Team v Titans

[Meth]

No issues or injuries out of last night that I am aware of. Capewell, Martin and Berry due back.

1- Nicoll-Klokstad
2- Watene-Zelezniak
3- Pompey
4- Capewell
5- Tuivasa Sheck
6- Harris-Tavita
7- Boyd
8- Fisher Harris
9- Egan
10- Ford
11- Halasima
12- Niukore
13- Clark

Res- Martin, Vaimauga, Stowers Smith, Ieremiah-Toeava

A couple of things-

CNK at centre is like the Turbo thing, I think the experiment is just over. It does create a problem or two to the balance of the side though. Hence, Capewell to centre. I don't like it either. Truth be told, if we had a centre, I'd be putting Halasima on the bench this week to try to regain some mojo.

Ford needs to play less minutes and get less ball, especially in good attacking positions. I'd play him for the first 25-30 minutes or so and then get Vaimauga on for the rest of the game. Ford is better coming off the bench, but Vaimauga and Stowers Smith are better than him at coming off the bench.

Went for Martin over Healey because with that side, we need cover for the backs more than we do for hooker.

Anyway, that's my thoughts as of this morning.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Ford out for 3 weeks apparently for a crusher. I don't even remember it

Again, let's play judicial lottery - 2 weeks for a callous tackle that breaks a leg with the player having priors, 3 weeks for an innocuous crusher with no priors

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I agree with CNK, needs to go back to fullback and may well do given Berry is apparently fit again?

We're scraping the barrel on props. Bunty or Ale back in?

 

[Izz]

Niukore to prop, Capewell to back row, Berry to centre

 

[Scott]

Ford out for 3 weeks apparently for a crusher. I don't even remember it

Again, let's play judicial lottery - 2 weeks for a callous tackle that breaks a leg with the player having priors, 3 weeks for an innocuous crusher with no priors

Pretty sure this is the 3rd offence.
1st & 2nd offence are a fine, 3rd is the big ban. They have been very consistent with it.

Kaufusi should have been rubbed out for 10 weeks though.

 

[vvvrulz]

Niukore to prop

I really wish Niukore was playing at above half power - we desperately need menace and we get more of that from Stowers-Smith in 2 minutes than Marata all game.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

RTS is our best back and FB fullstop.

Taine demoted down to NSW Cup.

Halasima to shift to centre for impact.

Pompey demoted down to NSW Cup.

Vaimauga promoted to starting Prop. Ford will be suspended.

TMM and Afoa return from NSW Cup to the interchange bench.

01. RTS.
02. DWZ.
03. Halasima.
04. CNK.
05. Tuaupiki.
06. CHT.
07. Boyd.
08. JFH.
09. Egan.
10. Vaimauga.
11. Capewell.
12. Niukore.
13. Clark.

14. TMM.
15. Afoa.
16. TSS.
17. EIT.

18. Healy.

 

[Meth]

Yeah, Afoa in ahead of Ford.

 

[Meth]

I think RTS on the wing is the thing performing best at the moment. There's a lot that's broke, so might as well not fix this.

 

[Meth]

1- Nicoll-Klokstad
2- Watene-Zelezniak
3- Pompey
4- Capewell
5- Tuivasa Sheck
6- Harris-Tavita
7- Boyd
8- Fisher Harris
9- Egan
10- Afoa
11- Halasima
12- Niukore
13- Clark

Res- Martin, Vaimauga, Stowers Smith, Ieremiah-Toeava

I'd be interested in Ale coming in too, but haven't seen him play this year

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I think RTS on the wing is the thing performing best at the moment. There's a lot that's broke, so might as well not fix this.

I’ve thought about it, and honestly RTS has been outstanding. The switch to the wing has worked really well, much better than when he was at centre.

I did consider whether moving CNK back to fullback might help, but to me he looks a bit worn down and not at his best for us.

Looking back, RTS probably should have been given the fullback role, but to be fair he’s absolutely flying on the wing.

 

[TheDMC]

I really wish Niukore was playing at above half power - we desperately need menace and we get more of that from Stowers-Smith in 2 minutes than Marata all game.

Niukore has weak legs or poor running technique or something, gets dropped in tackles so easily

 

[nswarrior]

1- Nicoll-Klokstad
2- Watene-Zelezniak
3- Pompey
4- Berry
5- Tuivasa Sheck
6- Harris-Tavita
7- Boyd
8- Fisher Harris
9- Egan
10- Afoa
11- Capewell
12- Niukore
13- Clark

Res- Martin, Vaimauga, Stowers Smith, Halasima

was Halasima injured? He came off not long after getting a bit of a head knock

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Anyone know Ali's status? I see he's no longer on the casualty list.

Seems to be down the pecking order these days but at least being fit again would be good. Especially with the regularity we seem to lose people these days.

 

[Izz]

Anyone know Ali's status? I see he's no longer on the casualty list.

Seems to be down the pecking order these days but at least being fit again would be good. Especially with the regularity we seem to lose people these days.

He didn't play Cup on the weekend, so dunno

As an aside: I don't think Morgan Harper's even been considered for FG this year, despite all our centre injury issues...

 

[ozenzud]

Halasima could do with dropping back to the bench I reckon. The grind might be getting to him. Playing Berry straight back into 1st grade, might be a risk. This is a must win game.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Halasima could do with dropping back to the bench I reckon. The grind might be getting to him. Playing Berry straight back into 1st grade, might be a risk. This is a must win game.

It's harsh on TT but I really think CNK needs to go back to No.1 and play a genuine centre on that left hand side. CNK was the heart of everything we did when we were going well, I just don't think we can carry on with the stopgap measure in bigger games.

If it's Berry, so be it I guess.

I saw RTS said if we lost another outside back last week, Kosi was going to centre. Imagine that!

 

[JJ]

It's harsh on TT but I really think CNK needs to go back to No.1 and play a genuine centre on that left hand side. CNK was the heart of everything we did when we were going well, I just don't think we can carry on with the stopgap measure in bigger games.

If it's Berry, so be it I guess.

I saw RTS said if we lost another outside back last week, Kosi was going to centre. Imagine that!

it's tough, right, our best back is a fullback playing on the wing, and our second best back a fullback playing centre...

 

[Penrose Warrior]

it's tough, right, our best back is a fullback playing on the wing, and our second best back a fullback playing centre...

Yeah it is actually really tough.

You could say that recruitment needs to get sharper in that regard. We have 3 guys who are NRL standard (or above) fullbacks. We need to have a plan going forward, because RTS will be gone next year, CNK is getting older, DWZ is rocks and diamonds, what's our best back 5 going to be? We still aren't sure now.

 

[ozenzud]

Yeah it is actually really tough.

You could say that recruitment needs to get sharper in that regard. We have 3 guys who are NRL standard (or above) fullbacks. We need to have a plan going forward, because RTS will be gone next year, CNK is getting older, DWZ is rocks and diamonds, what's our best back 5 going to be? We still aren't sure now.

RTS's contract is to end of 2026. Whether he extents is subject to getting that Rugby comp going i'd guess. He's playing well this year. Another year older next year (33). Hopefully he doesn't do a Money Bill and run out in the middle of the night.