Round 1

[Vic Mackey]

Well we are only 11 days away from what I believe is the clubs most important ever season in our short history. We haven't had an ideal preperation with our starting 6,7 & 9 (first two choice 9s) missing both trial games. Even though we havent had signifcant gains and losses in personal it seems our Round 1 team will be fairly different from what we experienced last year. We look to have a new left center/wing combo, Sue moving to the right edge, 3 new hooking options and a different bench to last year. Based off trials and injuries this is what I think JT will run out against Souths:

1. Tedesco
2. Nofoluma
3. Naquima
4. Idris
5. Suli
6. Moses
7. Brooks
8. T.Grant
9. McIllwrick
10. Woods
11. Sue
12. Lawrence
13. Taylor

14. Ava
15. Aloiai
16. Chee-Kam
17. Littlejohn/Liddle

Round 1 is always a lottery as all teams are at various points of their pre season. Some have had 4 months of working with everyone whereas others have had guys off on rep duties or recovering form injuries etc so combinations have been limited. I don't think you get an accurate picture until about rounds 4-6.

Watching Souths yesterday they seemed very settled and went ok against a terrible Dragons team. Whilst they won't be easy I didnt see anything that made me think we arent a better team then them. From their 13 the only players from Souths who are better then their opposites on our team would be the 7,9 & 13 IMO.

This will though be very different to a normal game. Whilst I think our guys will treat it as any other there's no doubt the number 9 for Souths will be primed for the game of his life. If we lose the media will absolutely go to town on us, whether Farah has any input or not. I think for us we need to start the year well and get a win in Round 1. We need positive engery surroundng the club at the start of the year and the best way to do this is by winning.

I'm fairly confident we'll overcome a pumped and enthusiastic Souths side and win it reasonably comfortably whilst never putting them away completely. I'll say us by 10-14.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Geez I'd luv to have ur optimism Vic.A 10-14 pt victory margin by us I'll b doing cartwheels.

Souths will b looking to make amends for underachieving last yr.They r very well coached & have a superior all round kicking game to us.They have a fabulous spine & the best forward in the game in Sam B leading the way up front & will have a huge home crowd advantage for this one.

The most intriguing part of this game will b how Farah handles it emotionally.I expect Robbie to have a blinder & Supercoach Taylor will b looking for somewhere to hide @ full time.

Great investment by us to pay Farah approx 700k to play elsewhere.Geez we'd better get value out of Ballin this season as we damn well need his experience & winning attitude he inherited @ manly.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Part of my reasoning is that we've beaten souths 4 of the past 5 times we've played them. If we match their forwards our backs are clearly superior to theirs.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Part of my reasoning is that we've beaten souths 4 of the past 5 times we've played them. If we match their forwards our backs are clearly superior to theirs.

Yep u r right as we've had some pretty good victories against them over the last few seasons.Lets hope it continues Friday week.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Where is Rankin?

You know he is going to be picked somewhere right?

I was confident about this game all off season, but now that I see how the team may look Round 1, Im not too sure....

 

[Tiger Ted]

Tha

Where is Rankin?

You know he is going to be picked somewhere right?

I was confident about this game all off season, but now that I see how the team may look Round 1, Im not too sure....

That's my major concern especially if Kev & Rankin were to play on same left side of field.They r both noted turnstiles.Im curious to c who takes over Simona's spot & whether Taylor continues to pick his pet Rankin.I hope it's Chee-kam & Suli.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Where is Rankin?

You know he is going to be picked somewhere right?

I was confident about this game all off season, but now that I see how the team may look Round 1, Im not too sure....

i dont think rankin will be there, bench spot at best. on firday night he only played at fullback and in the halves. if he was a consideration for left wing he would have at least been given some time there in the last trial.

 

[BuffaloRules]

I hope you are right....

However, JT loves him and will look at him to be the goal kicker.... ( even though he misses plenty...)

I think he will go with him over Suli at least for the first few weeks..

Are there any other options other than Naquima?

I cant take another year of his defensive lapses...

Maybe Chee Kam in the centres?

