Nines

[umina panther]

Edwards has everything that Moylan lacks as a fullback

 

[TheFrog]

1. Edwards
6. Moylan
7. Cleary
9. Wallace

14. TMM

Having a half on the bench....I dunno.
Especially since Peachey seems likely to be there as well.

 

[Kilkenny]

Having a half on the bench....I dunno.
Especially since Peachey seems likely to be there as well.

I see no reason to change the Peachy Blake centre combination. Four forwards off the bench.

 

[mxlegend99]

Having a half on the bench....I dunno.
Especially since Peachey seems likely to be there as well.

We will see how the trials go. I wouldnt be surprised if Whare fails to get through them and be fit for Round 1.

Griffin also said its up to Whare and Hiku to earn their spots back. I think he was more referring to Blake having the edge. But Peachey deserves to be ahead of them also.

 

[TheFrog]

I see no reason to change the Peachy Blake centre combination. Four forwards off the bench.

It's hard to know how it will go. I just don't see Whare in reserves (well maybe a game or two but thats it). Even Hiku showed himself to be an outstanding finisher before he got hurt last year but his defence needs improvement. It's going to be interesting, thats for sure.

 

[Kilkenny]

Peachy is such threat out wide and more than capable in defence. I think the overall balance of the side is much better with Blake Peachy allowing four quality forwards off the bench.

 

[betcats]

I also like the Peachey/Blake centre pairing. Peachey is very hard to handle out wide and we know what Blake can do.

 

[Kilkenny]

I agree trial form will probably determine when and if Whare returns but best part of two years out the game I just can't see how Hook changes what was so successful in back end of last season.

 

[umina panther]

2014 Whare is still the best centre at the club. Is he the same player? Who knows

 

[betcats]

Hooks comments after the 9s suggest it's Waqa's spot to lose atm. Not sure about peachey. If Whare comes back close to his best he has to be in the team.

 

[Kilkenny]

Whare is also off contract at seasons end is he not. Will certainly need a very good 2017 to ensure he gets another contract in NRL. Another injury plagued season would be disaster for Dean when it comes to negotiating table.

 

[Kilkenny]

Former Panther Chris Smith surely set for breakthrough year. Super kid and super talent.

 

[umina panther]

So many good options. Can't wait to put 40 on the Merge round 1

 

[Kilkenny]

So many good options. Can't wait to put 40 on the Merge round 1

I'll settle for the two points.

Still have nightmares about that game against them at the Gong last season. Poor performance capped off by allowing Dugan to score that late match winning try.

 

[GongPanther]

I'll settle for the two points.

Still have nightmares about that game against them at the Gong last season. Poor performance capped off by allowing Dugan to score that late match winning try.

I regard the Dragons as the dark horse of the comp.

They have some talent coming through the lower grades which IMO,puts them in a more promising position than most people think.

They won the reserve grade comp,and nation title in a great run of form.

So this to me is really a "pull yer pants down" kind of match if we are not on our game.

 

[Pomoz]

2014 Whare is still the best centre at the club. Is he the same player? Who knows

"Whare was the best centre at the club". There, fixed it for you. He has a lot to prove. Blake and Peachey were brilliant in the last five rounds and deserve their places. I rate Whare but he hasn't played much in two years. NRL years are like dog years in the NRL. Two NRL years is worth 5 normal years. So much can change.

I hope he gets back to his best and then we will see who are the best centres in the club. Peachey and Blake both have improvement in them, does Whare?

 

[Pomoz]

The Dragons will be tough. Forget 40 points. They will tackle to a standstill and will give us a hard game. We will be rusty and that will work in their favour because their game is more simple and less reliant on passes sticking and clever ball playing. Five games in and I would back us to beat them comfortably, but playing them in the first game will be a close affair.

 

[maple_69]

I'm backing Whare to come back strong. Until his injuries he wasn't just the best centre at the club he was arguably the best performed centre in the league over the previous 3 years or so through to the international stage. He is pure class. The main thing that makes me optimistic is he is a skill and brains player not an athlete. His reading of the play, decision making and execution of fundamental centre skills in attack and defence is second to none. Blake is undoubtedly going to be one of our true strike players. I think ultimately Peachey's versatility costs him.

I think if we turn up for the Dragons game, and the impressive focus at the Nines was a great sign, we win. There are other great teams in the comp that will challenge us but against the middle and weaker teams I think we will be just too strong this year. Our pack is so so strong. We saw at the end of last year, when they are rolling and Moylan/Cleary get space they just have too much poise and too many weapons out wide to be contained.

I think the key for us to go to the next level is discipline and focus, especially against the top sides. Cut some penalties, dropped ball and be engaged for 80 minutes and we'll be right there punching with the big guys.

 

[Kilkenny]

I truly hope for the sake of our depth and putting pressure on incumbents Dean Whare approaches his best form in 2017.

Is his best form equal or better than what we saw from Waqa Blake and Tyrone Peachy in the latter part of 2016 I think not.

Dean Whare was the best centre at our club, in 2014, which is two years ago. He also didn't have a lot of competition for his position back in those days.

I truly hope he gets himself fully fit, injury free and finds his best form but at the same time we have moved on and there are two very special players who in my opinion offer so much more strike power in the same position.

Nothing against Dean Whare but for mine we need the Blake / Peachy combination fit and firing to make the top four in season 2017.

 

[Westernised Panther]

I'll settle for the two points.

Still have nightmares about that game against them at the Gong last season. Poor performance capped off by allowing Dugan to score that late match winning try.

Plus Mitch Rein had a great game against us in that same match