Team for NZ

[Big Mick]

The Penrith Panthers will travel to New Zealand on Tuesday February 12, as they prepare to take on the Warriors this Saturday night at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton.
Following their nail-biting victory over the Wests Tigers in their first trial match in Bathurst on Friday night, the Penrith side will be training hard in Hamilton, hungry for a second consecutive trial victory.

The travelling side has been named as follows, with the playing squad to be released later this week. Among the side headed to Hamilton is Lewis Brown, who'll be taking on his ex-team mates for the first time.

Kevin Kingston
Dean Whare
David Simmons
Sika Manu
Clint Newton
Jeremy Latimore
Wes Naiqama
Lachlan Coote
James Roberts
Nigel Plum
Nathan Smith
Matt Robinson
Brad Tighe
Lewis Brown
Josh Mansour
James Segeyaro
Luke Walsh
Ryan Simpkins
Tim Grant
Sam McKendry
Blake Austin
Tom Humble
Travis Robinson
Mose Masoe
Tom Eisenhuth
Geoff Daniela
Adam Docker

http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/n...rossing-the-ditch-ahead-of-second-trial/68223

 

[Black Majik]

That is all our top squad right?

Should be a good hit out for them.

 

[Big Mick]

A few interesting selections there...namely James Roberts being named last night despite the fact he was reportedly out for 6 weeks...

Bit disappointed we may not get to see the likes of Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi, Tony Satini, George Jennings, Matt Moylan, Moses Pangai, Etonia Nabuli etc.

You'd think from that team it'll likely be

1. Wes Naiqama
2. David Simmons
3. Dean Whare
4. Brad Tighe
5. Josh Mansour
6. Lachlan Coote
7. Luke Walsh
8. Tim Grant
9. Kevin Kingston
10. Sam McKendry
11. Sika Manu
12. Lewis Brown
13. Nathan Smith

14. James Segeyaro
15. Mose Masoe
16. Clint Newton
17. Matt Robinson

Throw in Dayne Weston for Mose and that is probably our Round 1 team...

18. Geoff Daniela
19. Travis Robinson
20. Blake Austin
21. Tom Eisenhuth
22. Tom Humble
23. Adam Docker
24. Ryan Simpkins
25. Nigel Plum
26. Jeremy Latimore
27. James Roberts (Probably wont play...likely replaced by someone like Satini, Nabuli, Pangai)

A bit underwhelmed by the squad, but to be expected I think.

 

[franklin2323]

Hopefully that's not our backline for Round 1. Robinson & Austin need to be in the squad.

Yeah big Mick his in a moon boot out for 6 weeks.

underwelming is understatement.

 

[maple_69]

Would be disappointing if that was the side but given we have had a lot of changes, as long as the new/young guys are slowly brought in over the first few months.

If you swap Moylan in to fullback. Move Wes into Simmons spot and Plum or Docker into Newton's position, the side is looking positive enough.

Throw in Austin, Roberts, Pangai and VTK pushing for a spot and we could have a pretty exciting team by the time Origin rolls around.

 

[Big man]

Roberts had the same problem at Souths, every time he would impress in a game he would get injured the following game and be out for months. In the last two season he hasn't played a lot of football which is a shame because he is a talent.

 

[Luke Bowden]

I'm a little disapointed with the attitude towards Wes. He is actually a pretty good player!! How about we give him a crack before we start with the purtell style ridding!

 

[Big Mick]

I'm a little disapointed with the attitude towards Wes. He is actually a pretty good player!! How about we give him a crack before we start with the purtell style ridding!

I agree.

Especially at fullback he is pretty good from what I've seen.

It is when he plays centre that he isn't very good.

 

[franklin2323]

I'm a little disapointed with the attitude towards Wes. He is actually a pretty good player!! How about we give him a crack before we start with the purtell style ridding!

Nothing against him I just fail and still fail to see the need for a 31yo fringe 1st grader. We have younger players we could actually build into superstars that can do the same job.

He should be a fill in for a few weeks if injuries hit not a starter

 

[betcats]

This is what I dont get Franklin, you flip out when we release Jennings which is clearly a building for the future move but if Ivan picks a player like Wes, who genuinely may be the best option right now, you will flip out and say we are not building for the future.

