Team of The Year Thus Far

[Dogaholic]

Paki Afu would be close to leading try scorer and he is a 2nd rower

 

[thehattrickrabbit]

Paki Afu would be close to leading try scorer and he is a 2nd rower

I admit I made a blunder from leaving Paki Afu out of the side.

 

[Dogaholic]

It's a gun team all the same

 

[fortae]

I admit I made a blunder from leaving Paki Afu out of the side.

Also if you have Dugan in the side (four games) ... Merrin is easily in the best four props, at that level, on performance. I didn't think he should be in the team just because others had played twice as many games. Now he's had 7 games.

Romelo for Fruen, Merrin for Alovili and Johnson for Lui would be my changes.

 

[Iafeta]

Suiatonga Likiliki must be close to that team. He'd have to be bloody close to first grade right now. He's rolling a lot of blokes in attack and defence.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

Just a quick rundown on the standouts in each position.

Fullback: Jake Mullany (Tigers) has been outstanding, as has Neenan Simpson (Bulldogs), Luke Towers (Roosters), Gareth Widdop (Storm) and Peter Mata'utia (Knights). Josh Dugan (Raiders) and Kevin Locke (Warriors) have looked good in limited appearances.

Wingers: Joe Vickery (Dragons) and Bill Tupou (Warriors) are again standouts, but there is great talent in the Melbourne pair of Josh Jerome and Matt Duffie, as well as Coedi Towney (Tigers), Drury Low (Raiders), Michael Oldfield (Manly), Kane Morgan (Souths) and Michael Fualalo (Penrith).

Centre: Kane Linnett (Dragons) and Taioalo Vaivai (Souths) have been outstanding, as has NYC 'veterans' Sam Joe (Storm) and Daniel Vidot (Raiders). Suitonga Likiliki (Warriors) and Dale Copley (Broncos) look like great talents to watch out for.

Five-Eighth: Robert Lui (Tigers) has looked a standout to me, just ahead of Michael Picker (Raiders) and Kieran Foran (Manly). Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Albert Kelly (Eels), Corey Norman (Broncos) and Jordan Rankin (Gold Coast) are some great young talents though.

Halfback: Beau Henry (Dragons) is the real standout here, only challenged by Daniel Mortimer (Parramatta) and Luke Kelly (Melbourne). Shaun Johnson can again make a claim for this spot too.

Front Row: Siosia Vave (Titans), Trent Merrin (Dragons) and Tinirau Arona (Panthers) are the form props of the NYC. Jessie Browmich (Storm), Shaun Spring (Gold Coast), Ronnie Alovili (Cowboys), Sam McKendry (Manly), Jared Warea-Hargreaves (Manly), Martin Taupau (Bulldogs) and David Hala (Broncos), Matt Britt (Raiders) and Mitchell Johnson (Eels) have been solid too, whilst semi-regular first graders John Mannah (Sharks), Leeson Ah Mau (Warriors) and Martin Kennedy (Roosters) have been solid in limited appearances. One to really watch IMO is Aaron Woods (Tigers).

Hooker: Definitely one with less obvious quality. The most dynamic creative hookers have been Kayne Lawton (Titans) and Josh Reynolds (Bulldogs). However, with Lawton moved to halfback and Reynolds injured, speedy rakes Mitch Rein (Dragons) and James Segeyaro (Cowboys) have stepped into the spotlight.

Second Row: Jake Marketo (Dragons) and Pakisonasi Afu (Bulldogs) are the winners here, but Brock Molan (Souths), Jason Schirnack (Tigers), Fred Makimare (Storm) and Dunamis Lui (Broncos) all look talented.

Lock: Jamie Buhrer of Manly is by far and away the best current lock in the NYC, with Jason Baiteri (Eels) not far behind, and Jason Clark (Souths) and Matt Hyland (Tigers) a fair way behind them. I have actually been impressed by prop-to-lock convert Dane Hogan (Cowboys) and Joel Romelo (Panthers) too.


If I had to pick a 17...

