Penrith Squads for 2008 named

[Craigc86]

IMO Josh McCrone to get 1st shot at half back if he continues training the way he has been.

2008 Lineup - In My Opinion (based on what Elliott will do)

1. Rhys Wesser (Has done enough to hold his starting spot - Sammut to challenge)
2. Michael Gordon (Strong Defender & Finisher, quick off mark & a lot of speed, goal kicking percentage of plus 77% last year - what more could you want from a winger)
3. Michael Jennings (Did some freakish things in his debut year 2007 - so much natural ability - can only get better)
4. Maurice Blair (Strong & Skillful - Brad Tighe could challenge depending on pre-season & both players attitudes on & off the field)
5. Luke Rooney (Before injury last year put 110% in, obviously got that kick in the guts to say lift your game or risk being dropped - plus being off contract at the end of this year will see him even more determined - Elliott wont be afraid to drop him, let alone anyone)
6. Luke Lewis (Elliott persisting with Lewis at 6)
7. Josh McCrone (Kicking game crucial as lewis nor priddis renowned 4 kicking - Joe Williams to come in if McCrones preseason training/trials plummet or produces poor kicking game)
8. Petero Civoniceva (Will take the new challenge with both hands & lead from the front as true champions do - will bring so much experience not to mention what his sheer presence will produce for the players around him)
9. Luke Priddis (Wears his heart on his sleeve every week & always does his job, true clubman, every team needs a luke priddis)
10. Adam Woolnough (Will reach his potential, new environment will impact highly & will be great up front with Petero)
11. Frank Pritchard (Damaging wide running international back rower)
12. Tony Puletua (Is here for experience & thinking elliott will have to show him some loyalty as he has been with the club for many years and is a local junior, still showing poor form after first 5-10 rounds you could see him go)
13. Trent Waterhouse (Has everything a backrower should have, Defensively great, can play 80 mins, is damaging out wide & is very quick & skillful for his size)

14. Frank Puletua (Will do whatever job he is asked, no nonsense forward)
15. Tim Grant (Elliott has big wraps on him, young kid who has a lot of potential, will take a lot from petero and woolnough)
16. Nathan Smith (Elliott loves him, made close to 40+ tackles every game last year when starting when waterhouse was out - could even start at lock with Tony Puletua dropping to bench - can also play in the outside backs at centre or wing)
17. Jarrod Sammut (Can fill any backline position, dynamic late in game, may even be used in short attacking stints at hooker - not defensively of course - may see him used as Shaun Berrigan was in 2006 for Brisbane with him attacking at hooker and defending somewhere in the backline with blair/waterhouse/smith covering him defensively)

Left out - Paul Aiton - Will be right in the mix of things, more than likely bench spot
- Joe Williams - Poor training will see him start the year in Reserves
- Richie Williams - Poor training & attitude will also see him in reserves to begin
- Shane Rodney - will challenge a spot once fully recovered from shoulder injury
- Brendan Worth - Pushing for Tim Grants bench spot
- Junior Moors - Will be in 1st grade at some point in 08
- Geoff Daniela - Dont think he will get 1st crack due to Rooney & Gordon, will start in reserves, although he does have a bonus in a great combination with Jennings.

No doubt i have left a couple out here and there but i think ive covered the main squad. Also we should see all of the players left out of that top 17 in 2008 through injuries & poor form from other players.

Captain - Priddis (temporarily) - Civoniceva (once settled in)

What i would like to see personally at some stage in 08, Greg Waddell in 1st grade, he will be the next Greg Inglis.

Feedback?

 

[murraymob]

joe williams will start at half in the trials
jarrod sammitt has been told he will get a shot at 5/8 in the trials .Then if he performs he gets first shot
Lewis and jennings will pair in the centers
Waddell will stay in the u20 for the year no need to rush him in he is only 17
junior moors on the bench

the rest would be right .Rodney needs some games in lower grade for match fitness played 1 game all year

 

[Fibroman]

Only my opinion, but I think Sammut will push very hard for the #7 and possibly the #1 if Wesser doesn't fire early.

