayless.

Personally, pending on form. I would have

8. Peek
9. Morris
10. Cannings
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Wagon

14. Hopkins
15. Muspratt
16. Vella
17. Pearson, or a back.

 

[Phillips]

i would have:

8. Cannings
9. Morris
10. Vella
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins

Bench:
14. Moimoi or Armit
15. Stapleton
16. Widders
17. Pai

 

[PARRA_FAN]

We'll see what happens, but I doubt we'll see Cayless in the second row for the whole season.

Cannings is a good player, I'd put him in the starting line up and put Vella on the bench for the first few games. Cayless is a front rower, and will always be a front rower. Last time he played 2nd rower, he looked out of position and didnt do as much damage. Thats why hes suited to the front row. As for 2nd Rowers, Id have Hindmarsh and Armit.

8. Cayless
9. Morris
10. Cannings
11. Hindmarsh
12. Armit
13. Hopkins/Wagon

14. Widders
15. Vella
16. Muckert
17. Muspratt

 

[The Engineers Room]

Vella to the centres, Forwards to have Cannings in front row with take you pick of huge guys with Hindmarsh and Cayless in the second row. Tried it on NRL game and Vella rips out there. He would do better in real life, hitting it at pace out wider.

 

[The Colonel]

Vella to the centres, Forwards to have Cannings in front row with take you pick of huge guys with Hindmarsh and Cayless in the second row. Tried it on NRL game and Vella rips out there. He would do better in real life, hitting it at pace out wider.

Thankfully this is not an NRL game but first grade football. Regardless of Vellas past on the wing (which from all accounts was atrocious and the main reason he went in close) even Smith is not stupid enough to try this scenario. We have two International centres at the present moment that unless injured would be the first picked. I would hate to see Vella one on one with some of the centres running around the game at the moment. He would have to gain a far better passing game then he currently posesses for that matter as well. If you seriously want to see him running wider than the second row is a far better option.

 

[The Engineers Room]

Second Row is where he should be but Smith should have tried this option in the trials.

 

[The Engineers Room]

If Vella and Cayless both play second row then Hindmarsh can lock the scrum and get rid of the very sad options we have there (Wagon / Hopkins)

 

[The Colonel]

Did you watch any games last year?

Vella was well below par. I hope he returns to form this year as he will have to to get a spot. Wagon is in a similar boat to that of Vella - and yes I can't say the option of Wagon at lock was great however he was our Players Player.

As for Hopkins - when the likes of Cayless, Vella and Hindmarsh were injured he was clearly one of the better performed players in the team. The penalty he gave away to lose to Melbourne was more than made up for during the rest of his season. Honestly - the kid plays as if his life depends on it and did the team proud more often than not. Hopkins would be my first option at lock if not the option of many here to partner Hindmarsh in the second row.

 

[The Godfather]

This all won't help us...

Big pack of forwards huh...ok, so it has tweaked with Brian that this is the way to go. Trouble is that the successful teams (Dogs, Roosters, Warriors, Panthers ) have already figured it out. We are trying to play catchup with them.

Brian was way ahead of the game in 2001 where he had fast, mobile, skillful forwards, and except for 1 half of flawless footy from the Knights, would have deserved the title.

Now it seems that we are trying to catch up with those teams that have mastered this type of footy.

We need to be one step ahead of to win, not just trying to catch up and beat them at their own game.

 

[The Engineers Room]

Hopkins deserves to be in the team. I agree with you. But a bench spot as an impact player. Vella will play well this season, I can guarantee you that. He also was injured last year which I think hurt his form.

What everybody has to remember is that this game depends on a forward pack of 7 or 8 working well in rotation. Hopkins would be in there but I think Vella has the advantage of a slightly better attack and defence when in form.

And yes I watched last year, but one year is not a true judge of form should i give examples like McFadden / Dykes etc.

 

[The Colonel]

I'd like to be as confident as you are in regards to Vella. But based on the last two years (not one) Vella has had nowehere near the impact he had since 2001. I would say he has played one great game in two seasons - the semi-final v Brisbane. There have been the odd good game however nothing near to what he can and has done. Vella knows he has some work to do this season to make first grade what with Pearson, Cannings, Kaufusi, Armit, Tsoulos, Stapleton and Cayless in the same picture. In that respect he knows how big a year he needs - and especially a contract year.

I would also beg to differ on Vella's attack and defence. His defence while good is not fantastic whereas Hopkins is the type of worker who will pull off 25-30 tackles per game each week. Hopkins offers options in attack - whether at dummy half, running wide or with the ball in his hands. They are two different players - again another reason I feel second row and especially centre are two positions Vella won't play.

 

[PB]

Second Row is where he should be but Smith should have tried this option in the trials.

Perhaps he will. But we havent had any trial games yet, so how could he have tried him there?

And you really have to get over your thing about Vella in the Centres. At first i thought you were just joking, but it appears you are serious. Vella is not mobile enough and is always the last to get back in the defensive line. And out in the centres where your lateral movement in defense is often required to be twice that that it needs to be around the ruck he would struggle.

 

[Hurriflatch]

I just realised I'd totally forgotten about Wagon when I named my pack.

As for Tsoulos v Armit I think they may end up switching a bit I just went for Tsoulos as he is bigger.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Just as a rough guide


8. Cannings
9. Morris
10. Vella/Pearson
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins/Wagon

Bench (3 from)
Armit, Tsoulos, Vella/Pearson, Hopkins/Wagon, Muckert, Muspratt, Stapleton, Widders, Moi Moi, McMillan, Hinchcliffe and Pai.

The good news is that barring injury regardless of who is name their will be some quality players not playing meaning that all players will need to fight to keep their spot with the possible expections of Cayless and Hindmarsh I cannot see a single gurenteed forward spot.

A possible pack

8. Cannings
9. Morris
10. Pearson
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Muckert

15. Widders
16. Armit
17. Tsoulos

Is a strong pack but that still sees Vella, Wagon and Hopkins 3 regulars from recent seasons miss out on a spot.

 

[PB]

Whoever lines up in the first grade pack, it will be worth getting to the ground early to watch the Div 1 forwards smashing their opponents! There will surely be some of the most 1st grade experienced sides (including wingers and fullbacks) lining up in our div 1 side this year.

 

[Hurriflatch]

excatly

with all fit and in form my top grade side would be

Burt, Grothe, Lyon, Vaealiki, Petersen, Dykes, Witt, Cannings, Morris, Vella, Hindmarsh, Cayless, Wagon (Hopkins, Pearson, Tsoulos, Muckert)

That leaves my reggies team looking like

Prince, Kativerata, Langi, Graham, Gruska, Thorman, Webster, Stapleton, Pai?, Armit, Kaufusi, Hinchcliffe, Muspratt (McKinnon, Moi Moi, McMillan and others on bench)