Here are my thoughts on the team.
With the exception of Hayne the backline is extremely weak. I'm a fan of Luke Burt, but a Walker/Burt centre wing combination is a recipe for disaster defensively. The big Warriors outside backs will steamroll right over them. Then on the other side you've got a debutant in Morgan and Etu who's played just ahandful of first grade games but is yet to impress. Can see us conceding a lot of points if the Warriors spread the ball out side.
Not much we can do about the halves. Kearney was always going to with Morts and Robbo so we'll just have to wait and see how they perform.
With Fui and Poore unavailable we going to have to throw a rookie in and looks like that is Allgood. He played well in the Panthers trial but he'll still find it tough starting his debut against big and experienced Warriors pack over there. Expect Shacks to come off the bench just to play front row. Interested to see how Webb will go. With Poore and Fui out he's going to have to step it up so interested to see how many minutes he can play and what he can do.
Still not sure if Maguire can crack the intensity of NRL level football. He played well in the trials, but an actual NRL game is going to be so much more intense. Good thing to have Keating on the bench then, as if McGuire struggled then at least Keating can come on and play long minutes if required to do so.
Backrow looks solid. Enough said with Hindy. Horo had a great dubut year and looked great in the trials also. Lasalo looks to have improved a lot and it's about time he gets a regular start in first grade. Interesting to se Kearney put him in the starting side instead of Smith though. But it depends how he uses the forwards. I'd expect he uses a backrow rotation of Smith, Lasalo and Horo all playing close to the same amount of minutes.
My theory is SK through defense will go for a grinding game to frustrate the warriors into error. The trials against Penrith & Tigers indicated that an all out blanket approach to defense is what's planned for the early rounds. The boys are fit enough to do this for 80 minutes. If the defence holds out the Warriors, then confidence will grow and the Eels will get over the Warriors late in the game, including before halftime .
This is the game for Webb to make his stand, to let everyone know that he is back better (more disciplined but still intense) than 2005. Can he do it? Please..... Please..... Please....
Maybe Ben Smith is there to cover any possible issue in the backline. If left or right side starts leaking points, Ben will be used to plug the hole. To cover injuries Matthew Keating can play, lock, second row, or hooker and Maguire could be moved to 6 or 7 if necessary. Shack to cover prop & 2nd row.
In attack they might keep it very simple by directing most of their attack right up the middle of the Warriors pack and occasionally swing it out to Hayne two passes from the ruck. I predict they'll be kicking early in their tackle counts and try to keep the Warriors down their end of the field.
Similar tactics to what Brian Smith did to the Broncos successfully a few times between 2000 and 2005.
