Round 1 Starting Team for me

[Isaac A]

(Barring Injury)
1 D EDWARDS
2 B TO’O
3 S CRICHTON
4 I TAGO
5. C STAINES
6 J LUAI
7 N CLEARY
8 M LEOTA
9 A KOROISAU
10 JFH
11 V KIKAU
12 L MARTIN
13 I YEO

14 J SALMON (Can Cover 1,3,4,6,7,9,13)
15 J HOPGOOD
16 S SORENSEN
17 S LENIU
18th Man M KENNY

 

[DinkyDi]

Sean O'Sullivan for the #14 would be my pick.

 

[Big Mick]

I'm going with what I hope for:

1. Edwards, 2. To'o, 3. Crichton, 4. Jenkins, 5. Staines/May, 6. Luai, 7. Cleary, 8. Leota, 9. Api, 10. JFH, 11. Kikau, 12. Martin, 13. Yeo
14. Kenny, 15. Sorensen, 16. Leniu, 17. Tago

 

[Iamback]

I'm going with what I hope for:

1. Edwards, 2. To'o, 3. Crichton, 4. Jenkins, 5. Staines/May, 6. Luai, 7. Cleary, 8. Leota, 9. Api, 10. JFH, 11. Kikau, 12. Martin, 13. Yeo
14. Kenny, 15. Sorensen, 16. Leniu, 17. Tago

That looks to have more strike. If we could find a centre during the pre season and can play Tago in the pack we are going to be very strong

 

[Kilkenny]

If he has a really good off season Hopgood has to be on the bench for me With Tago getting first crack at centre.

 

[Kilkenny]

Ideally, we need Lindsay and J’Maine to kick on leaps and bounds in 2022, they both have significant upside, but I wouldn’t write off Chris Smith jagging a bench spot either if he stays healthy, he is a decent bench option at his best.

 

[Iamback]

If he has a really good off season Hopgood has to be on the bench for me With Tago getting first crack at centre.

Need some creativity off the bench. Haven't seen enough of Hopgood's ball playing yet

 

[Kilkenny]

I’m not sure we are blessed with creativity, but at the same time a few smokies from the junior ranks could potentially emerge sooner rather than later.

 

[Iamback]

I’m not sure we are blessed with creativity, but at the same time a few smokies from the junior ranks could potentially emerge sooner rather than later.

Capewell didn't have much but he was able to do enough. look at the footwork in the Storm game in Round 3 or his try v Souths in Dubbo. I don't see any of that yet and will need it in the big games

 

[Original Name]

1. Edwards
2. To'o
3. Tago
4. Crichton
5. May
6. Luai
7. Cleary
8. FIsh
9. Api
10. Leota
11. Sorenson
12. Martin
13. Yeo
14. Salmon (or maybe train Sunia Turuva at hooker/at five eight)
15. Kikau
16. Leniu
17. Hop'good
18 . Mitch Kenny

Capewell didn't have much but he was able to do enough. look at the footwork in the Storm game in Round 3 or his try v Souths in Dubbo. I don't see any of that yet and will need it in the big games

Capewell wasn't flash in the gf or against Storm. When it really he mattered made a difference through being gritty.

 

[Bob]

1 Edwards
2 To’o
3 Crichton
4 Tago
5. May
6 Luai
7 Cleary / O'Sullivan
8 Leniu
9 KoroisauI
10 JFH
11 Sorenson
12 Martin
13 Yeo

14 Leota
15 Hopgood
16 Kikau
17 Smith / Blacker (whoever has best pre season)
Leota to start on the bench for 1 reason to prevent 20min changover and have 2 rookie props on at the same time
Pairing Fish and Spencer and Leota with Smith / Blacker because I dont want to see Eisenhuth used unless absolutely necessary

 

[Kilkenny]

1 Edwards
2 To’o
3 Crichton
4 Tago
5. May
6 Luai
7 Cleary / O'Sullivan
8 Leniu
9 KoroisauI
10 JFH
11 Sorenson
12 Martin
13 Yeo

14 Leota
15 Hopgood
16 Kikau
17 Smith / Blacker (whoever has best pre season)
Leota to start on the bench for 1 reason to prevent 20min changover and have 2 rookie props on at the same time
Pairing Fish and Spencer and Leota with Smith / Blacker because I dont want to see Eisenhuth used unless absolutely necessary

Matt Eusinhuth did a pretty decent job when called upon in 2021.

