Looks like Sammut and Graham will be trialled in the halves

[Bob]

For myself I would like to see Romelo / Graham combo and an Iselin / Graham combo trialled as well. I am not sold on Sammut at all

 

[maple_69]

I think the assumption is Sammut will get his attitude in check and playing his natural game (NOT WING), he'll be far more effective than last year.
My main concern is Elliott trying it for the first few rounds. We get a shellacing from Melbourne and co and the project is shafted. Give Graham/Sammut a good chance and I think they can form one of the best pairings in the comp.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Iselin & Romelo are first two in line for the number 7. You heard it here first.

 

[Caged Panther]

Iselin & Romelo are first two in line for the number 7. You heard it here first.

Personally I'd probably prefer this, I just still not convinced about Sammut's attitude.

 

[Black Majik]

How about this for a rotation?

5/8. Graham
HB. Sammut
Hooker. Iosofa
Lock. Lewis

Intchg. Smith

Rotates to:
5/8. Lewis
HB. Graham
Hooker. Sammut
Lock. Smith

Intchg. Iosofa

Bring Iosofa back on and move Smith to second row with Lewis back to lock. That way we are using 4 forwards as interchange players.

Just a thought!

 

[Pantha-Boy]

Dont Care.

 

[maple_69]

How about this for a rotation?

5/8. Graham
HB. Sammut
Hooker. Iosofa
Lock. Lewis

Intchg. Smith

Rotates to:
5/8. Lewis
HB. Graham
Hooker. Sammut
Lock. Smith

Intchg. Iosofa

Bring Iosofa back on and move Smith to second row with Lewis back to lock. That way we are using 4 forwards as interchange players.

Just a thought!

Not sure I like the idea of rotating halves mid game but if we were to rotate I'd prefer a
Sammut to stay put and Lewis/Graham swap or even Iosefa comes on for Aiton and Graham could shift into the forwards with Iosefa into 5/8 at times. Plenty of flexibility.
What we lack is stability in the halves. Have for years. Would be nice to get some.

 

[mxlegend99]

Personally i don't think we should rotate our halves at all. Unless we suffer an injury we shouldn't try changing halves mid game. With Lachlan Coote he can chip in and act as another 5/8 in attack, likewise with Luke Lewis playing Lock. While Masada is playing hooker/lock he will also mix the attack up quiet a bit covering a similar role to that of Farah and Smith... so we really don't need to play with our halves. They have a lot of support around them.

I think our key positions should look like this:

1. Lachlan Coote
6. Jarrod Sammut/Joel Romelo/Trent Iselin
7. Wade Graham
9. Paul Aiton
13. Luke Lewis

14. Masada Iosefa

I'd like to see Sammut given first shot in the halves, but i'm not against Romelo or Iselin having a go. They would probably play halfback, but i still want to see Wade Graham in charge of the team. Whoever our halves are, they will have plenty of help at any rate.

 

[franklin2323]

I like Murray mob am uusure if Sammut is a half for us or not. I think you will find Iselin/Romelo on the bench in the trials. As they are trials prob each quarter you will find a different halves combo with the exception of the Cowboys trial ME will want close to the best team on the field.

I think the fact Sammut/Graham getting first shot at the halves in round 1. It doesn't mean Iselin or Romelo wont play if Sammut or Graham struggle and they go go well

 

[Copperhead]

Any combination of Iselin, Graham, Romelo, and Sammut in the halves is OK by me.

Just don't want to see Lewis back there, when everyone (except the person who counts),

can see he should be our lock.

Surely, with his career teetering on the brink, Elliot won't be quite as stupid as usual with

team selections.

 

[Fibroman]

I think Coote should be used like Lockyer. A fullback slotting into the 6 role in attack. Masada is an animal an is worth of more than just passing from dummy half. Lock might just be his position?

 

[martielang]

Joseph Paulo is also in the mix for 5/8th.

 

[Kilkenny]

Isn't it just dandy to be so flush with options. Clearly we didnt need to recruit a half or 5/8 for 2009. The Lewis / Blair combo was so successful in 2008 why would we even contemplate looking elsewhere.

 

[mxlegend99]

Joseph Paulo is also in the mix for 5/8th.

Yep i asked him about that today at the Merchandise Store and he said he had done a bit of training for 5/8. Although we wasn't very confident at all of even being in the top 17.

Also asked him about Waterhouse moving to the front row (and opening up the option of him starting beside Pritchard), and he was confident that Waterhouse wouldn't want to make the change... he likes running out wide at the smaller blokes.

 

[Fibroman]

Waterhouse is at his best, used as a wide runner and popping balls in 2nd phase play.

Using Waterhouse as a tackling machine is a waste IMO. Smith and Aiton should be making 50 tackles a game each, allowing a bit of space for the rest of the pack to do some damage in attack.