Round 3 v Mel

[globalpanther]

D Laurie (If Dyl not fit)
B To’o
I Tago
B Talagai
P Alamoti
T Toelau
N Cleary
M Leota
M Kenny
L Smith
S Sorensen
L Martin
I Yeo

J Cole (if Dyl not fit)
I Papalii
L Henry
L Garner
18.T Jenkins

 

[Original Name]

A groin's a really bad injury to get mid season. Dyl ain't going to be fit for awhile. So many clubs have a guy come back from a groin injury and they re-injure it or are playing at like 75%. If it's possible I'd have Dyl miss any number of games to get him back and fully fit for the finals.

Tolau also play his best footy at halfback. He has to be the main man for me if he's going to start. Two of his best attributes are his kicking and organinsing. If takes 30% of the kicks and Yeo and Clearly naturally doing most of the organising but is a worse tackler than Cole is the trade off really worth it? We aren't really giving him a place in the team to leverage his strengths.

For me we leaked too many points and I thought Tago was our worst defender but they'll probably stick with him. I don't know if the team is good enough to carry Tags defending badly like last year though.

 

[Iamback]

Defence is the issue. Not sure I have seen anything from any individual to say to be dropped.

We had issues on the right last year and we are 1 game into Cole/Alamoti/McLean on the left

 

[ColdWetPanther]

Same team as last week will get the job done. Be switched on after the loss and bollocking from Ivan.

 

[Original Name]

We had issues on the right last year

The difference is without Fish our pack is probably going to be weaker this year which would (if correct) mean more quick play the ball and momentum for the opposition and more pressure on the edges. Like I said we carried Tago when he was bad and it all worked out. I don't know if it's quite the same situation this time around.

Same team as last week will get the job done. Be switched on after the loss and bollocking from Ivan.

I do think we'll get the job done this week I'm more concerned about consistency going forward and how those habits translate in the finals.

 

[MrBlack]

Assuming Edwards is out

Laurie to fullback
Papalii in for Huth
Blaize onto the bench (we didn’t buy him to play NSW Cup)

 

[Iamback]

Assuming Edwards is out

Laurie to fullback
Papalii in for Huth
Blaize onto the bench (we didn’t buy him to play NSW Cup)

I am fine with Blaize onto the bench IF Ivan actually uses him. If he is going to just sit on the bench then he is better off in NSW Cup

 

[Chins]

Apart from firing Tago into the sun we should be swapping Casey and Alamoti.

And also swapping Garner and Soro.

The odds will be juicey so I'll be going against my normal rules and betting on us to win this.

 

[globalpanther]

We won’t be beating Melb in Melb. Especially on a 11 day turnaround.

 

[Chins]

We won’t be beating Melb in Melb. Especially on a 11 day turnaround.

60/40 their favour. We'll be right up for this one, in fact this game undoubtedly effected the putrid performance against Easts

 

[Hamstring awareness]

Cross post from da Roosters thread

1. Edwards (Laurie)
2. Talagi (Jenkins)
3. Alamoti
4. Tago
5. To’o
6. Laurie (Talagi)
7. Cleary
8. Leota
9. Kenny
10. Smith
11. Garner
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Toelau
15. Papali’i (Patea)
16. Sorensen
17. Henry

Injury cover in brackets

 

[Iamback]

We won’t be beating Melb in Melb. Especially on a 11 day turnaround.

Melbournes run of opening round wins is a myth.

They had the bye Round 1 in 2004 and lost in Round 2.

Early season byes often have the opposite affect as we saw on the weekend. Unlike other sides with have the squad to beat them this is actually 50/50

 

[Fangs]

We are blessed to have Laurie who is an excellent fullback. Absolutely zero concerns there.

Edwards gets the Cleary treatment this year. Just give the bloke a long rest so Daley picks Tedesco for Origin.

Can't write Penrith off in this one. They love these big contests. But Melbourne's sabbatical this round gives them a clear advantage. Slight chance of rain too apparently.

Leaning towards a closely fought loss for Penrith here.

 

[globalpanther]

Melbournes run of opening round wins is a myth.

They had the bye Round 1 in 2004 and lost in Round 2.

Early season byes often have the opposite affect as we saw on the weekend. Unlike other sides with have the squad to beat them this is actually 50/50

Hope you’re right

 

[globalpanther]

We are blessed to have Laurie who is an excellent fullback. Absolutely zero concerns there.

Edwards gets the Cleary treatment this year. Just give the bloke a long rest so Daley picks Tedesco for Origin.

Can't write Penrith off in this one. They love these big contests. But Melbourne's sabbatical this round gives them a clear advantage. Slight chance of rain too apparently.

Leaning towards a closely fought loss for Penrith here.

Fingers crossed

 

[Hamstring awareness]

Blaize and Trent time, baby

 

[Iamback]

Melbournes run of opening round wins is a myth.

Hope you’re right

You will have wait another 4 years to see us play that bad again.

I can't remember the last time we have turned up and lost.

 

[Iamback]

We are blessed to have Laurie who is an excellent fullback. Absolutely zero concerns there.

Edwards gets the Cleary treatment this year. Just give the bloke a long rest so Daley picks Tedesco for Origin.

Can't write Penrith off in this one. They love these big contests. But Melbourne's sabbatical this round gives them a clear advantage. Slight chance of rain too apparently.

Leaning towards a closely fought loss for Penrith here.

Big games you know Moses and Martin turn up

 

[Chins]

Big games you know Moses and Martin turn up

Can't afford to have Marto cruise through the regular season anymore

 

[Old and Disgruntled]

King

You will have wait another 4 years to see us play that bad again.

I can't remember the last time we have turned up and lost.

King Gutho on one leg ,Eels gave us a carve up recently.