Here's my take on the Gosford trial, for what it's worth.
Wests looked pretty good against a disjointed Sharks side. I'd have a punt on Wests being fringe top 8, and Cronulla in the bottom 4.
Easts played quite well. They seemed to be doing a lot of interchanges early on and it struck me as a bit strange, but they kept their momentum pretty consistently through the match. I noticed Carney playing quite well from fullback, and Cherrington going ok before he had a leg injury in front of us and was wheeled off.
OK, now onto the Eels...
Brendan Oake surprised me and had a great first half starting in the second row alongside Hindy. Good defence, strong runs, sensible passing - if he showed this form last year he would have had Lowrie's spot easily. Hindy might have picked up an injury, but struggled through in his usual way until half time. Horo and Lasalo were the second row for the second half, and to be honest I don't think either are quite up to first grade level just yet. Maybe give them both another year before they get in the mix for the top 17? Oake looks like he should be next in the pecking order after Hindy, and the injured Shackleton and Smith.
Mannah and Fuifui were starting props, with Cayless and Pele Peletelese off the bench. Fuifui was solid but was maybe leaving some petrol in the tank for round 1, which is OK. Mannah and Cayless went just OK enough given it was a trial, but I hope they bring a little more come round 1. Pele Peletelese was impressive, has a good size but is fit with it and played lots of minutes. Most impressive was that he kept taking the ball up with energy at the end even when the result was in the tin. I reckon he'll be in the mix for first grade at some stage this year.
Kris Keating was quite impressive I thought, and had a busy all round game. He and Robson looked like they had split into left side and right side playmakers, rather than a half and a five-eighth. Keating put in a few handy kicks and to be honest I didn't really notice Mortimer wasn't there? So it'll be interesting to see who DA chooses for starting halves combination, all three deserve a spot in the 17 imo.
Matt Keating was hooker in the first half and went OK. Anthony Mitchell was hooker in the second half, and I felt he struggled at this level. I reckon Mitchell will be fifth in line for those 3-4 playmaker spots. Mateo looks like he's still getting back to match fitness, and he played the first half and I was pleased to see him put back on at the the tail end of the second half. I'm sure that like Fuifui, he'll bring more in his kit bag come round 1.
Tom Humble played fullback for 70 minutes and then in the halves for 10 minutes when Burt replaced Robson. I saw nothing special at all, and I'd say he's a year away from really being up to or in the mix for first grade. I wish him well, and look forward to watching him develop this year in our lower grades.
Burt and Tahu played on the left and had a good combination going in the first half. Tahu played the whole game and was a bit puffed - I think it will take him a while to get used to the heavy contact of league again, and maybe also the pace and complexity of the backline movements compared to union. Etu took Burt's place for the second half, and really seems just an emergency shadow player as far as first grade is concerned, Burt has a good footy brain and his place in the team is very safe.
Reddy lined up in the centres with Inu on the wing on the right. Reddy had a good and confident half, getting involved and taking on the opposition and I think (if he hadn't already) has earned a starting centre spot. Wright played centre in the second half and looked lost, with a few bad defensive reads resulting in tries. In the final ten minutes Inu swapped into the centres and looked a little more capable while Wright finished on the wing. Inu kicked off/kicked goals while Burt was off, and while he's likely to miss out in round 1 I think he'll be first on the backline pecking order (above Wright, Humble and Etu).
No Poore (surprisingly?), and no Mortimer, Shackleton, Hayne, Grothe or Smith.
My predicted Round 1 line-up:
1. Hayne
2. Burt
3. Tahu
4. Reddy
5. Grothe
6. Mortimer
7. Robson
8. Cayless
9. M Keating
10. Moimoi
11. Hindmarsh
12. Shackleton
13. Mateo
14. K Keating
15. Poore
16. Mannah
17. Oake
18. Inu
Injured: Smith
- - - - -
Guys who might get a small taste of first grade this year if injuries strike:
Peletelese (pick of the Wenty-level guys imo)
Horo
Lasalo
Mitchell
Humble
Wright
Etu
