Sorting the NRL Squad

[Magpies Forever]

Instead of looking at the numbers I’ve tried to rate / group the NRL squad according to experience. Sorting the wheat from the chaff in other words.

Yes, I know there are a few players that one would question why I have placed as first graders but I’m placing there for their experience not necessarily playing ability.

International / SOO standard speaks for itself, as does First Grade. In Fringe First Grade I mean they have been given opportunity at the NRL level already- what they have made of that opportunity no point in commenting as yet. State Cup/U20’s are the future and will be given opportunity as it arises but logically I would not expect to see too much of them this year unless filling in for injury on the interchange bench but they should be gaining much by their mixing ‘with the big boys’.

International / SOO standard (3 players)
Gareth Ellis
Robbie Farah
Benji Marshall

First Grade standard (9 players)
Blake Ayshford
Keith Galloway
Bryce Gibbs
Chris Heighington
Chris Lawrence
Todd Payten
Beau Ryan
Taniela Tuiaki (** injured possibly all 2010)
Tim Moltzen

First Grade from ESL / Injury / Other (7 players)
Jason Cayless
Daniel Fitzhenry
Liam Fulton
Tame Tupou (** recovering from surgery still months away from NRL game)
Aranda Taumata
Lote Tuqiri (** still to return and regain NRL fitness- maybe month or two)
Mark Flanagan

Fringe First Grade (6 players)
Mitch Brown
Geoff Daniela
Simon Dwyer
Robert Lui
Willie Mataka
Junior Moors

State Cup /U20’s Grade (13 players)
Nia Akeripa
Rhys Curran
Josh Davis
Andrew Fifita
David Fifita
Matt Hyland
Blake Lazarus
Jake Mullaney
Rhys Pritchard
Junor Roquica
Alan Schirnack
Jason Schirnack
Aaron Woods

General comments-

• WT remain light on the established first graders despite active recruitment in the off season. Injury / unavailability has already robbed WT of 3 of the 19 players of that standard or higher before the whistle has even blown for the first game.
• WT & Teflon will be very reliant on the fringe players being able to step up that extra grade.
• WT do have the potential for a good season but a lot can go wrong- we don’t have much wriggle room for injuries / suspension let alone what wonders Teflon can do with his vision in team selections.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Vic Mackey]

galloway and lawrence are origin standard, they are certainly better players some who were picked there last year

 

[macnaz]

tnt is a NZ international as well. Oh and luis a freak!

 

[Magpies Forever]

"galloway and lawrence are origin standard, they are certainly better players some who were picked there last year" and "tnt is a NZ international as well. Oh and luis a freak!"

I'll amend for TNT, but although I agree with comments on Lawrence and Galloway they havent played yet at that level.

Current International / SOO standard (4 players)
Gareth Ellis
Robbie Farah
Benji Marshall
Taniela Tuiaki (** injured possibly all 2010)


First Grade standard (8 players)
Blake Ayshford
Keith Galloway
Bryce Gibbs
Chris Heighington
Chris Lawrence
Todd Payten
Beau Ryan
Tim Moltzen

First Grade from ESL / Injury / Other (7 players)
Jason Cayless
Daniel Fitzhenry
Liam Fulton
Tame Tupou (** recovering from surgery still months away from NRL game)
Aranda Taumata
Lote Tuqiri (** still to return and regain NRL fitness- maybe month or two)
Mark Flanagan

Fringe First Grade (6 players)
Mitch Brown
Geoff Daniela
Simon Dwyer
Robert Lui
Willie Mataka
Junior Moors

State Cup /U20’s Grade (13 players)
Nia Akeripa
Rhys Curran
Josh Davis
Andrew Fifita
David Fifita
Matt Hyland
Blake Lazarus
Jake Mullaney
Rhys Pritchard
Junor Roquica
Alan Schirnack
Jason Schirnack
Aaron Woods

 

[N.C.]

Good idea.

Just to be smarmy, I'd add another level b/w International and FG - "Fringe Rep standard". Covers those who have (deservedly) made it into a City/Country clash or whatever and paints a clearer picture of experience... Also, wouldn't J. Shirnack fit into the "fringe" list? You'd have to put Taumata there as well, if experience is what counts...

Representative (4 players) - Gareth Ellis; Robbie Farah; Benji Marshall; Taniela Tuiaki (** injured possibly all 2010).

Fringe Rep (2 players) - Keith Galloway; Chris Lawrence.

First Grade (6 players) - Bryce Gibbs; Chris Heighington; Todd Payten; Blake Ayshford; Tim Moltzen; Beau Ryan.

From ESL (6 players) - Jason Cayless; Daniel Fitzhenry; Liam Fulton; Tame Tupou (**recovering from surgery still months away from NRL game); Lote Tuqiri (**still to return and regain NRL fitness- maybe month or two); Mark Flanagan.