1. Jake Mullany (Tigers)
2. Joe Vickery (Dragons)
3. Kane Linnett (Dragons)
4. Taiolalo Vaivai (Souths)
5. Coedi Towney (Tigers)
6. Robert Lui (Tigers)
7. Beau Henry (Dragons)
8. Siosaia Vave (Titans)
9. Kayne Lawton (Titans)
10. Tinirau Arona (Panthers)
11. Pakisonasi Afu (Bulldogs)
12. Jake Marketo (Dragons)
13. Jamie Buhrer (Manly)

14. Mitch Rein (Dragons)
15. Jason Baiteri (Eels)
16. Jared Warea-Hargreaves (Manly)
17. Trent Merrin (Dragons)

 

[Dogaholic]

wow, quite the run down. thanks for taking the time and effort.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

All good. Note that there are many mentions of Storm and Dragons players there.

 

[Gallus Gallus]

outstanding work Mack, keep up the good work

 

[MacDougall]

Hopefully Jake Mullaney matures and takes that first grade fullback jersey at the Tigers. I'd rather someone who was always a fullback be the man instead of halbacks turned fullbacks (Moltzen, Lazarus).

 

[fortae]

I guess Henry will be picked as the 7 in any team like this but he's a five-eighth and we play left and right. Scott Rosser is the typical halfback, who has to fit into the system.

Also Hogan is back in his natural position. He only played prop in teams that struggled with go forward.

 

[JasonE]

How is Gareth Widdop going this year ?
the Storm haven't been on tv this season so haven't been able to judge his form.

 

[Raider_69]

anyone who isnt naming Dugan is kidding themselves, i know he hasnt played the entire year there due to FG commitments but if he's not the best player in that competition when he's back there, ill give it away. He's an absolute freak, just too good for that age group. If he plays the year out in U20's canbera are a good thing to go back to back imo, he's just THAT good... and then to have Dan Vidot, Travis Waddell and Mick Picker around him... well... im biased but seriously thats hard to stop in this comp.

 

[ozbash]

got to agree, Dugan is a freak who will go a long way.

 

[pixi]

merrin would have to be one of the best props for the 20's this year. He may not have the stats.As he played in the shellharbour dragons for a few weeks and also played debut first grade last week. He would have to be the 8 or 10 for the side.

 

[sooperdooper]

He's a good fullback and a great centre. His defence at fullback is suss due to positioning, and the more involved he is the better he goes.
Byron Fruean is just holding a spot on the bench and is a good chance to be dropped when we have a full squad.
The guy will not pass the ball - ever.

that is odd as there was talk of byron playing nrl this year

 

[sooperdooper]

Fruean is strong for his size and fit, but he just can't find a position that he will be good enough in to make firstgrade.
He did OK in the second row last year, but just isn't big enough.
He did OK at hooker last year and as a third choice this year, but all he has is a dummy half run - no vision and just shovels the ball to the halfback - no other passing skills.
This year he has been tried as a winger (not fast enough), and a centre (will not pass the ball).
He does a lot of quality tackles and makes a lot of strong runs, but in his last year of NYC he is going nowhere because he hasn't made a position his own.

sounds like kurt gidley

 

[Joker's Wild]

that is odd as there was talk of byron playing nrl this year

From who? No such noises coming from the Knights camp

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Fruean is strong for his size and fit, but he just can't find a position that he will be good enough in to make firstgrade.
He did OK in the second row last year, but just isn't big enough.
He did OK at hooker last year and as a third choice this year, but all he has is a dummy half run - no vision and just shovels the ball to the halfback - no other passing skills.
This year he has been tried as a winger (not fast enough), and a centre (will not pass the ball).
He does a lot of quality tackles and makes a lot of strong runs, but in his last year of NYC he is going nowhere because he hasn't made a position his own.

Exactly the same as Rusty Bristowe. Physicall dominant in NYC - easily most tackle breaks since the comp began.

Almost impossible to stop 10m away from the line.

Ultra aggresive in attack and defense but unfortunately no really fast enough for NRL centre (though probably same as mannering/kirk etc).

 

[SMOKEY]

Manly Sea Eagles - 56
Tries: Darcy Lussick (2), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Blake Davey (2), Mitchell Porter, John Grey (2), Daly Cherry-Evans, William Hopoate
Conversions: Mitchell Porter (8/10)
DEFEATED
Penrith Panthers - 18
Tries: Luke Clydesdale, Jack Twist, Jesse Sene-Lefao
Conversions: Stirling Siejka (3/3)
Referee: Grant Atkins; Sideline Officials: Rob Bowen & Matt Damaso