My Round 1 Team List vs. Coach Websters likely picks.

[Wheeled Warrior]

Not long to go for trials and the start of our rebuilding season. Showing my preferred picks for Round 1 vs the most likely picks our coach will select.

Showing age and no.of games each individual brings to the table March 2nd.

The obvious elephant in the room is we need to instill more youth this season to build this team into a competitive / successful one. Harris and SJ retiring is a blessing in disguise to get our extended squad a chance to develop.

My picks.

01: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. 31/213 g.
02. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. 29/212 g.
03: Ali Leiataua. 22/7 g.
04: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 29/113 g.
05: Moala Taufa-Graham. 23/4 g.
06: Te Maire-Martin. 29/93 g.
07: Luke Metcalf. 26/26 g.
08: James Fisher-Harris. 29/200 g.
09: Wayde Egan. 27/129 g.
10: Mitchell Barnett. 30/166 g.
11: Marata Niukore. 28/132 g
12: Kurt Capewell. 31/157 g.
13: Dylan Walker. 30/229 g.

14: Erin Clark. 27/95 g.
15: Demitric Vaimauga. 21/7 g.
16: Tom Ale. 25/41 g.
17: Jacob Laban. 20/7 g.

18. Leka Halasima. 19/4 g.

Coach Webby's likely picks:

01: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 29/113 g.
02. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. 29/212 g.
03: Rocco Berry. 23/43 g.
04: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. 31/213 g.
05: Edward Kosi. 26/32 g.
06: Luke Metcalf. 26/26 g.
07: Te Maire-Martin. 29/93 g.
08: James Fisher-Harris. 29/200 g.
09: Wayde Egan. 27/129 g.
10: Mitchell Barnett. 30/166 g.
11: Jackson Ford. 27/76 g.
12: Kurt Capewell. 31/157 g.
13: Dylan Walker. 30/229 g.

14: Erin Clark. 27/95 g.
15: Demitric Vaimauga. 21/7 g.
16: Tom Ale. 25/41 g.
17: Marata Niukore. 28/132 g

18. Leka Halasima. 19/4 g.

 

[JJ]

I like your team better, although I think Ford should be there… and Niukore needs to step up

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I like your team better, although I think Ford should be there… and Niukore needs to step up

Niukore had a bad year but my understanding is he was battling his injuries and confidence looked low. I think he would do better starting fresh and playing more games to get that momentum back. A whole lot of the squad fell off like Marata in 2024.

Are you a Rocco Berry fan? As I think both Berry and Ford are Webby's favorites. I'm more unsure with Berry being picked over Ford tbh, I know this would be an unpopular opinion as a few have been Berry fanatics in this forum.

 

[Matua]

An in-form Niukore is way better than the plod Ford.

@Wheeled Warrior I'm genuinely interested in why you think Metcalf will make a good 7. In his games for us he's looked like nothing more than a running 6. Have you seen lower grade matches where he's shown the ability to lead a team around the park?

 

[JJ]

Niukore had a bad year but my understanding is he was battling his injuries and confidence looked low. I think he would do better starting fresh and playing more games to get that momentum back. A whole lot of the squad fell off like Marata in 2024.

Are you a Rocco Berry fan? As I think both Berry and Ford are Webby's favorites. I'm more unsure with Berry being picked over Ford tbh, I know this would be an unpopular opinion as a few have been Berry fanatics in this forum.

Not saying I’m a Ford fan, but he can do a job, and has a good engine…. Need done balance in the pack, hopefully Niukore goes better, but he’s no world beater either

I’d like to be a Berry fan, but not so much

 

[JJ]

An in-form Niukore is way better than the plod Ford.

@Wheeled Warrior I'm genuinely interested in why you think Metcalf will make a good 7. In his games for us he's looked like nothing more than a running 6. Have you seen lower grade matches where he's shown the ability to lead a team around the park?

A traditional game owning 7 is what we need, and don’t have ….