Match Discussion: Round 1 vs Sea Eagles @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[Frederick]

I reckon Lamb and Watson will be swapped around in the final lineup, with Watson playing bench utility role. Thatd be the best way to run with the players named.

I can get on board with Levi not playing. I noticed in the trial he still tries to draw penalties by deliberately tripping over players that are lying on the ground. I think he got a penalty for it once, maybe twice. The rest of the time it's just a momentum killer

 

[Noname36]

Levi is shit. Buhrer should be our permanent hooker. Run 4 forwards off the bench. Release lamb to negotiate with other clubs.

He’s really not. The only time we looked decent around the ruck last year in attack was when Levi was playing. It’s not Buhrer’s fault, he’s not a natural hooker at all.

 

[Old dog]

We grew to love players last year, best of the bunch but this year with new recruits they ain't quite there, Buhrer was a stand out when playing but now a bit small, not needed as hooker relief. Levi was v/good but now we have Griffin when last year we had no one, he defends better and can play longer. Lamb was the new wonder boy but now have Pearce and Watson, good as he was its hard to see him not in side.
We all loved that they signed up Esee, Lillyman, Heighinton, Guerra, Pearce, Watson and Moga, did we not expect a few changes to the team, all the new buys along with Ponga made the team and will debut,Minaj not totally happy with the selection but let's hope it goes well, 18-21 positions do allow for changes.

 

[Burwood]

Doesn't matter, Lamb or Watson, bench or 5/8 is the same,mWatson covers everything 1-5 & 9 Lamb covers 6-7 other 3 bench cover 8-13 minus 9

The main difference is that Lamb on the bench forces a pretty significant reshuffle of the spine once he comes on for Watson. How many teams carry a spare half on their bench?

Brown has spent all off season talking about Watson being given a fair crack at the #6 jersey, and now he names Lamb on the bench to split the role with him in the opening round- hardly a show of confidence in Watson’s ability to play 80 minutes in the halves. It just doesn’t make any sense. I could understand Levi being dropped back to reserves for whatever reasons, but not if he’s going to be replaced by Lamb.

[And something I just realised- where the hell is Ese’ese?!? I thought he had 75 carryover points from a late tackle in the Eels match? Did he challenge it at the judiciary and cop a week? I haven’t heard a single thing about him unless I’ve missed it somewhere??]

Blond moment...

 

[Burwood]

Haha ignore my Ese’ese comment- completely missed him at number 8! Was looking for him at lock again.

 

[Old dog]

So game day, Levi on bench instead of Lamb, injury to Ponga what then, no f/back, no goal kicker. Ross to f/b and Levi or Griffin to wing.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I have a bad feeling their forwards are going to destroy us..

 

[Burwood]

So game day, Levi on bench instead of Lamb, injury to Ponga what then, no f/back, no goal kicker. Ross to f/b and Levi or Griffin to wing.

I don’t think I’ve said Levi should be on the bench instead of Lamb? I’m pretty sure I even said that I’m happy for Levi to be back in reserves.

My issue is with picking a specialist half on the bench. Lamb needs to be either playing 80 minutes in the halves, or back in NSW Cup.

In your above scenario, ideally Watson would come off the bench and slot straight into fullback. No need to move around 2-3 other positions to cover the injury like if Lamb was on the bench.

 

[Knight Vision]

It appears Brown is perhaps being true to his word when recruiting some of these players. Ese Ese starting ( thats one of the reasons he signed ) Griffin and Watson were also made promises.

I dont see it staying this way for long, Lamb will be in the halves and Watson will eventually be where he is best suited - utility on the bench relieving Levi.

Our bench is poor and we're still a couple of mongrel grunts away from dominating the middle.

 

[slotmachine]

Can't buhrer play 6 if Watson needs to be shuffled around to cover injuries?

 

[Spot On]

Yes he can.

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

My understand of Brown’s so called promises are that you get the first crack at it. Which basically leaves the position wide open to be taken. First crack simply means if you perform well at training and in games then you get the spot. Could very well be that lamb has been outperforming Watson at training and may get the nod over him.

 

[Joel-22]

It appears Brown is perhaps being true to his word when recruiting some of these players. Ese Ese starting ( thats one of the reasons he signed ) Griffin and Watson were also made promises.

I dont see it staying this way for long, Lamb will be in the halves and Watson will eventually be where he is best suited - utility on the bench relieving Levi.

Our bench is poor and we're still a couple of mongrel grunts away from dominating the middle.

This.

Come round 6 I think we'll see

1.Kalyn Ponga
2.Nathan Ross
3.Sione Mata'utia
4.Tautau Moga
5.Shaun Kenny Dowell
6.Brock Lamb
7.Mitchell Pearce
8.Daniel Saifiti
9.Danny Levi
10.Herman Ese'ese
11.Jamie Buhrer
12.Aiden Guerra
13.Mitchell Barnett

14.Connor Watson
15.Jacob Lillyman
16.Jacob Saifiti
17.Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Personally I'd like to see Fitzgibbon to start with Heighington or King on the bench in place of Buhrer.
Having said that, it's all good in theory having a big forward pack but the one thing I'l give Buhrer is he'll be busting his arse all game, every game.
I couldn't say that about anyone else in the side bar maybe Guerra and Barny.

 

[Burwood]

My understand of Brown’s so called promises are that you get the first crack at it. Which basically leaves the position wide open to be taken. First crack simply means if you perform well at training and in games then you get the spot. Could very well be that lamb has been outperforming Watson at training and may get the nod over him.

Brown has also said that new players will be given the opportunity in first grade to make the spot their own without having to worry about being dropped. If Watson is going to be our 5/8, he shouldnt need to worry about having Lamb sitting on the bench.

 

[Spot On]

Brown just confident his game plan will work ie kick to Uate and run traffic down his side all night.

 

[Old dog]

Hard to let go isn't it, he wasn't the greatest defender but boy he could score some tries.

 

[mozza91]

Brown just confident his game plan will work ie kick to Uate and run traffic down his side all night.

Might be abit more solid defensively now that he doesn’t have his inside man running out the line taking nobody and leaving him 2 on 1 regularly.

 

[Spot On]

Nah, just send traffic constantly down his side. He loves to run out, waving his arms around grabbing nothing in the process. That and a few high kicks plus some kicks rolling around his feet should be enough to see the head and the bundle drop pretty quickly.

 

[Old dog]

Nah, just send traffic constantly down his side. He loves to run out, waving his arms around grabbing nothing in the process. That and a few high kicks plus some kicks rolling around his feet should be enough to see the head and the bundle drop pretty quickly.

So while he was scoring all those tries, record, you continued to knock him or was it just after he left and became the opposition. I want us to win but I hope he has a good game, he was a champion for us and I hope he gets a good reception on the night.

 

[Knight Vision]

Nah, just send traffic constantly down his side. He loves to run out, waving his arms around grabbing nothing in the process. That and a few high kicks plus some kicks rolling around his feet should be enough to see the head and the bundle drop pretty quickly.

I got to admit when all isnt going well he's body language is very very poor. There was a time though where Uate was the most thrilling player to watch in the game, a pure excitement machine