Early predictions for season 2017!

[mxlegend99]

This is what my side would be Round 1 after the trials... and aside from Edwards/Hiku it's pretty much the same 17 I expect Hook will name:

1. Moylan
2. Edwards
3. Peachey
4. Blake
5. Whare
6. TMM
7. Cleary
8. Tamou
9. Wallace
10. RCG
11. Cartwright
12. Yeo
13. Merrin

14. Rein
15. JFH
16. Latu
17. Akauolo

Give or take the starting spots. Considering we don't use our 4th benchie too much, I think a hooker could be handy to cover Wallace. Between Cartwright, Yeo, Moylan and Peachey you have the entire backline and halves covered should they get injured. Nearly everyone of our forwards can do big minutres... so really a hooker replacement means we could get by with just about an injury to anyone.

Hiku will probably do well as a winger. But I think Edwards attitude in defence is far superior (possibly over all our backline to be honest) and I can see him saving a lot of tries that others wouldn't.

Although given DWZ will likely be back by Round 3 or 4, Hiku might be easier to justify dropping for him. The real headache comes when Mansour is back. If Whare is back to form by then... well I wouldn't want to be the one choosing who misses out.

 

[betcats]

Pretty keen to see how Moylan and TMM combine. Both instinctive players with good ball playing and vision and they both have shown they can hit a hole if it's there, with Cleary and Wallace there also they won't be overburdened with organising etc I'm expecting a lot of off the cuff stuff again this season.

 

[umina panther]

Agree MX id definitely have Edwards getting experience on the wing but Hiku should do alright. His weakness was running and trying to hit like Mattai and missing but this shouldn't be an issue out there.

 

[Rhyno]

Cleary to suffer second year syndrome badly like Tim smith

Another one season wonder

 

[Kilkenny]

Not looking beyond Round 1 v the Dragons. The Dragons are going to be tough opponents despite what is being written and said about there chances in 2017. While we have had a decent pre-season with a good showing in the nines and two trials win that will largely mean nothing come 4pm on Saturday the 4th March. We need to bring our A - Game to this contest and put some early form on the board coming away with the two points. If we are serious about competing for a top four spot these sort of games are must win games. Cannot afford to lose games against sides who ultimately will not be top 8 contenders. Two points after round 1 is a must.

 

[mxlegend99]

Cleary to suffer second year syndrome badly like Tim smith

Another one season wonder

Thanks. You just guaranteed he kills it in 2017. You're our good luck charm.

 

[Westernised Panther]

Cleary to suffer second year syndrome badly like Tim smith

Another one season wonder

Who the f*#k is Tim Smith?!?

As for one season wonders, Daniel Mortimer says hello......

 

[umina panther]

We will win 13+. Dragons dont have shit

 

[soc123_au]

Cleary to suffer second year syndrome badly like Tim smith

Another one season wonder

Put everything you own on Cleary for the Dally M , CC medal, Cleo bachelor of the year, Americas next top model, winner of The Voice and our next Prime Minister.

 

[Nealo 12]

Lol@rynobs ... still burning from all the past games that we whipped your arse !

 

[Kilkenny]

We will win 13+. Dragons dont have shit

Take nothing for granted!! The minute you assume something is a given that is dangerous waters.

The Dragons have issues but they have a solid forward pack and we will need to be at our best to beat them.

You need only to look back on last seasons loss to them at WIN Stadium. We could have, should have but at the end of the day we were less than ordinary and a late Josh Dugan try got them over the line.

Sure we are a better side now, the youngsters are a year older and wiser and we have a far better overall team but that mean's nothing if we don't have our head's in the right place.

 

[Kilkenny]

Round 1 v Dragons;

Moylan
Hiku
Peachy
Blake
Whare
TMM
Cleary.
Tamou.
Wallace.
RCG.
Cartwright.
Yeo.
Merrin.

JFH.
Leota/Akauloa (Only spot up for grabs.)
Latu.
Rein.

Assuming Merrin & JFH recover from there injury issues and assuming there are no further unforeseen injury between now and 4th March this will be the makeup of the 17 to take the field against the Dragons.

 

[Pomoz]

Take nothing for granted!! The minute you assume something is a given that is dangerous waters.

The Dragons have issues but they have a solid forward pack and we will need to be at our best to beat them.

You need only to look back on last seasons loss to them at WIN Stadium. We could have, should have but at the end of the day we were less than ordinary and a late Josh Dugan try got them over the line.

Sure we are a better side now, the youngsters are a year older and wiser and we have a far better overall team but that mean's nothing if we don't have our head's in the right place.

Spot on. They have a very good forward pack and are solid in defence. Last year they were more solid in defence than we were.

It won't be a high scoring game as they will try and roll us in the forwards and don't have a lot of creativity. But we have to muscle up. We need Tamou and RCG to stand up to Packer and Vaughn, no easy feat. They have Sims and Frizell as well, making up a pretty handy pack. The trick is to keep them scoreless for as long as possible and their confidence will suffer and the crowd will probably . As long as we don't let them score early on, we can win.

 

[TheEroticGamer]

Griffin won't let us go in with a passive attitude.He's the last coach that would allow a team to do that.

If their biggest threat is Vaughn and Packer, when in that compartment alone we have Tamou, RCG and Latu, all we have to do is remember how to catch a ball and we will rip them apart.

 

[PenrithPanther45]

If you would like a good laugh have a look at this article on The Roar. Granted you can say our team is overrated but if you don't back it up with anything such comments are worthless. Anyway have a look. The comment on Wallace is the worst for mine. http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/02/24/nrl-2017-season-preview-penrith-panthers/

 

[betcats]

Haha it seems whoever wrote that article really doesn't like Penrith/Gus/Griffin.

 

[umina panther]

Lol The Roar is a union site ran by toffs. Who cares what is said over there

 

[TheFrog]

Taking a punt I reckon. When we're expected to go well, we don't. I think this year will be different.

 

[umina panther]

The year is on Moylan's shoulders and I think he'll step up yet again

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I haven't seen much of Rein yet, does he look good?

He's gone ok in the trials. I would him to score a try or 2 next week.
Players seem have a habit of scoring tries against their former club when they meet them for the 1st time.