01: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. 31yrs/214 g.
02. Taine Tuaupiki. 25yrs/12 g.
03: Ali Leiataua. 22yrs/8 g.
04: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 29yrs/114 g.
05: Moala Taufa-Graham. 23yrs/4 g.
06: Luke Metcalf. 26yrs/27 g.
07: Te Maire-Martin. 29yrs/93 g.
08: James Fisher-Harris. 29yrs/201 g.
09: Wayde Egan. 27yrs/130 g.
10: Mitchell Barnett. 30yrs/167 g.
11: Jacob Laban. 20yrs/7 g.
12: Marata Niukore. 28yrs/133 g
13: Dylan Walker. 30yrs/230 g.
14: Erin Clark. 27yrs/96 g.
15: Demitric Vaimauga. 20yrs/8 g.
16: Bunty Afoa. 28yrs/138 g.
17: Leka Halasima. 19yrs/5 g.
18. Sam Healy. 22yrs/0 g.
19. Tanah Boyd. 24yrs/69 g.
- I have dropped Capewell and Pompey for their diabolical defense. I have also dropped Harris-Tevita as I saw nothing significant he brought to our team dynamic. Niukore, Nicoll-Klokstad and Metcalf came close to being dropped but willing to give them another game to redeem themselves and for Metcalf to get more game time develop in the halves (albeit I admit now he's not a 7 like many has suggested)
- Laban gets promoted to the 17 and starting in place of Kurt "I can't tackle" Capewell. The ticker and hunger in this potential future captain shouldn't be ignored and nurtured by Webster.
- The halves I admit I got it wrong with Metcalf being a 7. Though experts have mentioned you have to let a half play 40 to 50 games before they find their feet. Are we being to impatient with Metcalf? Possibly as the bloke hasn't had a good run in the NRL with injuries and our forwards hasn't always provided a good platform. When we did get in the opposition 20 last year, it was SJ, TMM playing at 7 so the question remains whether Metcalf is a 7. He is a running 6 for all of us at the moment.
- Tuivasa-Sheck to FB, it's a crime he's not there and he saved a try over the line with his champion defense (Despite the infringement on the lead up of the Raiders try was penalized first, it was a great display by Roger.)
- CNK plays like a centre so he should be our centre for time being and if he grows there to remain there until the likes of Berry or some other option gets their chance.
- We have no specialist wingers that are ready or fit, so I am opting for Taine to get more game time and Moala to be included for his skillet and size, despite being a centre and Tuaupiki for his speed, evasive and cool under pressure, despite being a fullback and small in stature.
- Clarke goes on the bench to cover Egan at hooker and Walker at lock to provide more direction with our halves.
- Vaimauga and Afoa gets more game time with Fisher-Harris and Barnett to get a longer rest before their 2nd stint.
- Halasima covers Laban when he gets tired, and Barnett can switch to 2nd row to cover Niukore. (Which means someone in the props will need to stay on longer to compensate the changeover)
- Healy is close to coming into our team so he becomes 18th man for me.
- Boyd becomes 19th man to keep TMM and Metcalf honest.
I'm not a coach but it's obvious what changes need to be done to make us more competitive and balance our team dynamic. The youth in our team needs a whole lot more faith aka Ricky Stuart with the Canberra Raiders.