Round 1 team - What will it be?

[Big Mick]

After two disappointing trials and the successful performances of both Tim Grant and Michael Jennings in the premier League trial today, with both being standouts...i'm willing to take a punt and put them in...

My team for Round 1 vs Sharks:

1. Rhys Wesser
2. Michael Gordon
3. Luke Lewis
4. Michael Jennings
5. Luke Rooney
6. Peter Wallace
7. Craig Gower c
8. Joel Clinton
9. Luke Priddis c
10. Matthew Cross
11. Tony Puletua c
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Frank Pritchard

14. Frank Puletua
15. Tim Grant
16. Junior Moors
17. Paul Aiton
18. Matthew Bell

That'd be my round 1 team. Competition for Grant, Moors and Bell for the 2 bench spots.

 

[Panther_Daz]

That's what i'd go with, liking that bench alot. Jennings HAS to be at centre this year!

 

[murraymob]

I like big micks team and if rooney does not perform in 2 weeks Daniella would take his place

 

[Bob]

My team for Round 1 vs Sharks:

1. Rhys Wesser
2. Michael Gordon
3. Michael Jennings
4. Luke Lewis
5. Luke Rooney
6. Craig Gower c
7. Brett Firman
8. Joel Clinton
9. Luke Priddis c
10. Matthew Cross
11. Tony Puletua c
12. Tim Grant
13. Frank Pritchard

14. Bryan Norrie
15. Trent Waterhouse
16. Junior Moors
17. Paul Aiton
18. Matthew Bell

A couple of changes from Micks Team.
I would have Firman at half with Gower at 5/8 (His schoolboy position)
Start with Tim Grant in the second row and have Waterhouse coming off the bench as interchange prop/2nd rower. Norrie on the bench instead of Frank Puletua.
Lewis at left centre and Jennings at right centre.

 

[northwest9]

with the way norrie and jennings went in the trial yesterday, they have to get a run you would think. norrie was his usual unstoppable in defence, solid hitups and quick play the ball leading to 2 tries. first time i have seen jennings play and he definately impressed me, i didnt realise he was so bloody quick, his broken field play is awesome

 

[Big Mick]

either way Frank Puletua will be in the team.

Norrie, Bell, Grant and Moors will be fighting for two bench spots, and essentially...one...soon as Rodney returns.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Even though 95% of Penrith fans want Jennings in the centres round 1. I still believe Elliott has Smith and Youngquest ahead of him.

 

[Bob]

Even though 95% of Penrith fans want Jennings in the centres round 1. I still believe Elliott has Smith and Youngquest ahead of him.

I'd be very suprised if that's the case. Youngquest is a winger/fullback only. I wouldn't play him anywhere else. Smith is a winger not a centre.

 

[Caged Panther]

Even though 95% of Penrith fans want Jennings in the centres round 1. I still believe Elliott has Smith and Youngquest ahead of him.

I don't necessarily believe that. I think the only reasons jennings wasn't at Carrarra on Friday is because he wasn't expected to be fit to play, he wasn't named in the premier league squad afterall.

I'd say Mick's team is on the money though I would expect to see Worth in ahead of Grant, though I don't necessarily agree with it. Also glad to see Pritchard at lock he played his best football last season when Lang named him there.

 

[Panthagrey]

It's just my opinion but i think for a team to enjoy success you need to have a lock forward on the field for 80 minutes dont get me wrong Trent is a great footy player along with Pritchard but i dont think those guys fit the lock position as they tire to quickly i believe we need a player who will complement the hooker and spends more then 20 minutes on field in each half....thats my opinion and i think elliot may be waiting for moke to be fit so he becomes the 80 minute lock..

 

[Panther_Daz]

I'd be very suprised if that's the case. Youngquest is a winger/fullback only. I wouldn't play him anywhere else. Smith is a winger not a centre.

If those two are selected ahead of Jennings, it will mean Gordon to play centre probably. I am still hoping that Jennings will play centre round 1 and have a awesome debut year. I guess we will find out on the 13th of March at Approx. 4pm.

 

[Panther_Daz]

It's just my opinion but i think for a team to enjoy success you need to have a lock forward on the field for 80 minutes dont get me wrong Trent is a great footy player along with Pritchard but i dont think those guys fit the lock position as they tire to quickly i believe we need a player who will complement the hooker and spends more then 20 minutes on field in each half....thats my opinion and i think elliot may be waiting for moke to be fit so he becomes the 80 minute lock..

Shane Rodney will be that player when fit.

 

[Panthagrey]

Maybe maybe not.....i'll wait for elliots decision on that one...

 

[pantherz9103]

Even though 95% of Penrith fans want Jennings in the centres round 1. I still believe Elliott has Smith and Youngquest ahead of him.

Oh dear :roll:

Pencil in a defeat in round one.

 

[Kilkenny]

Oh dear :roll:

Pencil in a defeat in round one.

The wing/centre combinations will have no bearing on the outcome of Round 1 or any other round for that matter if the starting pack and interchange forwards don't win the battle up front.

Clinton, Big T, Trent and Pritchard to name a few need to do the business otherwise we will not have the foundation for the backs to do anything.

 

[Kilkenny]

In regards to team selections I don't think there will be too many surprises and I don't expect Elliot to throw Jennings/Grant/Moors into the fray against the Sharks. He will surely rely on the nucleus of our 2006 side to start against the Sharks.

Firman will be 5/8, I am sure of that one.

The established stars will be required to perform to retain their positions and the younger brigade will be expected to perform in PL before getting there guernseys in the top flight. That's the way I see it at this time.

 

[murraymob]

Elliott was at canberra watching the premier league game.He could not have walked away and not been impressed with jennings.The centre cupboard is pretty bare .PICK HIM MR ELLIOTT

 

[Kilkenny]

Elliott was at canberra watching the premier league game.He could not have walked away and not been impressed with jennings.The centre cupboard is pretty bare .PICK HIM MR ELLIOTT

While Jennings will no doubt play more games in the top grade this season than in PL I don't think he will be thrown into the sharks in round 1, excuse the pun.

According to my mail the player who may have done enough to come into serious calculations for the Sharks was Bryan Norrie! Not flashy, at best solid but is capable of playing the full 80 minutes, will always be available for one/two hitups in every set and is very fit and reliable. Not one of the more flashy forwards and will not come into rep calculations but does a job, and pretty well.

 

[murraymob]

The less rep players we get the better.We may sneak a couple of wins state of origin time. And as we seen last year 2 points may be the differance between semi finals and planning for next year

 

[Kilkenny]

Bryan Norrie will never develop into a rep candidate I was simply making the point he is the sort of forward all sides need. Someone who does the graft, the hard yards, who is not found wanting laying on the ground when the offensive side is already up and playing the ball.

He is highly regarded with other players within the club as a real team man and grafter who does the hard yards without getting the plaudits. He deserves a decent shot at a spot in the top grade, if only off the bench. Our pack is full of so called impact players and we dont have enough workhorses which is Norrie's strength.