 

[franklin2323]

This is what I dont get Franklin, you flip out when we release Jennings which is clearly a building for the future move but if Ivan picks a player like Wes, who genuinely may be the best option right now, you will flip out and say we are not building for the future.

Yes after it was explained to me I understood.

If we wanted to win now. We would of kept Jennings. We let him go to forward pay some high paid players to get Thurston for next year. Doesn't mean I agree but we did it for that reason

Imo only 2 of Tighe/Naiqama/Simmons should play in the same team. Whare, Mansour are established. T.Robinson, Nabuli, Roberts etc aren't much off Naiqama/Simmons.

Kingston, Brown, Grant, Manu, Smith, Plum are experienced.
Grant, Coote, Walsh, McKendry aren't exactly rookies so it's not like we are like the Roosters last year and have a young team. So it can't hurt to play a few of the kids.

We are playing $800k under the salary cap. The only benefit in that (besides snagging a star mid-season) is to get as many as possible in the top grade. You won't play all kids but lets say this is set:

??
Mansour
Tighe
Whare
??
Coote
Walsh
Grant
Kingston
McKendry
Brown
Manu
??

Segeyaro
Weston
Masoe/Plum
??

We have plenty of experience we can play kids in the other positions and it wont affect us that much but in future years we have potential stars. Or we play the older players and Austin, Roberts, VTK etc are still no closer to being quality 1st graders in 12 months time

 

[Big Mick]

Official Team:

1. Dean Whare
2. Josh Mansour
3. Wes Naiqama
4. Brad Tighe
5. David Simmons
6. Lachlan Coote
7. Luke Walsh
8. Sam McKendry
9. Kevin Kingston (c)
10. Tim Grant
11. Clint Newton
12. Lewis Brown
13. Nathan Smith
14. Jeremy Latimore
15. Nigel Plum
16. James Segeyaro
17. Adam Docker
18. Ryan Simpkins
19. Matt Robinson
20. Geoff Daniela
21. Travis Robinson
22. Tom Eisenhuth
23. Tom Humble
24. Blake Austin

 

[abpanther]

Tighe and Simmons?

Ugh...

 

[Big Mick]

Manu, Roberts & Mosoe all out of the 27 that went over.

 

[murraymob]

Lets hope manu is not injured already given his history with injuries

 

[mxlegend99]

Official Team:

1. Dean Whare
2. Josh Mansour
3. Wes Naiqama
4. Brad Tighe
5. David Simmons
6. Lachlan Coote
7. Luke Walsh
8. Sam McKendry
9. Kevin Kingston (c)
10. Tim Grant
11. Clint Newton
12. Lewis Brown
13. Nathan Smith
14. Jeremy Latimore
15. Nigel Plum
16. James Segeyaro
17. Adam Docker
18. Ryan Simpkins
19. Matt Robinson
20. Geoff Daniela
21. Travis Robinson
22. Tom Eisenhuth
23. Tom Humble
24. Blake Austin

FMD... that's about as boring as our backline could possibly be. Each of those players has had more then 100 games in first grade and have proven themselves to be nothing more then fringe first graders. Likewise with Luke Walsh.

I know James Roberts is injured (although i'm not confident he is a guaranteed selection anyway) , but how can we not even be giving our other options a proper run in the trials? IMO Wes, Simmo and Tighe should have been bench selections at best and had a token 20 minute run just for a bit of a hit out. Even if they are guaranteed a spot Round 1. Starting and playing 80 minutes in a trial, or coming off the bench won't make much if any difference to them. It makes a huge difference to guys with little or no first grade experience though.

 

[franklin2323]

Spot on MX. we know what those players can do. We need to see the kids go. F**k me if that's our best squad :lol::lol:

 

[Panther_Daz]

I'm going to go against the grain here and defend Simmons. I thought he was good for us at the back end of last year.

 

[soc123_au]

I agree Daz, I have never understood the Simmo hate. He is a decent solid first grader. No more, but no less. Add to that he has the occasional blinder, but I can't really recall any shockers.

 

[franklin2323]

I'm going to go against the grain here and defend Simmons. I thought he was good for us at the back end of last year.

Tighe was good at the back end of the season he too is solid. I will throw Naiqama in that group are all solid. You know they will do a job.

So shouldn't we use players that we aren't sure of? In trial that is meaningless. If they fail we have the solid players waiting.

Like with Newon/Smith. Austin MOTM one week last player named next week.