1. Hayne
2. Burt
3. Inu
4. Smith
5. Tahu
6. Mateo
7. Finch
13. Grothe
12. N Hindmarsh
11.Riddell
10.Cannings
9. Marsh
8. Cayless
14. Robbo
15. Cordoba
16. Someone from PL
17. Someone from PL
Why?
HAYNE is being talked about as fullback and in my opinion, we saw the best from him last year when he was running the ball against the run of play (namely, intercepts and kick-returns). The opposition would have caught onto his interecept ability by now and will not doubt play it closer to the ruck when on his side of the field. At fullback, he offers an increased opportunity to make a break, whether from kick returns or by chiming into the backline or running off a forward that gets the ball away in second phase play.
I always thought that BURT played his best football on the wing. He is too light for a fullback (as is Hodgson IMHO) and is too easily driven backwards. But apart from his goalkicking, his ability to sniff out a try from a grubber kick is pretty good.
I havent seen a lot of Krisnan INU, however will refer to the numerous posts here about his ability to attack. We need some attack in the outside backs and neither B SMITH or TAHU do it for me and havent for the last 12 months.
B SMITH holds a spot in the centres as he does have the ability to break the line and his defence is normally solid, though I think Hages needs to consider not playing 'centre-a-side' in attack always and letting INU run off B SMITH - will work if we can get some go forward and a deep backline happening.
TAHU is a State of Origin Rep and he gets picked from Centre to always play Wing. To me, he is a winger. A centre needs to be able to pass the ball (and willing to as well) and T simply doesnt give his outside men a chance.
MATEO I havent seen enough of, but from all accounts he may be able to cement a place in FG if given time and opportunity.
We paid for FINCH so we need to use him, until he proves he doesnt fit in. I think he will come good cause he has a smart "football" brain - just that he trys too hard sometimes. Like all half-backs, only as good as the room his forwards give him. T SMITH has had a chance too many and is simply taking the wrong option too often. Needs to spend some more time in PL to get his game right. Once our forwards get moving might be good to bring him back but to inexperienced to handle the lack of go forward resulting in panicked decisions.
Surpise selection for some is GROTHE at lock - why? Why not? He can hit the ball up, he always looks to pass and his defence can be useful when he is not caught out in no-mans land marking 2 on 1.
N HINDMARSH and RIDDELL are the only options for go-forward second rowers that will look to set up second phase play on a regular basis.
MARSH has to be the hooker and he should become an 80 minute player from this week on.
CANNINGS and CAYLESS are the engine-room we need and if CANNINGS doesnt get injured I think he will return to the form we saw at Manly when we bought him in the first place.
Reserves are a great opportunity to blood some PL players, I just dont know enough about PL to name names. CORDOBA and ROBBO for giving Riddell, Cayless and Cannings a rest.
