Second XVII's

[jonno_knights]

With the lack of a proper nationwide reserve grade comp, it would be interesting to see the type of depth running around all the clubs going into the new season. Also with all the talk of expansion, is there enough quality talent around, without having to rely on bringing guys back from the ESL and other codes?

IMO the strongest knights 'reserve' grade team would be similar to this;

1. W.Naiqama (K.Gidley)
2. S.McDonnell (A.Uate)
3. K.Lulia (J.Sau)
4. S.Likiliki (A.MacDougall)
5. K.Naiqama (J.McManus)
6. B.Rogers (J.Mullen)
7. T.Roberts (B.Henry)
8. D.Tolar (N.Costigan)
9. C.Adams (I.DeGois)
10. Edwards (A.Kaufusi)
11. C.Ciraldo (Z.Taia)
12. K.O’Donnell (C.Paterson)
13. S.Southern (M.Hilder)

14. M.Karawana (R.Fa’aso)
15. C.Mika (C.Housten)
16. Z.Tetevano (M.Taufua)
17. J.Ailaomai (E.Tuimavave)
Not saying its the most talented second string side going round, but there is over 550 games of NRL experience there, which is good to have in your fringe first graders. And there is plenty of promise in the guys yet to make their debuts.

 

[Big Pete]

1. Dane Gagai (Josh Hoffman)
2. Jordan Kahu (Denan Kemp)
3. Jack Reed (Gerard Beale)
4. Dale Copley (Justin Hodges)
5. Aaron Whitchurch (Jharal Yow Yeh)
6. Corey Norman (Darren Lockyer)
7. Ben Hunt (Peter Wallace)
8. Nick Kenny (Ben Hannant)
9. Kurt Baptiste (Andrew McCullough)
10. Mitchell Dodds (Shane Tronc)
11. Dunamis Lui (Ben Te'o)
12. Dane Carlaw (Sam Thaiday)
13. Mitchell Frei (Corey Parker)

14. John Te Reo (Alex Glenn)
15. David Hala (Matt Gillett)
16. Kurtis Lingwoodock (Josh McGuire)
17. Rohan Ahern (Scott Anderson)

Which goes to show how young the squad still is.

 

[andrew057]

1. Dane Gagai (Josh Hoffman)
2. Jordan Kahu (Denan Kemp)
3. Jack Reed (Gerard Beale)
4. Dale Copley (Justin Hodges)
5. Aaron Whitchurch (Jharal Yow Yeh)
6. Corey Norman (Darren Lockyer)
7. Ben Hunt (Peter Wallace)
8. Nick Kenny (Ben Hannant)
9. Kurt Baptiste (Andrew McCullough)
10. Mitchell Dodds (Shane Tronc)
11. Dunamis Lui (Ben Te'o)
12. Dane Carlaw (Sam Thaiday)
13. Mitchell Frei (Corey Parker)

14. John Te Reo (Alex Glenn)
15. David Hala (Matt Gillett)
16. Kurtis Lingwoodock (Josh McGuire)
17. Rohan Ahern (Scott Anderson)

Which goes to show how young the squad still is.

Surely Nick Kenny would get a bench spot over both McGuire and Anderson?

 

[Big Pete]

It's really touch and go.

As is the left centre position.

North Queensland Cowboys
1. Shannon Gallant (Matt Bowen)
2. Michael Bani (Antonio Winterstein)
3. Will Tupou (Ash Graham)
4. Moses Pangai (Willie Tonga)
5. Wayne Ulugia (Kalifa Fai Fai Loa)
6. Ben Jones (Ray Thompson)
7. Michael Morgan (Johnathan Thurston)
8. Ricky Thorby (Mat Scott)
9. Clint Amos (Aaron Payne)
10. Isaak Ah Mau (Ashton Sims)
11. Tariq Sims (Gavin Cooper)
12. Glenn Hall (Scott Bolton)
13. Blake Leary (Dallas Johnson)

14. Lancen Joudo (James Segeyaro)
15. Dylan Smith (Leeson Ah Mau)
16. Tyson Martin (Dane Hogan)
17. Jason Taumalolo (James Tamou)

Obviously not at full strength with Tate out, it was difficult to figure out their forward pack, a lot of unknown quantities in that squad.