Civoniceva is a special for the captaincy as I'm not sure that Priddis will see the season out in first grade.

I like the look of the side with Aiton/and or Iosefa on the bench.

Tim Grant may be a shade in front of Woolnough by the time 2008 rolls around.

I think Waterhouse may push up to the 2nd row and the lock position may go to either: Smith, Lewis, Blair or even Rodney.

Junior Moors may force his way into the side if he plays to his full potential.

Waddell is still too young to even be considered for FG untill at least 2009.

Daniella will push both Rooney and Gordon for a wing spot.

I wouldn't even have poor old Brendan Worth as a maybe judged on last years overall performance.

I think Joe Williams will get first crack at half back based largely on his kicking game. He has one of the best kicking games in the NRL. If he doesn't fire, then Sammut and McCrone will be the next contenders.

 

[Fibroman]

joe williams will start at half in the trials
jarrod sammitt has been told he will get a shot at 5/8 in the trials .Then if he performs he gets first shot
Lewis and jennings will pair in the centers
Waddell will stay in the u20 for the year no need to rush him in he is only 17
junior moors on the bench

the rest would be right .Rodney needs some games in lower grade for match fitness played 1 game all year

Personally, I think Sammut may struggle a bit at 5/8th. Imagine him trying to tackle the likes of Braith Anasta or Mark Gasnier one on one? He can be hidden better in the defensive line at half or fullback.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Iosefa HAS to be on the bench from Round 1.

 

[murraymob]

the good thing we are all talking about possible positions last few years you could name a exact team and be right every week.And a few of the players will have to perform the young brigade have arrived .Bring it on i am missing those hot dogs at cua already :lol:

 

[MIGHTY PANTHER MAN]

Based on what ive heard on how training has been panning out in pre season;

-Ive heard lewis has been training in the halves and hookers group in pre season, surely that must mean he has first crack at 5/8 if he hasnt even been training as a centre!
-i agree with firbroman in that waddel is no where near first grade this year!
-Joe williams whilst wasnt training particularly well early on apparently his attitude has picked up in recent weeks and in my opinion he will get first crack at half back
-Junior moors, Geoff Daniella, Maurice Blair and Richie Williams wont be anywhere near first grade come rd1 next year as ive also heard they have been the bottom four trainers since training began. Though all four of them will feature prominantly in 2008
-Worth and Grant have been powerhouses at training but i expect grant may start the year in 20's only due to the fact i think they may prefere to see him being worked into the side
-Iosefa wont start in First Grade in rd 1 as Aiton is probably ahead of him atm but i feel that will change after not too long at all

Again my rant is no more than speculation on what ive heard on how the boys are training..

 

[mxlegend99]

-Ive heard lewis has been training in the halves and hookers group in pre season, surely that must mean he has first crack at 5/8 if he hasnt even been training as a centre!

I'm growing to like the idea of him becoming our longterm 5/8. He is a talented player and if he spends the entire off season learning, im sure he will have atleast a basic kicking game and the rest is already close to being on the mark. This is good news. Improves our defence a bit.

-i agree with firbroman in that waddel is no where near first grade this year!

Im sure if he was thrown into first grade it would only take a few rounds for him to be doing ok. But we have plenty of options and there is no need to rush him. I hope we give him a go at the end of 2008 off the bench.

-Joe williams whilst wasnt training particularly well early on apparently his attitude has picked up in recent weeks and in my opinion he will get first crack at half back

I just hope to god that Jarrod Sammut features somewhere in the team still. Utility, fullback, halves. i dont care. Joe Williams will offer a great kicking game, but i think we need the spark of Sammut still.

-Junior moors, Geoff Daniella, Maurice Blair and Richie Williams wont be anywhere near first grade come rd1 next year as ive also heard they have been the bottom four trainers since training began. Though all four of them will feature prominantly in 2008

:x Maurice Blair was one of our best last season. Hope he lifts his game. The others aren't anywhere near as damaging losses as he is. Although it's still ages before Round 1. All 4 could be at the top of the list by then (unlikely though).

