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Season '22

Smug Panther

Smug Panther

First Grade
Messages
7,004
Iamback said:
Likely no Cleary, Martin and a new centre to start the season that right side is going to be very ordinary.

Hopefully Jenkins, Salmon or someone carves up in pre season and Tago can move to the backrow. Also will allow Kikau to play less minutes.

Or even Hopgood or someone get moved wider and again allows Martin to move sides or off the bench
Click to expand...
Full year at centre for Tago is what I want
 
snickers007

snickers007

Juniors
Messages
1,637
Smug Panther said:
It's in no way wasting a year. Didn't harm Yeo at all
Click to expand...

Yeo played 10 games in his first season, was shuffled between Centre, Second Row and bench. Got dropped for Matt Robinson when the finals started.

Wasn't until his 3rd season that he nailed down a starting spot in a regular position.

And wasn't until his move to Lock (in his 7th season) that he became a beast.

We need someone to hit the ground running now. Our premiership window will be well and truly closed in 7 years time.
 
D

DinkyDi

Juniors
Messages
2,212
Can we go back, to back. Here's a summary from our successful year.

www.nrl.com

2021 season review: Panthers

After getting so close to a premiership win in 2020, the pressure was on the Panthers to go one better in season 2021 and they did just that. Robbie Farah and Brett Kimmorley discuss whether Ivan Cleary’s men can back it up next year. Brought to you by Telstra
www.nrl.com www.nrl.com
 
Iamback

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,309
snickers007 said:
Yeo played 10 games in his first season, was shuffled between Centre, Second Row and bench. Got dropped for Matt Robinson when the finals started.

Wasn't until his 3rd season that he nailed down a starting spot in a regular position.

And wasn't until his move to Lock (in his 7th season) that he became a beast.

We need someone to hit the ground running now. Our premiership window will be well and truly closed in 7 years time.
Click to expand...

We need an edge backrower and centre. Maybe even 2 backrowers if Kiks goes. The sooner we get longer term options up to speed the longer our window stays open.

Putting Tago centre only if the plan is backrow. Doesn't fix either position up
 
Smug Panther

Smug Panther

First Grade
Messages
7,004
Iamback said:
We need an edge backrower and centre. Maybe even 2 backrowers if Kiks goes. The sooner we get longer term options up to speed the longer our window stays open.

Putting Tago centre only if the plan is backrow. Doesn't fix either position up
Click to expand...
We can win the comp next year. That is the priority
 
Iamback

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,309
Smug Panther said:
We can win the comp next year. That is the priority
Click to expand...

We can but need another backrower to do it. A bench of:

Kenny
Leinu
Sorensen
Tago

Is the best option of doing that. Allows Kiks to start off the bench with Tago starting too.

Also allows Tago to get into FG without having to worry about being on defensively for 80 mins a game 24 games this year.
 
maple_69

maple_69

Bench
Messages
4,594
Yeah I like Tago at centre and think it’s probably the most likely option for the first part of the season at least. Jenkins/Turuva demanding selection would certainly make some things easier balance wise. Tago’s long term prospects as an edge forward arent going to be harmed by playing centre or the utility role and both can be a good stepping stone to taking over Kikau’s spot another year on when he’s filled out properly and MG is ready to be blooded on the bench.
 
C

chrisD

Coach
Messages
14,759
If Tago can make a go at centre (and that's far from a sure thing) he's obviously worth more to us there than as a bench back rower. Sorenson can play wide, in fact it's probably ideal that he does as he can't bend a set defensive line in the middle. And Hopgood looks a decent prospect in the middle, though if Eisenhuth (he's still here next year right?) has to do then well, not ideal but I do believe we could win a GF with 25mins off the bench from him. But nailing down our centres is more important than the make up of the bench forwards.
 
snickers007

snickers007

Juniors
Messages
1,637
Worthwhile having a look at Sorenson on the edge - even though I thought he was pretty ordinary playing there in our losses to the Tigers and Sharks - although to be fair, the whole team was shit.

Our right edge to start the season is completely up for grabs.
Obviously Nathan will be there for most of the season, but he's no guarantee for Round 1.
Liam Martin probably has the inside running for the second row spot - but we may choose to keep him on the bench, and play him wide and middle depending on how things are going. Plus he played a bit of left edge late in the season when Kiks was coming off the bench.
Critta probably stays at right centre too - but could easily be moved back to the left.
And then we have the pre-season shoot-out between Staines and Tiny May on the wing.

Hopefully we can have an injury free pre-season, and have some genuine selection dilemmas on our hands for the trials.
 
Iamback

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,309
snickers007 said:
Worthwhile having a look at Sorenson on the edge - even though I thought he was pretty ordinary playing there in our losses to the Tigers and Sharks - although to be fair, the whole team was shit.

Our right edge to start the season is completely up for grabs.
Obviously Nathan will be there for most of the season, but he's no guarantee for Round 1.
Liam Martin probably has the inside running for the second row spot - but we may choose to keep him on the bench, and play him wide and middle depending on how things are going. Plus he played a bit of left edge late in the season when Kiks was coming off the bench.
Critta probably stays at right centre too - but could easily be moved back to the left.
And then we have the pre-season shoot-out between Staines and Tiny May on the wing.

Hopefully we can have an injury free pre-season, and have some genuine selection dilemmas on our hands for the trials.
Click to expand...

I know Ivan wanted to put Critta on the left with Toó and Luai but he needs to start on the right. He was a rookie in 2020 looked great on the left. Burton last year the same.
The left is too good and put centres over untouched perfect for a newbie centre.

2nd row is more the concern for me. I watch a lot of lower grades and very few viable options in the ranks. Someone will need to be converted
 
kinghippo

kinghippo

Juniors
Messages
1,673
1. Edwards
2. Staines
3. Crichton
4. Tago
5. To'o
6. Luai
7. Cleary
8. JFH
9. Api
10. Leniu
11. Hopgood
12. Liam Martin
13. Yeo
14. O' Sullivan
15. Kikau
16. Leota
17. Sorenson

Leniu needs some solid game time if he is going to progress to the next level, as does hopgood and tago. The 10 minute bench role is hindering growth and if kikau or apps sign elsewhere they should be getting a longer spell on the bench to develop our next options.

Edwards should rested regularly to help develop centre and fullback backups.
 
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