Raiders side for Warriors game

[jed]

Raiders Side Named for Warriors Clash
20/07/04: Fone Zone Canberra Raiders coach Matthew Elliott has named his side for this Sunday's home clash against the New Zealand Warriors.

Elliott has named a virtually unchanged lineup from last week, with Michael Hodgson set to make his return from the interchange bench and Alan Rothery returning to Premier League.

Brad Drew has been named on a 5-man bench to cover the possible loss of Simon Woolford, who is having scans on his injured shoulder today.

2004 NRL Telstra Premiership Round 20

Fone Zone Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors
Sunday July 25, Kickoff 3:00pm
Canberra Stadium

Coach: Matthew Elliott

1. Clinton Schifcofske
2. Nathan Smith
3. Adam Mogg
4. Joel Monaghan
5. Michael Robertson
6. Matthew Gafa
7. Mark McLinden
8. Ryan O'Hara
9. Simon Woolford (c)
10. Luke Davico
11. Ruben Wiki
12. Ian Hindmarsh
13. Jason Croker

14. Troy Thompson
15. Terry Martin
16. Michael Hodgson
17. Brad Drew
18. Todd Carney

 

[I Bleed Green]

Typical. No Weyman. At least Bulgarelli is not there.

I will say one thing. I said earlier that Drew should play, but only if Woolford does not recover in time. Drew should be the hooker, that's his best position. However if Woolford plays and Drew is on the bench ahead of Carney, it's a deadset joke.

 

[jed]

Oompa loompa, doopedy do, Raiders announce the comeback of Drew!

 

[Poida_Raider]

ahh thats a pretty good side, when you dont think about last week. i'm sure they're revved up. and ruben should be fired up to get another one over his future team.

if woolford doesnt play, drew should play well i think.

 

[edabomb]

Drew will be ahead of Carney IMO if Woolford plays. He'll probably play his best game in a year and be recalled to the 7 for the rest of the season. With all the reports on Weyman I can't believe he isn't there. I'd have him in ahead of Thompson and Martin going on last years performances.

 

[Anonymous]

Firstly:

Oompa loompa, doopedy do, Raiders announce the comeback of Drew!

LOL!!!!!!

Secondly, I suppose showing some faith is good, but if we get mauled this week, I expect changes en masse.

And Drew should only remain if Germ is out.

 

[hrundi99]

I don't know about that.

I know Drew is very inconsistent and weak defensively, but he does have experience and when he plays well I reckon he is of more value than Carney based on our current predicament. IF he plays well.

One of the big questions I guess is, is his head still in the game?, considering his time out due to injury and basically being off the 1st grade radar.

Weyman should find himself on the bench if Thommo has a quiet or poor game on Sunday.

 

[Skippy The Bush Kangadrew]

I find it comical that some of you think that having Brad Drew on the bench even while Woollford is fit is stupid. Did you not see what happened against the Panthers when Woolford got injured? McLinden can't be forced to play dummy half again, it throws all of our 'already limited' attacking options out the window. While I rate Carney as a player of the future I don't belive he is as yet up to a first grade standard. I think we should use Drew while we still have him.

 

[edabomb]

I find it comical that some of you think that having Brad Drew on the bench even while Woollford is fit is stupid. Did you not see what happened against the Panthers when Woolford got injured? McLinden can't be forced to play dummy half again, it throws all of our 'already limited' attacking options out the window. While I rate Carney as a player of the future I don't belive he is as yet up to a first grade standard. I think we should use Drew while we still have him.

Have you watched any of the earlier games this season?? I would hardly say Drew being on the field gave us direction. I'm all for Drew being in at hooker if Woolford isn't playing, if not for the fact I see it as a springboard for his return to the number 7.

 

[Skippy The Bush Kangadrew]

Saying it's a springboard for a return to the number 7 is a bit far fetched considering McLindens form (excluding his flu ridden performance last week). In this case Drew wouldn't be on the field for his direction, he'd be there to keep McLinden in the role of play maker if Woolford was to get injured again. If this scenario was to come about again, I would much rather see a specialist hooker in Drew there instead of McLinden or Carney. Also, Drew isn't limited to the hooking role, if any of the halves were injured he can quite easily slip into their position as he is familiar with Canberra's attacking options.

 

[edabomb]

Look at how long it took Elliott to drop Drew from the 7 in the first place.

Scenario i) Drew plays an outstanding game at hooker and the Raiders win. Do you really see Elliott dropping him the next week?? No. So he'd pretty much have a bench spot or more likely the 7 with McLinden to 6, Gafa to wing and Smith dropped. Call me paranoid but thats how I see it.

 

[Skippy The Bush Kangadrew]

It wouldn't be in the Raiders interests to keep Drew in a starting role with his departure next season. I reckon Brad Drew's role would be restricted to a utility role off the bench. I think there is no better person for the role aside from Alan Tongue who is unfortunately injured.

 

[GreenGuy]

I find it comical that some of you think that having Brad Drew on the bench even while Woollford is fit is stupid. Did you not see what happened against the Panthers when Woolford got injured? McLinden can't be forced to play dummy half again, it throws all of our 'already limited' attacking options out the window. While I rate Carney as a player of the future I don't belive he is as yet up to a first grade standard. I think we should use Drew while we still have him.

If there's any doubt over Woolford at all, he shouldn't play. We should learn from our mistakes of using players who aren't 100%.

 

[thickos]

Agreed. We need to give him time if he's no good. Besides, Drew is a good replacement FOR THE HOOKING POSITION.

 

[Raider_69]

simple fellas


Option 1) Woolford isnt 100% hence Woolford DOES NOT play and drew gets the hooking job and Carney remains on the bench

Option 2) Woolford IS 100% and plays thus Drew is goooooooorn and Carney on the bench

anything outside that would be a farce

 

[mike83au]

If Germ doesn't play... who gets the captaincy?

Hopefully Toots, considering he's staying around for next year and Wiki isn't.

 

[jed]

Why should that matter? Wiki's a good captain, and is contracted to us for the remainder of the season. He's doing exactly what he has to do.

The captaincy should go to the best person for the job. In this case, I think Wiki is the man.

 

[mike83au]

Wiki would do a good job, no doubt. He has in the past for us, NZ and probably for the Warriors in the future....

I just think that Toots has shown enough form of late to take on the roll (if required) ... But I have no problem if Muss does...

I was just trying to get a few votes in the Croker camp.... I'm a fan, you see....

 

[Raider_69]

Wiki is a good captain but i honestly believe that when daley and stuart were gone toots should have been captain, he is the man for job and has been for awhile now

but both he and wiki are great options as a back up skipper

 

[ball boy]

toots was captain when germ was off so he will be it again