Much maligned in many ways, certainly performed better than he was given credit for.

Ideally, he remains a back up and not first choice in our top 17 but at the same time he almost always does the job asked off him.

 

[Iamback]

1. Edwards
2. To'o
3. Tago
4. Crichton
5. May
6. Luai
7. Cleary
8. FIsh
9. Api
10. Leota
11. Sorenson
12. Martin
13. Yeo
14. Salmon (or maybe train Sunia Turuva at hooker/at five eight)
15. Kikau
16. Leniu
17. Hop'good
18 . Mitch Kenny

Capewell wasn't flash in the gf or against Storm. When it really he mattered made a difference through being gritty.

We were busted in the gf though. Cleary couldn't pass. Critter on the wing and Edwards that attacks that side was gone.

Across the 2 seasons though have lost very few games at full strength. If we can find like for like replacements for those we lost then we will go very well

1. Edwards
2. To'o
3. Tago
4. Crichton
5. May
6. Luai
7. Cleary
8. FIsh
9. Api
10. Leota
11. Sorenson
12. Martin
13. Yeo
14. Salmon (or maybe train Sunia Turuva at hooker/at five eight)
15. Kikau
16. Leniu
17. Hop'good
18 . Mitch Kenny

Capewell wasn't flash in the gf or against Storm. When it really he mattered made a difference through being gritty.

 

[Smug Panther]

Salmon isn't up to first grade in any position, same as May wasn't. Stop wasting a spot

 

[Original Name]

We were busted in the gf though. Cleary couldn't pass. Critter on the wing and Edwards that attacks that side was gone.

Across the 2 seasons though have lost very few games at full strength. If we can find like for like replacements for those we lost then we will go very well

You say the flashy stuff is something we needed. How much do regular season games throughout the year really matter though? Does it really matter that much to lose an extra game or two and finish 3rd instead of equal 1st? All we need to do is get through them in top 4 to get to where it matters. It's not like Button doing flashy line breaks, stepping people he was doing throughout the regular season won us games during the finals. It was his defence that was more important.

And when it really mattered we didn't need it to win. We continue to defend and we'll continue to be around the top 4 and from there the finals is a different comp. Most teams statically don't win the comp from first position anyway.

 

[Iamback]

Salmon isn't up to first grade in any position, same as May wasn't. Stop wasting a spot

14's often aren't they are there to cover the unexpected

 

[Iamback]

You say the flashy stuff is something we needed. How much do regular season games throughout the year really matter though? Does it really matter that much to lose an extra game or two and finish 3rd instead of equal 1st? All we need to do is get through them in top 4 to get to where it matters. It's not like Button doing flashy line breaks, stepping people he was doing throughout the regular season won us games during the finals. It was his defence that was more important.

And when it really mattered we didn't need it to win. We continue to defend and we'll continue to be around the top 4 and from there the finals is a different comp. Most teams statically don't win the comp from first position anyway.

I mentioned Round 3
We don't win in Bathurst without the 2 flashy tries
Souths at Suncorp those Momo kicks

Kikau put Burton away v Roosters up there. Ended up being the difference.

Only takes dropping a game or 2 especially v a top team. To cost a home final or possibly Top 4

Defence is key but if you are too predictable the good teams will bury you

 

[Smug Panther]

14's often aren't they are there to cover the unexpected

Yeah nah it's a waste

 

[DinkyDi]

Did anyone catch the segment on 7 news? Apparently there was a story about the Panthers.

 

[Iamback]

Yeah nah it's a waste

Take the original 17 on this page. Replace Salmon with say Kenny. Who covers an outside back should they get a HIA?

That is the issue with the make up of the 17