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Small Changes to Make Team Stronger

blacksafake

First Grade
Messages
9,076
Le'Strange I would think is also there as a halves option as well should there be an injury.
Anyway if it ain't broke don't fix it!!
 

ellskimore

Juniors
Messages
1,924
That really surprises me, I did some quick searching on stat sites (which may be bogus info), but it shows most of them go 80 minutes, like Ennis, Ballin, Segyaro, Lichaa, Smith all ~80 minutes & Farrah/Friend/Peats doing about 72 minutes

Maybe the site is just wrong, just surprised me because a few teams do run an impact kind of back on the bench who probably does some minutes from hooker, but I cant think of many teams who run literally 2 specialist hookers?

From my extensive Fantasy Leaguing, the quest for a genuine reliably used 80 minute hooker is a big one. Most teams play a utility or at the very least a player whose sole duty is to relieve the number 9.

Ballin no longer plays the 80. Jayden Hodges relieves him.
DeGois actually comes on and plays hooker off the bench for Parra and Peats moves to the backrow for stages of the game.
Cowboys use two (Granville and Thompson)
Raiders use Hodgson and Baptiste.
Titans have been going with Falloon and Moseley.
Knights have Clydesdale and Randell. When Randell is overlooked they move Gidley to hooker to relieve Clydesdale and Sione goes to fullback.
Lichaa has been getting 80 for the Dogs, although in a couple of games Mbye has taken minutes from him as a utility. At full strength I'm not sure what they will end up doing as Mbye is currently being used in many different roles.
Warriors start with Leuluai and play Friend off the bench.
Broncos use Nikorima to give McCullough a spell.
Then us, obviously

Smith, Segeyaro and Ennis are genuine 80 minute hookers.

Farah for the most part is but has been having breaks this year with Halatau shifting to hooker.
Friend has been playing the 80 but Robinson has indicated Aubusson might be used to give him a rest.

Luke is typically an 80 minute player too, however last season there were plenty of occasions where McInnes and Koroisau cut into his game time from the bench.

I think thats everyone.
 

TheRev

First Grade
Messages
9,450
Appreciate it ellsk, and I guess that makes segeyaro and Luke stand above the pack, extremely zippy and doing long minutes.. But for us its not a stretch to have 2 blokes play the hooker role.. And perhaps dividends in defence also.

The only thing is I don't think the 2nd hooker had to be a hooker as such, if we did have a super sub player that could work too, but for now lestrange is doing the job.. But as mentioned in JA, Garvey needs a start this year also, decision time for his contract.
 
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since77

Juniors
Messages
2,088
Its no coincidence Rein is playing better now that he's not playing 80 minutes. Changing that would be a huge step backwards.
 

giboz71

First Grade
Messages
9,348
Friz starts Mathews bench the only real change needed.

100%

Although I don't mind Marketo, Mathews just has the edge in size and impact. No need for any other changes at all.

Mary and co have proven very astute in the following moves:

- Merrin in starting line up, Creagh to bench
- Ah Mau and Cooper as starting props (both in career form)
- Friz to the edge instead of the middle
- Rein being spelled by Le Strange
- Aitken in for Nielsen (no brainer)
- Matau'tia in for Nabuli ( defensively more solid)
- Promotion of Marketo, then Mathews
- O'Brien and Rose being left out

All of the above have worked a treat,and given the limits of the roster, all the moves that have been made have led to everyone playing out of their skin.

Even those calling for Farrell to be dropped...why? He hasn't been terrible and has been defensively sound. He along with Marshall sures up the right side.

He deserves his spot.
 

hardbaby

Coach
Messages
16,523
The team has been far better with a hooker on the bench. Rein's second stints have been fantastic. Marketo can play hooker but we really need an experienced backup on the bench. Lestrange is sharp.

I'd take Matthews over Marketo on the bench.

Farrell holds his spot due to his defensive efforts but man oh man does he need to convert his attacking opportunities.

Mata is a better option that Nabuli but I like both players.

IMO we are close to our best team. We just need to introduce a few more subtleties in attack. And support harder up the middle. But it's growing.
 

giboz71

First Grade
Messages
9,348
On another note, how good is Marshall playing?

I never knew he could play the understated organising half back, but I think he has adjusted his game to suit playing with Widdop.

But something tells me, come the big games later in the year, he'll unleash his old self when needed. Its nice to have that up our sleeve, given we've found it hard to score points.
 

Minh

First Grade
Messages
8,858
Frizz in for one of the forwards is all we need. Rein clearly benefits from having L'estrange fill in, he was always trying too hard when Cam King played the fill in role but now looks to have nailed down the hooker spot.
 

jenninga

First Grade
Messages
8,545
The team has been far better with a hooker on the bench. Rein's second stints have been fantastic. Marketo can play hooker but we really need an experienced backup on the bench. Lestrange is sharp.

I'd take Matthews over Marketo on the bench.

Farrell holds his spot due to his defensive efforts but man oh man does he need to convert his attacking opportunities.

Mata is a better option that Nabuli but I like both players.

IMO we are close to our best team. We just need to introduce a few more subtleties in attack. And support harder up the middle. But it's growing.

Agree with this,though MataUtai can replaced Farrell easily ,we won't lose anything, in fact Peter has better skills in attack.
 

Minh

First Grade
Messages
8,858
The players are clearly well coached this year with everyone improving especially Rein and Merrin who has been very strong and steady.
 

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