Should / Will Mateo Start Finals Week 1?

[parraeels]

Should / Will Feleti start this week? I think he was our best player last week, looked dangerous and should be given the opportunity to play as many minutes as he can instead of being used as an impact player off the bench. You would think his fitness levels are right up there now.

 

[Twizzle]

I would think he is not match fit just yet

he can probably do ore damage coming off the bench when the other players are slightly tired

 

[parra-matters]

I would start him, and try and give it to the Dragons early.

 

[ParraAds]

Start him!

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

I'd wait.

In terms of switches, I'd be tempted to start Mannah with Fui if we are in any way considering holding off the second phase play for 10-15 mins. Let Fui and Mannah do some hard yards then switch 'em for the likes of Caylo and Mateo and let rip.

The risk there, however, is that we'll be 80-0 down after those ten minutes...

 

[parra-matters]

start the ball movement early, why wait? look at last week were down near 18-0 by then

 

[Raudonikis]

I would think he is not match fit just yet

he can probably do ore damage coming off the bench when the other players are slightly tired

I would start him,surely his fitness is up by now and hes a far far better starting lock than lowrie,by the time he came on last week the game was gone.We need him early so he can possibly set up an early try.

 

[IFR33K]

I'd start with him. We need all our guns firing from the very start. Last week, we weren't able do go thought the Dragons, maybe we can go around them, with plenty of second phase play. DA would surely have his work cut out this week, and if we can manage a win, DA is worth his weight in gold.

 

[parraeels]

No disrespect to Lowrie who has found some form recently (besides last week) but time to hand over the #13 jersey back to the man who is way better! Will be scratching my head if Lowrie is chosen as #1 lock to start ahead of him.

 

[yy_cheng]

I would start him but one reason to keep him on the bench is that when the props come off, Mateo can give some good go forward

 

[Raudonikis]

i will be totally shocked if lowrie is chosen at lock ahead of mateo now.If he is then somethings definately going on there.

 

[MRJUCY]

I'd start him, he has been named at 15 but I guess that doesn't mean much really.

 

[TheParraboy]

Just to throw the dragons off a bit, might be worthwhile throwing in Mateo at 6, Mortimer on the bench

Since it might be a fairly hot day, Dragons will have to do more work to tackle and stop Mateos offloads. Plus it gives us a bit of size in the first 15-20 min of the game. Mortimer comes on fresh and nippier when their defence tires. Mateo to kill it in the 2nd half

 

[Raudonikis]

I had another thought,i doubt very much if Bennett would start a player of lowries ability over someone like mateo for such an important game.Actually come to think of it i know he wouldnt.

 

[Raudonikis]

parraboy,i noticed in a thread you are from shellharbour,im originally from there and played there while i worked at the bowlo for many years.maybe i know you?

 

[lingard]

I would start him,surely his fitness is up by now and hes a far far better starting lock than lowrie,by the time he came on last week the game was gone.We need him early so he can possibly set up an early try.

I wouldnt start him, but I'd bring him on earlier than last week. I think that IF this team is capable of beating St. George, Daniel Anderson will find the way.

 

[Jake the snake]

Mateo has to start. Lowrie to the bench and Instruct Ben Smith just to tackle anything that moves.

 

[lingard]

Just to throw the dragons off a bit, might be worthwhile throwing in Mateo at 6, Mortimer on the bench

Since it might be a fairly hot day, Dragons will have to do more work to tackle and stop Mateos offloads. Plus it gives us a bit of size in the first 15-20 min of the game. Mortimer comes on fresh and nippier when their defence tires. Mateo to kill it in the 2nd half

When I first read this, I dismissed the idea; but come to think of it, it's not a bad idea. What to do with Jeff Robson, though? I think we lose a lot of structure and a lot of defence if we suddenly drop him. Put him on the bench for the first twenty minutes? It's all conjecture, but it's fun playing coach. I'm sure Anderson will have something up his sleeve. Well, he's got Nathan Hindmarsh and Eric Grothe for a start. Nathan Hindmarsh - our Brad Fittler, our Jonathan Thurston, our Andrew Johns - the player we can't win without. He'll make a hell of a difference!

 

[yy_cheng]

Mateo has to start. Lowrie to the bench and Instruct Ben Smith just to tackle anything that moves.

Hey Jakey, so you are impressed with Benny in the forwards? I for one am. He is better than Wags. He hits harder.

But I will get him to defend on the right.
Hindy in the Middle and left.

 

[bartman]

He should be able to get through 50 mins, with a break. That break could be halftime, or DA could start him for 20 and then use him in the final last 30.

We have to do something different than we did last week, or we'll get lapped. Probably worth a try, it's sudden death.