Eelementary
Post Whore
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I would think we'd need a big and fast team to compete with theirs.
On second thoughts, I don't think Bill Williams will be too much of a concern. He will be up against Grothe (191 cm and 100kg; Williams is 191 cm and 102kg. So effectively Grothe is just like him), Lyon (defensively brilliant) and Vaealiki (who is VERY strong and aggressive, which is what I love about him).
Our weakest link will be the other wing, in Muzza. He is not bad in attack but defensively a worry.
Burt will not pose a problem at fullback unless he has to make a one-on-one tackle against Mason or Williams (which any fullback would struggle with). But he'll be brilliant, I know it.
I suppose the team would look like this:
1. Burt
2. Grothe
3. Lyon
4. Vaealiki
5. Petersen
6. Wagon
7. Dykes
8. Pearson
9. Morris
10. Vella
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins
14. Cannings
15. Armit
16. ?
17. ?
With that team, we have a defensively sound halves option and (from what I hear) Dykes and Morris have been combining beautifully around the ruck which is a positive sign.
We also have another option in attack - the bomb. With Grothe at 191cm, we can pepper El Masri and Patten with bombs and pretty much come up trumps.
In my honest opinion, we have the Dogs beat in these areas:
* Dummy half/hooker - Morris is a great hooker and dummy half server and even runner. He will be up against Perry who even the Dogs fans don't agree with. With players like Micky V playing the ball quickly and Morris servicing the dummy half quickly and effectively, we will pose a threat from here.
* Back 5 - my one main concern with the Dogs' back 5 is Williams. He is big, fast, strong, agile and aggressive. Containing him with smaller centres may be an issue. However, we have our own troublemakers. Lyon is staright out the best centre in the world; Vaealiki is a handful for anyone. He may not be as big as Williams but he is VERY strong and aggro. And we have our very own Williams in Grothe. A huge powerhouse and fast winger. Going up against El Masri and Lolesi, I think Guru may just enjoy himself. And the Vaealiki/Petersen combo is a beaut - especially when going up against Tonga and Lolesi who aren't the best defensive players.
Patten and Burt. I think Patten generally is clumsy. I have seen him make some absolute beauties in defense (last year; I think it was V Storm; Slater I think made a break and Patten made a classic fullback's tackle one-on-one to save a certain try). However, too often he stuffs up grubbers and high kicks, and he drops the ball a bit too. And his kick returns are nothing to get excited about.
Burt, on the other hand, is a real live wire. Pace to burn and agility to spare, he is an attacking dynamo - THAT try in the 7's Final exemplifies what I mean. He is also a good defender and knows where to be. Plus he's a goal kicker and an expert in the short kick-off.
* Second row - Hindmarsh/Cayless I think is a better combination than Mason/Ryan. Ryan and Mason are larger, but Cayless and Hindmarsh are everywhere and tireless. Plus Hindy is a wrecking ball - anyone remember that try V Manly @ Parra last year where he bulldozed his way past 6 defenders? Beauty!
* I think even our props may have a slight edge over theirs; O'Meley is a huge loss to them. I am not sure though, because Hutch looks the goods.
The Bulldogs probably have better halves combination and a lock who is not great but dependable in Anasta.
I have actually changed my mind - it will be close, but I say Parra.
Yesterday I got a little caught up in the hype surrounding Williams. And I am also impressed by Hutch Maivuia; he's a pretty good player. And I got nervous, because I thought that Williams (if he is THAT damn good and powerful and fast) would destroy our smaller centres.
But now I am thinking: If our team can shut him down (eg: if Hindy and Caylo make the tackles on him) what have I to worry about?
As long as Hindy, Caylo, Morris, Wags and Lyon and Vella play, we will have a defensively sound team.
On second thoughts, I don't think Bill Williams will be too much of a concern. He will be up against Grothe (191 cm and 100kg; Williams is 191 cm and 102kg. So effectively Grothe is just like him), Lyon (defensively brilliant) and Vaealiki (who is VERY strong and aggressive, which is what I love about him).
Our weakest link will be the other wing, in Muzza. He is not bad in attack but defensively a worry.
Burt will not pose a problem at fullback unless he has to make a one-on-one tackle against Mason or Williams (which any fullback would struggle with). But he'll be brilliant, I know it.
I suppose the team would look like this:
1. Burt
2. Grothe
3. Lyon
4. Vaealiki
5. Petersen
6. Wagon
7. Dykes
8. Pearson
9. Morris
10. Vella
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Hopkins
14. Cannings
15. Armit
16. ?
17. ?
With that team, we have a defensively sound halves option and (from what I hear) Dykes and Morris have been combining beautifully around the ruck which is a positive sign.
We also have another option in attack - the bomb. With Grothe at 191cm, we can pepper El Masri and Patten with bombs and pretty much come up trumps.
In my honest opinion, we have the Dogs beat in these areas:
* Dummy half/hooker - Morris is a great hooker and dummy half server and even runner. He will be up against Perry who even the Dogs fans don't agree with. With players like Micky V playing the ball quickly and Morris servicing the dummy half quickly and effectively, we will pose a threat from here.
* Back 5 - my one main concern with the Dogs' back 5 is Williams. He is big, fast, strong, agile and aggressive. Containing him with smaller centres may be an issue. However, we have our own troublemakers. Lyon is staright out the best centre in the world; Vaealiki is a handful for anyone. He may not be as big as Williams but he is VERY strong and aggro. And we have our very own Williams in Grothe. A huge powerhouse and fast winger. Going up against El Masri and Lolesi, I think Guru may just enjoy himself. And the Vaealiki/Petersen combo is a beaut - especially when going up against Tonga and Lolesi who aren't the best defensive players.
Patten and Burt. I think Patten generally is clumsy. I have seen him make some absolute beauties in defense (last year; I think it was V Storm; Slater I think made a break and Patten made a classic fullback's tackle one-on-one to save a certain try). However, too often he stuffs up grubbers and high kicks, and he drops the ball a bit too. And his kick returns are nothing to get excited about.
Burt, on the other hand, is a real live wire. Pace to burn and agility to spare, he is an attacking dynamo - THAT try in the 7's Final exemplifies what I mean. He is also a good defender and knows where to be. Plus he's a goal kicker and an expert in the short kick-off.
* Second row - Hindmarsh/Cayless I think is a better combination than Mason/Ryan. Ryan and Mason are larger, but Cayless and Hindmarsh are everywhere and tireless. Plus Hindy is a wrecking ball - anyone remember that try V Manly @ Parra last year where he bulldozed his way past 6 defenders? Beauty!
* I think even our props may have a slight edge over theirs; O'Meley is a huge loss to them. I am not sure though, because Hutch looks the goods.
The Bulldogs probably have better halves combination and a lock who is not great but dependable in Anasta.
I have actually changed my mind - it will be close, but I say Parra.
Yesterday I got a little caught up in the hype surrounding Williams. And I am also impressed by Hutch Maivuia; he's a pretty good player. And I got nervous, because I thought that Williams (if he is THAT damn good and powerful and fast) would destroy our smaller centres.
But now I am thinking: If our team can shut him down (eg: if Hindy and Caylo make the tackles on him) what have I to worry about?
As long as Hindy, Caylo, Morris, Wags and Lyon and Vella play, we will have a defensively sound team.