 

[MatthewA]

In my opinion, the best second-string Bulldogs side would be something like this (still players I didn't find a spot for like Brad Morrin, Trent Cutler, Nick Taylor, Josh Jackson etc)

01. Michael Lett (Ben Barba)
02. Junior Tia-Kilifi (Steve Turner)
03. Daniel Rauicava (Jamal Idris)
04. Jonathan Wright (Josh Morris)
05. Heka Nanai (Bryson Goodwin)
06. Aiden Sezer (Ben Roberts)
07. Josh Reynolds (Trent Hodkinson)
08. Chris Armit (Michael Hodgson)
09. Joel Romelo (Michael Ennis)
10. Mickey Paea (Aiden Tolman)
11. Corey Payne (Frank Pritchard)
12. Gary Warburton (Andrew Ryan)
13. Jake Foster (David Stagg)
-
14. Tim Browne (Greg Eastwood)
15. Dene Halatau (Kris Keating)
16. Sam Kasiano (Grant Millington)
17. Martin Taupau (Ryan Tandy)

 

[BDGS]

In my opinion, the best second-string Bulldogs side would be something like this (still players I didn't find a spot for like Brad Morrin, Trent Cutler, Nick Taylor, Josh Jackson etc)

01. Michael Lett (Ben Barba)
02. Junior Tia-Kilifi (Steve Turner)
03. Daniel Rauicava (Jamal Idris)
04. Jonathan Wright (Josh Morris)
05. Heka Nanai (Bryson Goodwin)
06. Aiden Sezer (Ben Roberts)
07. Josh Reynolds (Trent Hodkinson)
08. Chris Armit (Michael Hodgson)
09. Joel Romelo (Michael Ennis)
10. Mickey Paea (Aiden Tolman)
11. Corey Payne (Frank Pritchard)
12. Gary Warburton (Andrew Ryan)
13. Jake Foster (David Stagg)
-
14. Tim Browne (Greg Eastwood)
15. Dene Halatau (Kris Keating)
16. Sam Kasiano (Grant Millington)
17. Martin Taupau (Ryan Tandy)

That's a bloody strong reserve grade side there.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

1.Mullaney (Mckinnon)
2.Brown (Ryan)
3.Daniela(Ayshford)
4.M.Ryan(Lawrence)
5.Alipate Tani (Tuqiri)
6.Sironen ?(Marshall)
7.Miller (Moltzen)
8.Woods(Galloway)
9.Parata (Farah)
10.Begovich (Gibbs)
11.Murdoch (Fulton)
12.J.Schirnack(Ellis)
13.Hyland (Heighnington)

14.Akeripa (Fifta)
15,Moors (Payton)
16.Cayless (Dwyer)
17.Flanagan (Lui)

 

[Big Mick]

1. Lachlan Coote, 2. Brad Tighe, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Michael Gordon, 5. Sandor Earl, 6. Travis Burns, 7. Luke Walsh, 8. Tim Grant, 9. Kevin Kingston, 10. Petero Civoniceva, 11. Trent Waterhouse, 12. Luke Lewis, 13. Nathan Smith
RES: 14. Sam McKendry, 15. Joseph Paulo, 16. Matthew Bell, 17. Masada Iosefa

RESERVE GRADE:
1. David Simmons, 2. Shane Elford, 3. Ryan Walker, 4. Greg Waddell, 5. Adrian Purtell, 6. Arana Tuamata, 7. Sam Jones, 8. Daine Laurie, 9. Nafe Seluni, 10. Dayne Weston, 11. Yileen Gordon, 12. Brandon Gibb, 13. Michael Worrincy
RES: 14. Frank Puletua, 15. Junior Paulo, 16. Nigel Plum, 17. Ashley Hazelton, 18. Kilifi Tia Killifi, 19. Shane Blackett

 

[watatank]

