My team for round 1

[Chachi]

not at all. ive been to both our trial games and we didnt look very flash. we have created a heap of chances but the final execution has been terrible. we should have beaten the roosters by 20 but final passes or poor handling let us down.

the positives have been marshall getting heavily involved at halfback, gallant looking dangerous and safe at the back, and gareth ellis being the best forward on the field in both appearances. negatives have been morris in a play making role and our front row hasnt been making meters, same as last year.

i think the raiders deserve to start slight favourites, although a few factors will weigh heavily on the reult:

* if logan, tilse, picker and lars are still injured
* if the tigers pick up any injuries in our last trial this friday
* if farah plays (and is fit)
* if morris and mcdonnell play
* who comes out on top in the campese/marshall battle

Sounds like it will be a fumble-a-thon.

Lahrs has been great so far from all accounts...but he's still suspended in Round 1.

I think you're right about the key factors there - particularly the battle up front and the Campo vs Marshall showdown.

 

[mongoose]

i don't know how you could put campo anywhere but 5/8. how many line break assists did he get last season? he is the reason best and monaghan saw more ball than any other centres in the competition. he is a wonderful 5/8th.

 

[matt]

he will be smashed into submission as he is surrounded by predictability.
So i guess i am incorporating some ??? into the side.

i am having nightmares of the back end of 08 anytime we went near a blow torch we got F#$ked up.

 

[Chachi]

Thanks in great part to Kelly and Best...basically our ineptitude in defending the kick anywhere near our tryline.

 

[Dazraider]

like it or lump it.

1.Dugan
2.Carney
3.Croker
4.JM
5.Vidot
6.Mcrone
7.Waddel
13.Campo
12.Harrison
11.picker
10.shillo
9.tongue
8.joyce

14.tilse
15.thurlo
16. flanno
17.logan

travelling 18th man TC.

As crazy as it sounds I like the team except for a few changes like Campese at 5/8th Vidot in the centres and Milne on the wing instead of Mccrone and Croker
the forwards Id put in Tilse ,Thurlo to start in stead of Shillington

 

[legend]

Milne
Carney
Graham
Monaghan
Purtell
Campese
Herbert
Tongue
Picker
Harrison
Shillington
Buttriss
Miller

Turner
Thurling
Flannigan
Plum

 

[Raidersrawesome]

bronson can play front row...just ask tim sheens :sarcasm:

hopefully we have learned from the Tigers mistakes

 

[raiders fan forever]

not at all. ive been to both our trial games and we didnt look very flash. we have created a heap of chances but the final execution has been terrible. we should have beaten the roosters by 20 but final passes or poor handling let us down.

the positives have been marshall getting heavily involved at halfback, gallant looking dangerous and safe at the back, and gareth ellis being the best forward on the field in both appearances. negatives have been morris in a play making role and our front row hasnt been making meters, same as last year.

i think the raiders deserve to start slight favourites, although a few factors will weigh heavily on the reult:

* if logan, tilse, picker and lars are still injured
* if the tigers pick up any injuries in our last trial this friday
* if farah plays (and is fit)
* if morris and mcdonnell play
* who comes out on top in the campese/marshall battle

no way the Raiders will start favourites round 1 away from home looking forward to the campese/marshall battle

 

[matt]

Matt and big Dazraider..forward thinkers...Men with a plan, welcome aboard champ.

 

[tiger_nick]

no way the Raiders will start favourites round 1 away from home looking forward to the campese/marshall battle

in the bookies eyes the tigers might start favourites however imo on last years form and on paper the raiders deserve to be favourites.

wests tigers and raiders games are always close, for some reason we usually seem to be the better team but you guys find a way to win. always manage to pull the big play out when it matters. maybe thats just me but it seems to be how our games usually go.

 

[matt]

in the bookies eyes the tigers might start favourites however imo on last years form and on paper the raiders deserve to be favourites.

wests tigers and raiders games are always close, for some reason we usually seem to be the better team but you guys find a way to win. always manage to pull the big play out when it matters. maybe thats just me but it seems to be how our games usually go.

it was normally a certain bloke that put on the big play ,but alas we now have let him go because he did a wee wee.

 

[Chachi]

Potentially this is still a good matchup for us. It's not like the Tigers are that strong or deep up front, so if Shillo does his job and Thurling pulls his finger out we could be OK. Miller has been solid from all reports and Joyce should be jumping out of his skin for a start.

Hopefully Tonguey and Picker are 100% too, which should give us a bit more starch in the defensive line. It's a damn shame TLL is suspended, but the boys just might step up under adversity.

 

[Sydney_Raider]

I must say my confidence for season 2009 has been a bit deflated over the last 2 weeks. Our yearly injury plight is beyond a joke and surely it is more than a coincidence that teams like Manly don't seem to suffer the same problems. As for our team in round 1, I expect the following;

Milne
Graham
Purtell
Monaghan
Graham
Campese
Herbert
Tongue
Turner
Harrison
Miller
Buttriss
Shillington

Picker
Thurling
Flanagan
Joyce

The microscope imo is well and truly on Purtell and I would happily replace him with Croker, Vidot or even Joel Thompson ( if he had a run or two under his belt). Hopefully we can win 2 of our first 4 games with no further injuries. Looking at the draw it makes the Tigers game a must win. Still confident the forwards we have available can do the job, given the pressure that should be placed on their respective positions throughout the year.

 

[Macko8]

I must say my confidence for season 2009 has been a bit deflated over the last 2 weeks. Our yearly injury plight is beyond a joke and surely it is more than a coincidence that teams like Manly don't seem to suffer the same problems. As for our team in round 1, I expect the following;

Milne
Graham
Purtell
Monaghan
Graham
Campese
Herbert
Tongue
Turner
Harrison
Miller
Buttriss
Shillington

Picker
Thurling
Flanagan
Joyce

The microscope imo is well and truly on Purtell and I would happily replace him with Croker, Vidot or even Joel Thompson ( if he had a run or two under his belt). Hopefully we can win 2 of our first 4 games with no further injuries. Looking at the draw it makes the Tigers game a must win. Still confident the forwards we have available can do the job, given the pressure that should be placed on their respective positions throughout the year.

theres only one phil graham
justin carney, i think is the man you forgot there syd raider

 

[Sydney_Raider]

theres only one phil graham
justin carney, i think is the man you forgot there syd raider

Right. I was originally going to put Purtell on the wing and Carney in the centres or if I had my way, Purtell at Souths Logan and Croker on the wing.

 

[isaiah]

what about an under 20's team for round 1?

 

[Bobby DIGital]

^Not sure about that, but you can guarantee it will be the best team of teenagers assembled in the world today.

 

[Monk]

will phil graham be a certainty for a starting spot in Round 1?

 

[Macko8]

will phil graham be a certainty for a starting spot in Round 1?

i should hope so