Round 1 Team?

[alien]

What i'd choose:
1. Hodgson
2. TNT
3. Collis
4. Lawrence
5. Youngquest
6. Lord
7. Job
8. Gibbs - but prob in doubt
9. Benny Mk II
10. Payten
11. Heighno
12. Te'o
13. Fulton

14. Halatau
15. Galloway
16. Hard man o'hara
17. Harrison

BRET:
6. John Morris

dont u like payne?

 

[alien]

why dont some people like teo starting? anyway my lineup at this stage would be:

1. HODGSON
2. LAWRENCE
3. COLLIS
4. YOUNGQUEST
5. TUIAKI
6. MARSHALL
7. HEAD
13. FULTON
12. HEIGHNINGTON
11. TEO
10. PAYTEN
9. FARAH
8. GALLOWAY

14. PAYNE
15. HALATAU
16. HARRISON
17. GIBBS

 

[Ice-Tiger]

1. Hodgson (c)
2. Lawrence
3. Collis
4. Halatau
5. Tuiaki

6. Marshall
7. Head

8. Payten
9. Farah
10. O'Hara
11. Harrison
12. Heighington
13. Brown

14. Galloway
15. Fulton
16. Gibbs/Metuisela
17. Te'o

I haven't heard of Brown, could you please tell me a little bit about him.

 

[smeghead]

Absolute gun player.

Hooker by trade but bulky enough to run at lock. Great defence, rxcellent prospect working in tandem with Farah

 

[innsaneink]

Not a very smart move throwing a rookie in the starting pack - out of position- for rd one of a new season

 

[smeghead]

During the Origin period would be an ideal time to give Brown a run. Assuming Farah gets a run than Flanno can move to hooker and Brown to the bench. Ease him into the grade and take advantage of the combination he and Flanno have worked up

 

[Papa_smurf]

Utility (no.14)= Morris/Flanigan/Halatua/Brown...in that order

 

[Gus22]

1. Hodgson (c)
2. McDonnell/Youngquest
3. Collis
4. Lawrence
5. Tuiaki
6. Marshall (gk)
7. Head
13. Fulton
12. Heighington
11. Teo
10. Gibbs
9. Farah
8. Galloway

14. Morris/Halatau
15. Payne
16. Harrison
17. Payten
18. O'Hara

 

[alien]

I wouldn't mind them trying out a few of the young guys during the trials, especially in the halves since there is a chance we might get injuries there.

 

[alien]

Halatau in the centres isn't a bad idea. He would be good with some more room to move out wide.

 

[crouching_tiger]

Not a very smart move throwing a rookie in the starting pack - out of position- for rd one of a new season

Played lock all year but used as a 2nd hooker at certain intervals. Also played 2nd row before he came to Tigers. Best time to test the water is at the start of the year not like last year when Sheens left it too late to give anyone who deserved a chance simply because he was clinging on for grim death to stay in the race for the finals(forcing him to play his hand with "experienced" players). Trying to change the pack around a bit to better last year's pack. If anyone thinks keeping the same pack and by throwing in Payne will change anything, then expect another hammering up front next season. Brown can easily be used for the softening up period at a start of a match(can tackle, and can steal 10M at will), then allowing Fulton to replace him in the locking role to work his magic in attack. Fulton to the bench is strategic, not because i think he doesn't deserve to start.

 

[crouching_tiger]

Halatau already plays as a very wide running backrower just inside the centres anyway. His lack of form is because he doesn't have his impact as shown in previous years simply because he was used more as a defensive player. Being used as a defensive player , he was out of spark when it came time to attack, because our forwards kept getting dominated by opposing packs sapping all his impact value. Taking him out of the defensive role around the ruck may give him the boost to conserve energy for his attacking ability we all know he is capable of. 1 on 1 with an opposite centre will see him with a chance to dominate. Only problems i can see with this move, is his outside man may not see as much ball as he would like. But Whatuira didn't feed the pill much to Tuiaki anyway.

 

[innsaneink]

So is he a lock or a hooker, cause one minute youre talking like hes a lock, next like hes a hooker.