Dragons

1. Bronx Goodwin (Darius Boyd)
2. Peter Cronin (Jason Nightingale)
3. Peni Tagive (Mark Gasnier)
4. Alex McKinnon (Matt Cooper)
5. Nathan Green (Brett Morris)
6. Scott Rosser (Jamie Soward)
7. Kyle Stanley (Ben Hornby)
8. David Gower (Michael Weyman)
9. Cameron King (Nathan Fien)
10. Jon Green (Dan Hunt)
11. Jack Bosden (Beau Scott)
12. Adam Cuthbertson (Ben Creagh)
13. Jake Marketo (Dean Young)

14. Mitch Rein (Nick Emmett)
15. Jack Stockwell (Trent Merrin)
16. Jarrod Thompson (Matt Prior)
17. Daniel Penese (Michael Greenfield)

 

[Cuppy]

1.D.Milne (Dugan)
2.N.Massey (Furgo)
3.J.Stuart (Croker)
4.D.Low (Thompson)
5.R.Robertson (Vidot)
6.J.McCrone (Campo)
7.S.Williams (Orford)
8.J.Miller (Shillington)
9.G.Buttriss (Waddell)
10.M.Ioane (TLL)
11.J.Kennedy (J.Picker)
12.D.Galea (Harrison)
13.S.Mataora (Fensom)

14.M.McIlwrick (Tongue)
15.N.Skinner (White)
16.M.Nicholls (Tilse)
17.M.Appleton (Thurling)

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

If everybody were fit I'm not sure how the forwards would line up, Cherrington throws a spanner in the works.

1. Rhys Pritchard (Anthony Minichiello)
2. Steve Naughton (Phil Graham)
3. Joseph Leilua (Kane Linnett)
4. Aidan Guerra (Shaun Kenny-Dowall)
5. Justin Carney (Sam Perrett)
6. Jonathan Ford (Todd Carney)
7. Mark Khierallah (Mitchell Pearce)
8. Mose Masoe (Jason Ryles)
9. Mark Riddell (Jake Friend)
10. Frank-Paul Nu'uausala (Nate Myles)
11. Boyd Cordner (Mitchell Aubusson)
12. Brad Takairangi (Anthony Cherrington)
13. Tom Symonds (Braith Anasta)

14. Kurt Kara (Anthony Watts)
15. Tinirau Arona (Jared Waera-Hargreaves)
16. Lama Tasi (Daniel Conn)
17. Ethan Lowe (Martin Kennedy)

I don't know who would round out the bench but Ethan Lowe seems to be well thought of so I guess he might.

 

[Iafeta]

1 Kevin Locke (Lance Hohaia)
2 Glen Fisiiahi (Krisnan Inu)
3 Ivan Penehe (Joel Moon)
4 Elijah Taylor (Jerome Ropati)
5 Bill Tupou (Manu Vatuvei)
6 Issac John (James Maloney)
7 Shaun Johnson (Brett Seymour)
8 Upu Poching (Sam Rapira)
9 Alehana Mara (Aaron Heremaia)
10 Jeremy Latimore (Russell Packer)
11 Ukuma Ta'ai (Simon Mannering)
12 Sione Lousi (Feleti Mateo)
13 Steve Rapira (Michael Luck)

Pita Godinet (Shaun Berrigan)
James Gavet (Jacob Lillyman)
Ben Henry (Ben Matulino)
Matt Robinson (Lewis Brown)

Positives are some depth in the halves (although very much unproven... Godinet was the NSWRL halfback of the year and carved up in trial one...), depth at fullback, depth in the backrow... the negatives is the squad is incredibly young (the ones I have bolded are in their first year out of U20s, Ben Henry infact is still in the 20s), even a lot of experienced first graders/internationals by number of matches are 23-24 only, and a weakness in the centre position in terms of depth. Out of the second stringers, Locke, Tupou, John, Poching, Mara, Latimore, Ta'ai, Lousi and Steve Rapira have played first grade.