-Worth and Grant have been powerhouses at training but i expect grant may start the year in 20's only due to the fact i think they may prefere to see him being worked into the side

I dont care for Worthless at all. I'd much rather Grant and McKendry be ahead of him in selection. Petero, F. Puletua, Woolnough, Grant, Mckendry.

-Iosefa wont start in First Grade in rd 1 as Aiton is probably ahead of him atm but i feel that will change after not too long at all

If Paul Aiton recaptures his 2006 form, we will be sweet regardless of who gets picked. Although another option is moving Masada Iosefa to lock.

Thanks for posting those little bits of info. I like knowing how training is going.

 

[ashton]

Mitchell Jennings & Onesemo Tia tia have been included in the Under 20 side.

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

joe williams will start at half in the trials
jarrod sammitt has been told he will get a shot at 5/8 in the trials .Then if he performs he gets first shot
Lewis and jennings will pair in the centers
Waddell will stay in the u20 for the year no need to rush him in he is only 17
junior moors on the bench

the rest would be right .Rodney needs some games in lower grade for match fitness played 1 game all year

Zillman played a couple of trials for the raiders at halfback and played really well but didnt get a fair crack in the first grade team until Elliot left.
Also if a player trains well they are almost certain to make the team even if they perform poorly week in week out.
Sucks to have Elliott as coach :crazy:

 

[murraymob]

you are prety right about the first year. But next year there will be more competion for spots.So even elliott could not run last again next year.:lol::lol:

 

[The Nature Boy]

Well if elliott does run last next year there will be some good news with his early sacking i will watch on with interest.

 

[Fibroman]

Petero is up there with Lewie Mortimer and Peter Kelly as a marquee signing that will change the cluture in the club to a winning culture. Elliott has no excuses next year. He has the pick of the litter as far as the young blokes are concerned, and the departure of Gowie has surely freed up money under the cap to retain most of the talent.

 

[Magpie Nick]

Seeing as the Panthers' Backline is pretty full, is there any chance or merit in playing Blair at Lock? He did come to the Panthers as primarily a Backrower didn't he? Even when playing in the Centres he seemed to be making a lot of Forward-like hit ups, and doing them very well. Playing him at Lock allows for a less congested Backline but still have Blair being quite damaging.

 

[The Rhino]

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: I thought with the money that was freed up from Gowie's release help us to purchase the world's biggest halfback in Petero!!:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

 

[Kilkenny]

I think we have more competition for positions in the top side than at any other side in our history.

The query remains on our halves which if we have an achilles heel we'll the crucial 6/7 combination will surely be it.

I think Joe Williams can do a job for us only if our forwards do the business and dominate the battle up front. Our forwards haven't consistently won the battle up front since 2004 and we simply have to this season if our less than overwhelming halves combinations are going to succeed.

 

[mxlegend99]

I think our forwards are going to lay the platform for whatever halves we go with.

Although Joe Williams is in the best possible position. He has a great forward pack and talented backs to work with. If he can't cement a first grade spot with that in his favour, Panthers are really going to have to hope Josh McCrone can step up.

 

[Kilkenny]

I will try and get some early feedback on Josh McCrone sometime this week.

 

[Kilkenny]

Despite rumours to the contrary, my mail is all positive for season 2008.

There has been some who have post here and on Panthers Interactive that there are those within the camp who have not warmed to the regime being imposed by Matt Elliot and the other members of his coaching staff.

From my sources, there is nothing but positive vibes and I have not heard anything of a negative perspective so I can not account for the alternative views which claim to have been hearing dissent with the camp.

I guess we will known by about May, come round six or so.

 

[murraymob]

i have only seen one training sesion so far this year so its hard to judge but the harmony looked great they where laughing and stirring each other as they trained. The newer players where looking good