Our best side by round 12 `2008

[Vicious]

As it`s now getting close to the start of the season, i thaught i`d start another best side thread. However, my way of thinking is that most people usually pick a side based on players that are already first team regulars and more or less pick a safe side that has been tried and failed over the past two seasons. Therefore i`d like anyone who responds to nominate a side with a few smokeys that you firmly believe could provide us with that missing X-factor that we`ve lacked over the past two seasons. Keep in mind that almost every side that wins the competition includes a few unknowns from previous seasons, with this in mind the cream usually rises to the top by mid season, so i`m basing my side on what i believe could be a top class side with us by about round 12 giving a few up ansd comers a bit of time to cement their spots in our top 17.

1.Brett Hodgson
2.Chris Lawrence
3.Dean Collis
4.Liam Fulton
5.Peni Tagive
6.Benji Marshall
7.Matthew Head
13.Lewis Brown
12.Ben Te`o
11.Chris Heighington
10.Keith Galloway
9.Robbie Farah
8.Todd Payten

14.Stuart Flanagan (IMO he can be used on the field at the same time as Farah and let them rotate the dummy half role when this is happening)
15.Bronson Harrison
16.Corey Payne
17.Taniela Tuiaki

 

[Palms]

Liams creativity and ruck defence would be wasted in the centres. Lawrence will be a rock in the number 4 for this year

 

[bubblesunlimited]

If we can keep this squad fit all year............it would be lovely

1. Hodgo
2. Youngquest
3. Lawrence
4. Collis
5. Tuiaki

6. Benj
7. Head

8. Payten
9. Farah
10. Gibbs
11. Payne
12. Heighno
13. Fulton

14. Halatau 15. Galloway 16. Harrison 17. Te'o

Then we have: Morris, McDonnell, Galea, Ryan, Moltzen, Lazarus, O'Hara, Gallant
The 2 Fijian monsters.

 

[themanonthehill]

What bubbles said

 

[Ninja]

Thirded.

That side has top 4 written all over it. Hopefully the injury gods are kind

 

[super_coach]

We all know our man Shines takes very little risks when picking his teams and likes to lean towards experience at all costs. So dont expect to many rookies to break into the squad. My guess outside the tried and trusted maybe Moltzen is about the only one who may break through especially with question marks over Heads fitness

 

[themanonthehill]

If there's no Gimme we know shines will select the parra turd ... morris has been `training the house down' at half (yeah i know i was in hysterics of disbelief as well) ... if beuttner, moodie and senter were still round shines would still have them in first grade

 

[Vicious]

I`ll give you a tip, Dene Halatau isn`t in the same class as Lewis Brown. I don`t care if he hasn`t played first grade as yet, i`ve got no doubt that he`s well and truly up to it. He`s a very physical footballer and regularly breaks tackles, we need him in the top 17.
I also believe Ben Te`o is a must in the starting 13 each and every week he`s available. If Chris Lawrence can prove in the trials that his defence has improved than i`d most certainly play him in the centres as we certainly need him closer in than the wing when we`re attacking. Players such as Dean Collis, Bryce Gibbs and to a lesser extent Liam Fulton really have to stand up, take the next step and become the players they have always promised, otherwise i`d be puting them back to the lower grades. I`m hoping others such as Dene Halatau and John Morris will start the season in the lower grades as they most certainly need a reality check !

 

[themanonthehill]

Yeah but vish you rate junior burger when everyone except coach shines and ronald can see he's utterly garbage. Is Halatau 08's Fatz vish ?

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

sheens has said halatau will be a centre why do people still have him on the bench :crazy:

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

I`ll give you a tip, Dene Halatau isn`t in the same class as Lewis Brown. I don`t care if he hasn`t played first grade as yet, i`ve got no doubt that he`s well and truly up to it. He`s a very physical footballer and regularly breaks tackles, we need him in the top 17.
I also believe Ben Te`o is a must in the starting 13 each and every week he`s available. If Chris Lawrence can prove in the trials that his defence has improved than i`d most certainly play him in the centres as we certainly need him closer in than the wing when we`re attacking. Players such as Dean Collis, Bryce Gibbs and to a lesser extent Liam Fulton really have to stand up, take the next step and become the players they have always promised, otherwise i`d be puting them back to the lower grades. I`m hoping others such as Dene Halatau and John Morris will start the season in the lower grades as they most certainly need a reality check !

Halatau can break tackles in pl who cares, 1st grade is a different story

 

[alien]

1. Hodgson
2. Lawrence
3. Youngquest
4. Collis
5. Tuiaki
6. Marshall
7. Head
8. Payten
9. Farah
10. Galloway
11. Teo
12. Heighnington
13. Fulton

14. Payne
15. Halatau
16. Harrison
17. Gibbs
18. O'Hara

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

can Youngquest play centre??? i dont remember him being there for penrith

 

[themanonthehill]

He must be able to if alien said he can
He's a solid winger but no centre

 

[mean_maori_mean]

sheens has said halatau will be a centre why do people still have him on the bench :crazy:

he going to trial him in centre - doesnt mean it is going to work.

Personally I wouldnt mind seing a pack with

8. Payten
9. Farah
10. Galloway
11. Heighno
12. Harrison / Teo
13. Teo/ Harrison

14. Fulton
15. Gibbs
16. O'Hara
17. Payne

Heaps of size, attack power and still with a bit of speed - with benji, robbie, hodgo, and matty head on the field - there more than enough 'playmaking' abilities without Fulton.

Start Fulton on the bench - then bring on to play the rest of the game. And mix between the rest of the pack.

With this as the starting pack - it would help Tigers Get on the front foot in the early exchanges. Mason wont be labelling Tigers softest pack this year.

 

[madunit]

I think Flanagan has to be on the bench this season, for the whole year.

Imagine having Farah, Head, Benji, Hodgo and Flanagan all on the field at once in the second half of a game against teams with bigger slower and more tired forward packs.

They'd run amock!

 

[themanonthehill]

Could probably be done i halatau plays as he can go to the forward rotation with benji shifting to centre (have a look in 05 and a lot of benji's work came at 3rd receiver) ... surely a better option than the turd that is John Morris