 

[Clifferd]

I really think Rankin will be there which annoys me (and every single Tigers fan I assume)

In the press conference after the Cows game JT said he was going to be persistent with Suli and blood him into the nrl slowly. Also yesterday during the season launch, Rankin was handed the number 5 jersey which points to one thing..

Show ineptness as a player, have no skill, be very slow, and you'll get picked in the WT.

 

[BrotherJim05]

Is Aloai playing in Front Row?? I thought he was a 2nd rower?

Swap in Felise for Kee Cham and I think that round 1 team is spot on. We will need Felise as their forwards will really give it to us...and we all know what Farah can do when he has strong forwards to work with.

My concern is goalkicking, Moses vs Reynolds they will be 2 up on us every try. If Rankin is in the team then we are screwed big time

 

[Clifferd]

Also if Souths play anywhere near as what they did yesterday they will be very hard to beat. Looked the goods

 

[Vic Mackey]

I really think Rankin will be there which annoys me (and every single Tigers fan I assume)

In the press conference after the Cows game JT said he was going to be persistent with Suli and blood him into the nrl slowly. Also yesterday during the season launch, Rankin was handed the number 5 jersey which points to one thing..

Show ineptness as a player, have no skill, be very slow, and you'll get picked in the WT.

I've been a player sponsor, these are picked out in like October so I wouldn't read much into it.

 

[Clifferd]

Is Aloai playing in Front Row?? I thought he was a 2nd rower?

Swap in Felise for Kee Cham and I think that round 1 team is spot on. We will need Felise as their forwards will really give it to us...and we all know what Farah can do when he has strong forwards to work with.

My concern is goalkicking, Moses vs Reynolds they will be 2 up on us every try. If Rankin is in the team then we are screwed big time

Aloiai has always had the frame of a front rower imo and that's where I think he should be. His lateral movement in defense is a bit slow, but he can always cover back row if there was an injury I guess. On the bench in the prop rotation is where he'll go

Also another thing on the weekend Tedesco striked the ball from the sideline cleanly and got the conversion yet as soon as Rankin comes on takes the reins? more obvious signs Rankin will be selected..ugh

 

[Clifferd]

I've been a player sponsor, these are picked out in like October so I wouldn't read much into it.

Ahhh that makes me feel a little more at ease then lol

 

[Vic Mackey]

Ahhh that makes me feel a little more at ease then lol

hahaa dont worry mate we're all anxious about it. the fact the now a 21 man squad will be named on tuesday (which im sure will have JR) will only have us more on edge!

 

[Tiger05]

I think he will go with him over Suli at least for the first few weeks..

I think the listed team is pretty good but i think that Rankin will be picked over Suli. I think that this is freaken terrible decision but I think it is what is going to happen. I hope I'm wrong.

I also think the Felise should be there ahead of Chee Kam but I can see the point of having a backrower on the bench. I'm worried about the backrow because I think they will all need a rest at some point in the game.

We have so many quality options up the middle now - Woods, Grant, Ava, Aloiai, Sue & Felise as big guys but ET also plays there and looks like a gun. Playing Sue on the edge may work out great but I think he is better suited to the middle.

The other Siro looked decent the other day. Masters looks okay. I wouldn't pick either of them but geez it'd be good to get some options in the backrow and especially on the edges.

 

[Tiger Ted]

We certainly have plenty of options in the forwards.Masters is a gun & im hoping Paseka can crack it in the 17 this season.
In contrast we r real thin in depth in the outside backs.I heard we r interested in signing Zilman.Hopefully it's true & also hopefully we can unearth a couple of good outside backs from lower grades coz it's an Achilles heel especially as we may not c Simona again.

 

[phenisha]

Zillman is a hard no from me.

 

[Radical Rat]

I don't want to anything to do with Zillman. That would be a terrible signing.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I'm hearing u guys re Zilman, it's just that I don't want to c Rankin anywhere near the 17.Let's hope Suli is the real deal & Simona's defence of charges laid against him proves to be successful !
We can't afford any major injuries in the 3/4's & need idris to get up to speed with his fitness quickly.