Brown can easily be used for the softening up period at a start of a match

Ypu need an 'imo' somewhere.....as he's never done it .

 

[crouching_tiger]

So is he a lock or a hooker, cause one minute youre talking like hes a lock, next like hes a hooker.

Ypu need an 'imo' somewhere.....as he's never done it .

IMO is just red tape to state the obvious. Has played both positions depending on the interchange rotations per match with Flanagan. Has locked the scrum while Flanagan is still on field and raked for the scrum whilst Flanagan is off field. Can attack from dummy half like a hooker, and can attack from the fringe of the ruck like a lock. You've seen him play. Extremely zippy and has the build to be fearless of bigger defenders. I've yet to see him have a less than an exceptional game. Deserves his shot in 1sts IMO. ;-)

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

1.Hodgson
2.Youngquest
3.Collis
4.Lawrence
5.Tuiaki
6.Marshall
7.Head
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Payton
11.Heighnington
12.Fulton (thought he played better when he was in the 2nd row)
13.Te'o

14.Halatau/Morris
15.Galloway
16.Harrison
17.O'Hara

having 2 props on the bench would have Bronson moving back to the 2nd row i dont like Payne he was avg @ the dragons

 

[boonboon]

Hodgson
TNT
Collis
Lawrence
Youngquest
Benji
Head
Fulton
Heighno
Payne
Gibbs
Farah
Payten

Galloway
Teo
Harrison
Morris

 

[philgood]

Isnt Bryce Gibbs suspended for the first couple of games of the season? Or do the trial games negate the suspension?

Also, i'd love to see Danny Galea in the team. He really was punishing in defence during those limited 1st grade games he played in!! I dont think Halatau's form warrants him to be selected in 1st grade.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Hodgson
Tuiaki
Collis
Lawrence
Youngquest
Benji
Head
Galloway
Farah
Payten
Heignho
Harrison
Fulton

Halatau
O'Hara
Teo
Payne/Metsuila/Harlen or Gibbs if eligible

Still bit unsure about outside backs alot of work in the offseason will be needed to create some sound defensive structures. Some ??? over their defensensive capabilities.

Have heard harrison is making a permanent move back to backrow/lock - and I'll think he earn a starting spot before Teo and Payne. Should never have been moved - think it was too make up for tigers lack of props.

Think Brown will feature in first-grade in the year - heard about a lot of people who highly rate him and apparently he is looking good.

Alot more competition for spots for next year

 

[Marshall_magic]

Isnt Bryce Gibbs suspended for the first couple of games of the season? Or do the trial games negate the suspension?

Also, i'd love to see Danny Galea in the team. He really was punishing in defence during those limited 1st grade games he played in!! I dont think Halatau's form warrants him to be selected in 1st grade.

the preseason counts for 2 games (even if the team plays more trials)

 

[Vicious]

Halatau already plays as a very wide running backrower just inside the centres anyway. His lack of form is because he doesn't have his impact as shown in previous years simply because he was used more as a defensive player. Being used as a defensive player , he was out of spark when it came time to attack, because our forwards kept getting dominated by opposing packs sapping all his impact value. Taking him out of the defensive role around the ruck may give him the boost to conserve energy for his attacking ability we all know he is capable of. 1 on 1 with an opposite centre will see him with a chance to dominate. Only problems i can see with this move, is his outside man may not see as much ball as he would like. But Whatuira didn't feed the pill much to Tuiaki anyway.

I agree and as much as Halatau`s form has peeved me off over the past 2 seasons, i would be prepared to give him a chance back in the centres where he first made a name for himself in the top grade. In saying i`d give him a chance, in my opinion he`s fast running out of chances and i`d want him to prove his worth nice and quickly in the trials, otherwise the State Cup could be his best option.
Lewis Brown has that X factor about him, he`s an extremely strong ball runner whom i believe must be in our top 17 somewhere, although i wouldn`t be leaving Liam Fulton out of the run on side to accomodate him.
Whatever the case, we certainly need to give some up and comers a chance, last seasons
same 17-19 players each and every week no matter how badly they were playing was very boring and very frustrating !!!