My team for round 1

[Saints Forever]

Who is going to throw the pass that puts these runners into the holes? Dugan? That is the part everyone is missing ... It is all very well for these blokes to be running into the holes of the opposition defence .. Dugan isn't going to get them the ball, they are not going to get the ball off each other .. So the pressure and a shit tonne of it goes onto Widdop/McCrone/Field.

The other thing is, if the defence is not worried about the pass coming out then they can double/triple team the ball carrier ... We are too easily defended.

This is a good question RR, and exactly the reason that Dufty or Mann must play full back

I would prefer Mann play left centre or winger than be forced out of the club.

 

[RufusRex]

I think you can play dugan at FB but it means you cant have Aitken at centre ...
1. Dugan, 3. Milne (r), 4. Mann (l) will give you what you need .... without sacrificing our defence at fullback ... Dugan is hugely superior to any other option in defence there ...

ball skills at centre on both sides of the ruck and a decent game plan will be good.


Newcastle though was quite scarey today ... pretty much the whole team looked like they could throw a pass ... I know it was a trial but they did look well coached and skilful.

 

[Old Timer]

Well after what I saw today
Dugan
Nighty
Milne
Mann
Mc Donald
Field
Nona
De Belin
Thompson
Frizzell
LAM
Mc Innes
Packer

Vaughan
Host
Simms
Havili

Widdop was actually out performed by Mc Crone today and whilst I have been a Widdop supporter for a long time today's effort was amongst his worse and he desperately need stop get his confidence back before I could consider playing hm again.
I have picked the unlikely halves combination because I know they can't possibly be as bad as the other offering.
Mann wins the centre spot because he knows how to score a try and almost did so against the odds today and his defence and reading of the game is far better than Lafai.
Nighty either plays RW or gets punted for the RW in the Cutters.
Nighty is no where near as good on his non preferred side.
Mc Innes will grow into his role but we need Havili because will bring some real punch if used at the correct time.

 

[RufusRex]

Old Timer ...
I pretty much agree .. though I would play McCrone at 7 over Nona. I think McCrone has the experience to just move the forwards around the paddock and give early ball to field - he wont break games apart, he will just do the basic organisation stuff well. I would play them traditional half/5-8 not left right. Give Field the flexibility to inject where he can. it was noticeable today that widdop was doing everything to make sure the ball stayed left and Field hardly touched it.

Hunt/Field will be interesting next year.

 

[Old Timer]

Old Timer ...
I pretty much agree .. though I would play McCrone at 7 over Nona. I think McCrone has the experience to just move the forwards around the paddock and give early ball to field - he wont break games apart, he will just do the basic organisation stuff well. I would play them traditional half/5-8 not left right. Give Field the flexibility to inject where he can. it was noticeable today that widdop was doing everything to make sure the ball stayed left and Field hardly touched it.

Hunt/Field will be interesting next year.

Yep agonised over that but Nona brings bit of ad lib ala Cliffy Lyons and some goal kicking skills.
Mc Crone would be very structured which could kill Fields natural ability.
However in the end I could live with Mc Crone if I had to.
I'm gutted in respect of Widdop I really thought we would at least some change today but zip.

 

[RufusRex]

McCrone actually did the little things right ... Moved the forwards and even delivered decent ball to Widdop. Widdop just ruined everything. understand your ideas on Nona - just too inexperienced for me esp with field..

 

[Dea]

It's only one game, except it is also a continuation of last season (maybe more) that has me thinking Widdop needs a real shake up and should play a week or two in the Cutters. He then can play and prove that he is well above the others in that competition. It would also put all players on notice that this year we pick teams on performance.

 

[barry]

Is it just me or does anyone else think the props should of been swapped around?

Vaughn and Sims could provide stronger impact off the bench.

1. Dugan
2. Nene
3. Milne
4. Mann/Lafai
5. Nighty
6. Widdop (Cringe)
7. Field
8. Ah Mau
9. Mcinnes
10. Packer
11. Frizz
12. Thommo
13. JDB

14. Sims
15. Vaughn
16. Aitken
17. Havili/McCrone

Aitken is too good not to have in the 17 but i think his future may be in the back row.

 

[barry]

McCrone actually did the little things right ... Moved the forwards and even delivered decent ball to Widdop. Widdop just ruined everything. understand your ideas on Nona - just too inexperienced for me esp with field..

I have to admit i was super impressed with McCrones defense.

 

[RufusRex]

Barry ... aitken is easily omitted ...
he is not our best fullback, not one of our best two wingers, not one of our best two centres, not one of our best two halves , etc etc etc

Good tackler, good runner of the ball
BUT
Poor defender and poor attacker

His future is back row but he is behind friz/thommo/host/Leila/JDB/havili. Best place for him is 11/12/13 with cutters

 

[Saints Forever]

I am predicting Mary will select the following team for round 1:

Dugan
McDonald
Aitken
Lafai
Nighingale
Widdop
McCrone
Packer
McInnes
Vaughan
Frizzell
JDB
Thompson

Field
Host
Ah Mau
Sims


After the dribble served up today my team would be:

Dugan
McDonald
Milne
Lafai
Nightingale
Mann
McCrone
Packer
McInnes
Vaughan
Frizzell
JDB
Thompson

Field
Host
Ah Mau
Sims

Today I felt I was watching groundhog day

Am praying that when I wake up tomorrow we have a new coach

 

[Dragonslayer]

Well after what I saw today
Dugan
Nighty
Milne
Mann
Mc Donald
Field
Nona
De Belin
Thompson
Frizzell
LAM
Mc Innes
Packer

Vaughan
Host
Simms
Havili

Widdop was actually out performed by Mc Crone today and whilst I have been a Widdop supporter for a long time today's effort was amongst his worse and he desperately need stop get his confidence back before I could consider playing hm again.
I have picked the unlikely halves combination because I know they can't possibly be as bad as the other offering.
Mann wins the centre spot because he knows how to score a try and almost did so against the odds today and his defence and reading of the game is far better than Lafai.
Nighty either plays RW or gets punted for the RW in the Cutters.
Nighty is no where near as good on his non preferred side.
Mc Innes will grow into his role but we need Havili because will bring some real punch if used at the correct time.