 

[zombie jesus]

1. Williams Hopoate (Brett Stewart)
2. Michael Oldfield (Michael Robertson)
3. Dean Whare (Jamie Lyon)
4. Blake Davey (Steve Matai)
5. Josh Portlock (David Williams)
6. Liam Foran (Kieran Foran)
7. Gary Riccardi (Daly Cherry-Evans)
8. James Cunningham (Jason King)
9. Terrence Seu Seu (Matt Ballin)
10. Junior Palau (Brent Kite)
11. Daniel Harrison (Shane Rodney)
12. Tim Robinson (Anthony Watmough)
13. Jamie Buhrer (Glenn Stewart)

14. Vic Mauro (Tony Williams)
15. Liam Higgins (George Rose)
16. Darcy Lussick (Joe Galuvao)
17. Magnus Stromquist (Matt Cross)

 

[Vic Mackey]

That's a bloody strong reserve grade side there.

Yeah, too bad about the first grade one....

 

[Perth Red]

I reckon you took the top 3 or 4 out of each of thsoe lists and you could put together a couple of decent sides. Add in returning SL&RU players and RU converts and easily build two teams that would be competitive.

 

[moltznmarshall]

1.Mullaney (Mckinnon)
2.Brown (Ryan)
3.Daniela(Ayshford)
4.M.Ryan(Lawrence)
5.Alipate Tani (Tuqiri)
6.Sironen ?(Marshall)
7.Miller (Moltzen)
8.Woods(Galloway)
9.Parata (Farah)
10.Begovich (Gibbs)
11.Murdoch (Fulton)
12.J.Schirnack(Ellis)
13.Hyland (Heighnington)

14.Akeripa (Fifta)
15,Moors (Payton)
16.Cayless (Dwyer)
17.Flanagan (Lui)

My tip is Meany at 6 and Lui at 7 for most of the season and Miller in Toyota Cup
but otherwise thats a pretty strong Balmain side

 

[Boofhead]

1. WALKER Shannon (Zillman)
2. PEYROUX Dominique (Gordon)
3. TONGA Esikeli (Toopi)
4. MICHAELS Steven (Tomane)
5. VICKERY Joe (Mead)
6. CAPEWELL Luke (Bird)
7. RANKIN Jordan (Prince)
8. MATTHEWS Will (Bailey)
9. LAWTON Kayne (Friend)
10. LAWRENCE Brenton (White)
11. JAMES Ryan (Laffranchi)
12. RIDGE Ben (Minichiello)
13. O’DWYER Luke (Harrison)

14. SRAMA Matt (Campbell)
15. BROWN Riley (Meyers)
16. TAGATAESE Sam (Thompson)
17. PAGE Luke (Henderson)

 

[jonno_knights]

I reckon you took the top 3 or 4 out of each of thsoe lists and you could put together a couple of decent sides. Add in returning SL&RU players and RU converts and easily build two teams that would be competitive.

Look at it this way. For two new teams to come in, you would need at least 50 or so FG quality players (25 for each side). Then about 20 or so (10 for each side) fillers/young guns that these sides have.

Theres definately enough players running around to make 2 teams easily. The only problem I see is that taking 2-3 players from the other teams could weaken their depth, and could weaken the quality of footy in the middle to latter parts of the season when injuries set in.

It all depends on how many players we can entice to come back from england, and a few top notch pommy's would be ideal too. Not too sure on exact numbers playing over there, but I think thats a lot of the talent has to come from, so it can limit to the NRL clubs only giving up 2 players each. Only Problem is by doing this, it could weaken the ESL to a point where it can't compete with the NRL.

 

[Perth Red]

SL doesn;t need to compete with NRL, it is the Int teams that do and having English players in the NRL can only make the poms more competitive

 

[franklin2323]

Simmons (Coote), Walker (Tighe), Mate (Jennings), Waddell (Gordon), Elford (Earl), Burns (Taumata), Seijka(Walsh), Laurie(Grant), Masada (Kingston), Laurie (Petero), Plum( Waterhouse), Gibb(Smith), Paulo (Lewis): Paulo (McKendry), Vaurasi (Bell), Weston (Gordon), Puletua (Seluini)