Fringe First Grade (8 players) - Arana Taumata; Mitch Brown; Geoff Daniela; Simon Dwyer; Robert Lui; Willie Mataka; Junior Moors; Jason Schirnack.

State Cup /U20’s Grade (12 players) - Nu Akeripa; Rhys Curran; Josh Davis; Andrew Fifita; David Fifita; Matt Hyland; Blake Lazarus; Jake Mullaney; Rhys Pritchard; Junior Roquica; Alan Schirnack; Aaron Woods.

 

[Magpies Forever]

No probs with that teasing out of things. Yeah - forgot about Schirnack getting a run last year.

WT will really need the fringe players to 'step up'. 2010 and WT will give them the opportunity to show their worth.

 

[N.C.]

Hopefully it will not be too long before players like Cayless, Fitzhenry, Fulton, and Tuqiri can be moved into the first grade list, because that would give us almost a full team of first grade and above players... If this happens, any fringe player who steps up will be a nice bonus. Although we still need a half-back. Does anyone know if Fitzhenry can play half-back?

 

[macnaz]

At the end of the day it costs to have experienced players playing state cup waiting as back up. Once apon a time 2nd grade was full of ex 1st graders but today most dont hang around if they dont get some decent doe, so u have buy wisely and get players who are capable of stepping up if needed but also happy to wait there time . so because we arent loaded with cash i think we play the gamble game a lot and buy injury plagued players and no names to try save on money. Reasonable way of doing it, but we always get duds from the NRL isle at Aldi's.

 

[Magpies Forever]

I certainly hope a few of the U20's / State Cup players can make a break from the pack and stake a claim as a regular in the 17 man squad. Some of the fringe and first grade players need the competition.

 

[Borat.]

Hopefully it will not be too long before players like Cayless, Fitzhenry, Fulton, and Tuqiri can be moved into the first grade list, because that would give us almost a full team of first grade and above players... If this happens, any fringe player who steps up will be a nice bonus. Although we still need a half-back. Does anyone know if Fitzhenry can play half-back?

Cayless, Fitzhenry, Fulton, and Tuqiri all have extensive first grade exp....can't see the point in making a distinction between them and our other regular first graders....with the exp of Lote who has vast international exp....

Hopefully it will not be too long before players like Cayless, Fitzhenry, Fulton, and Tuqiri can be moved into the first grade list, because that would give us almost a full team of first grade and above players... If this happens, any fringe player who steps up will be a nice bonus. Although we still need a half-back. Does anyone know if Fitzhenry can play half-back?

Most peolpe here say he cant play any position let only 7... are you having a laugh?


Mullaney and Fifita and Hyland will all make the step up this year....... Mullaney will kill it


Also Lote should be included in any WT International / SOO standard list

 

[N.C.]

Yes, I'm having a laugh.

The only one of those four players who might get an immediate look in under the "first grade" heading is Fulton, because he's only been gone a year. The others will be a couple of years off the pace and will need time to readjust. As I say, hopefully not too long, but I don't think you can assume they'll just slot straight back in, no questions asked.

 

[gronkathon]

Hyland is half a kilo of sh*t in a 4 kilo bag.

 

[DRAGONZ_RULE]

Mullaney and Fifita and Hyland will all make the step up this year....... Mullaney will kill it

Which Fifita are you talking about, Andrew or David? Or both?


And out of them and Hyland, which one is likely to play NRL first this season, and then get higher stats / score more tries?

 

[gronkathon]

Andrew Fifita would be the best pickup for a Fantasy NRL side

 

[DRAGONZ_RULE]

Cheers, thanks mate

 

[Reek_Havoc]

International / SOO standard (3 players)
Gareth Ellis
Robbie Farah
Taniela Tuaki.

First Grade standard (9 players)
Benji Marshall
Blake Ayshford
Keith Galloway
Bryce Gibbs
Chris Heighington
Chris Lawrence
Todd Payten
Beau Ryan
Tim Moltzen

Benji is not up S.O.O standards. Tuaki is, along with Farah and Ellis.

 

[westie]

Benji's out-played the Aussies (that's the best of origin p.s) in the last two serious tournaments.

 

[Henri Cartier-Bresson]

International / SOO standard (3 players)
Gareth Ellis
Robbie Farah
Taniela Tuaki.

Yeah Robbie's nailed State of Origin ...

 

[Reek_Havoc]

Benji's out-played the Aussies (that's the best of origin p.s) in the last two serious tournaments.

You serioulsy don't know your footy. If you think scoring an opportunist try means he outplayed the aussies, than your knowledge of league is limited. Benji hasn't had ONE decent game for the All blacks. Rarely has he been creative and constantly been over rated.

 

[Reek_Havoc]

Yeah Robbie's nailed State of Origin ...

Probably the best hooker in the game. You can't question the bloke. He has won plenty of games for us.

Along with Ellis and Tuiaki...they're the only ones who stand out in this side ........KG is slowly getting there...