Just about spot on OT.
I would just give young Field several weeks in Cutters before introducing him. McCrone is serviceable and would work well with Nona as they did for the Cutters last year. I actually wouldn't mind giving Dodd a centre spot and putting Mann as the 7.
If Havili survives his court case then he must be in the squad as a bench rotation player, he seems to have gotten his sh!t together now.
I like the idea of Nona and as people have already alluded to, the seasons shot already, particularly with Widdop in the halves, so why not give a kid who really wants the chance to play first grade a go? He's certainly not the worst going around and he's a handy goal kicker (probably better than Widdop).
We really need to give these unknowns a run, because really, we know what we get rolled out week after week and nothing changes with the squad he chooses now, but McGregor expects it will.
Nothing to loose if the season is already declared a disaster, so it couldn't get any worse than giving a few "goers" a chance IMO.

 

[GC Dragon]

I was dead against throwing Field straight in but our halves options are atrocious . time to get rid of the deadwood from the backline and cop a few mistakes from some guys who may have a future going forward . My team would be .

Dugan
McDonald
Milne
Dodd
Thompson
Field
Mann ( Sorry Kurt would prefer you at left centre but desperate times)
Packer
McInnes
LAM
Frizzell
Thompson
JDB

Vaughan
Sims
Host ( Would not be surprised if he pushes Thompson out of that left edge spot latter this year )
Havili

 

[Saintsified]

Make all 13 forwards and lets get back the WALL. 2010 circa

 

[MilanDragon]

This won't happen but seeing as we have nothing to lose:

1. Widdop - might have been shocking today but maybe FB is his position and he could provide some sort of passing game.. surely.

2. McDonald
3. Dugan
4. Aitken
5. Nighty
6. Field
7. Mann
8. Packer
9. McInnes
10. LAM
11. Frizell
12. Thompson
13. JDB

14. Vaughan
15. Host
16. Sims
17. McCrone or Milne

Milne could be played as a versatile second rower or into the backline, which would mean a little reshuffle for back up dummy half. And McCrone as backup Hooker/half.

 

[Objective View]

Barry ... aitken is easily omitted ...
he is not our best fullback, not one of our best two wingers, not one of our best two centres, not one of our best two halves , etc etc etc

Good tackler, good runner of the ball
BUT
Poor defender and poor attacker

His future is back row but he is behind friz/thommo/host/Leila/JDB/havili. Best place for him is 11/12/13 with cutters

Who supplies your drugs?

Straight Shooter

 

[RufusRex]

Subjective view .. which part was wrong? Do you think he is one of our best 2 centres? Comprehensively outplayed by Milne today at right centre ...

 

[Old Timer]

Imagine how bad we would be if we didn't have boot camp?
Good old boot camp it really brought the best out in us.
It was really evident as you could see the lift in the players that did the best while they were at boot camp.
Teamwork and combinations were unbelievable.
You could really see the improvement in the whole squad.
We should probably have them again when we have the byes to keep the momentum going.
To think people were actually talking players up on the back of that just laughable.

 

[GC Dragon]

Imagine how bad we would be if we didn't have boot camp?
Good old boot camp it really brought the best out in us.
It was really evident as you could see the lift in the players that did the best while they were at boot camp.
Teamwork and combinations were unbelievable.
You could really see the improvement in the whole squad.
We should probably have them again when we have the byes to keep the momentum going.
To think people were actually talking players up on the back of that just laughable.

Yeah just imagine how good blokes like Changa , Gasnier and Raper would have been if they went on boot camps instead of doing boring football training .

 

[SBD82]

This won't happen but seeing as we have nothing to lose:

1. Widdop - might have been shocking today but maybe FB is his position and he could provide some sort of passing game.. surely.

2. McDonald
3. Dugan
4. Aitken
5. Nighty
6. Field
7. Mann
8. Packer
9. McInnes
10. LAM
11. Frizell
12. Thompson
13. JDB

14. Vaughan
15. Host
16. Sims
17. McCrone or Milne

Milne could be played as a versatile second rower or into the backline, which would mean a little reshuffle for back up dummy half. And McCrone as backup Hooker/half.

This line of thought kills me.

Milne is the best right centre at the club, so play him there. If duges is not good enough to hold the fullback spot, then he will need to displace someone where he can improve on the job they are doing in that position. Nothing he has done in a red/white, blue or green/gold jersey in the 4 suggests to me that he is an improvement on Milne there.

Milne is not a second rower, and if he were, there's a guy by the name of Tyson Frizzel in front of him, who plays 80 on the right edge. But he's just not a 12. His pet play is to get the ball on the outside of his opposing centre. He'll get jammed all day if he tries that at 12.

Milne is a better right centre than anyone at the club. So play him at right centre. It really is that simple.