The 2012 thread

[macavity]

High hopea all round.

For mine we are short an organizing half and (assuming we don't play Gids there) a hooker.

Top 6 is a reasonable goal, however our spine is a massive worry so top 4 might be a reach.

Interesting to see if we attempt to fill some holes before kickoff.

 

[antonius]

We need 7,9 and a 6. Maybe Mullo at 6. For me Gids at 9 that leaves the massive 7, at the moment we don't have one in the club IMO

 

[Noname36]

All we really need is a 7 who is able to direct the team around the park. I don't care if he can't pass, kick or run (Mullo can do that), but as long as he can organise I'll be happy. Gidley isn't the answer, neither is Stig. I don't know what we are going to do, because we don't have one player who can direct the team around the park.

Gidley to hooker with Bedsy or Waltzing subbing for him will be perfectly fine I think.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I'm hoping we can get something out of Boyd. On his recent form I'd go for Gids or Wes at fullback over him.

 

[Alex28]

Granted it was only against Penrith but he was outstanding last week. There is no way on earth that you'd have Kurt or Wes at Fullback over Boyd. No chance.

We are short a half - at the moment. Interesting to see what Bennett does in that department.

 

[broncos2010]

Next year you guys will be very strong.

How about this

1.Naquama ( sorry dont know how to spell his name )
6.Boyd
7Mullen
9.Gidley

Also throw in uate in on the wing and a pretty sold second row.

Now that wins games.

 

[Misanthrope]

In dire need of a half and not sold on our current hooking situation. The pack looks good. A tad worried about our backline - Mad Dog leaves a pretty big hole there. The others, obviously, select themselves.

 

[RHCP]

Boyd is class. So is most of the Saints team, but they've all been struggling recently.

Mullen, well, who knows? Let's see what Wayne can do for him, maybe he'll come out like Soward. I just pray he isn't picked for Origin, at least Game One. It could send him backwards again. I think getting the best out of Mullen would be one of Bennett's greatest coaching feats as far as influence on players imo.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Boyd is class. So is most of the Saints team, but they've all been struggling recently.

Mullen, well, who knows? Let's see what Wayne can do for him, maybe he'll come out like Soward. I just pray he isn't picked for Origin, at least Game One. It could send him backwards again. I think getting the best out of Mullen would be one of Bennett's greatest coaching feats as far as influence on players imo.

Mullo will be a thousand to one for origin.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

1. Boyd.
2. McManus.
3. Sau.
4. Tahu.
5. Uate.
6. Mullen.
7. Gidley - Be honest people you know thats how Bennetts gonna go.
8. Tui.
9. Buderus.
10. Snowden.
11. Houston. (C)
12. Taia.
13. Costigan.

14. Hilder.
15. Richie.
16. Edwards.
17. Tetevano.

18. Naiqama.
19. McKinnon.
20. Stig.
21. Roberts.
22. Liki Liki.

 

[TooheysNew]

Why do we "know" that?

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Keckles, thats why.

 

[billy2]

Anything could happen in the off season.

We will have an amazing young squad training under the best coaching and training staff ever in the NRL, let alone Newcastle.

A player like Tetevano, or even someone like Rod Mason or Ethan Cook, could improve out of sight and be a regular firstgrader from round one.

Rod Mason has all the natural gifts of his older brother and has shown glimpses of his potential in games.

I'm expecting every player to improve over the off season, and i'm expecting some of the younger players to be almost unrecognisable - Rochow, Pete, Likiliki, Cook, Tets, Tyler Sullivan, Roberts, Mason, Korbin Sims, Kyle O'Donnell, McKinnon, Kev Naiqama, Stig, Chris Marlborough, Will Smith and Chad Redman - any or all of them could be firstgraders by the end of the off season.

 

[Misanthrope]

Did we actually land Buderus? I thought his English club had decided to hold onto him?

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Did we actually land Buderus? I thought his English club had decided to hold onto him?

There was a post here from on of their fans who said they (the fans) are assuming he is gone but nothing official here yet.
if we do get him then part of his role will be to groom another Hooker and pass on experience to settle plays and get some direction. I'm not sure who that will be.

 

[timka4]

If Buderus doesn't come, does anyone see Hilder playing as hooker? not saying he will as I believe the spine will be
1. Boyd
6. Mullen
7. Gidley (C)
9. Buderus / Hilder
But if we don't sign Buderus, I could see Bennett playing Hilder in hooker like he did with Young.
Not that Bennett has to copy over the exact style of team he used with the dragons, but I think its definitely a chance of happening, especially with us having a lot of great back rowers.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Waltzing at hooker is fine by me if it suits a formula which brings results. I want a wall of grind in defence that hurts teams and makes me believe a half time lead will not even look like getting run down. We are going to be a force.

 

[Spot On]

If Buderus doesn't come, does anyone see Hilder playing as hooker? not saying he will as I believe the spine will be
1. Boyd
6. Mullen
7. Gidley (C)
9. Buderus / Hilder
But if we don't sign Buderus, I could see Bennett playing Hilder in hooker like he did with Young.
Not that Bennett has to copy over the exact style of team he used with the dragons, but I think its definitely a chance of happening, especially with us having a lot of great back rowers.

Hooker is the only position I can see Bennett using Hilder if the backrowers are fit.

 

[Noname36]

Hooker is the only position I can see Bennett using Hilder if the backrowers are fit.

If Edwards starts at lock (which is a possibility based on where he's played this year), then I could see Hilder being used off the bench as a replacement lock/replacement hooker/utility player. As damaging as Edwards is in defense, at this stage he certainly isn't a player who's going to play a lot of minutes so I can see Hilder coming off the bench to give him a spell as well as Bedsy. There will certainly be enough for Waltzing to do. We're lucky to have him.

 

[Allstar Knights]

I really hope Hilder doesn't play hooker next year because his ball distribution and dummy half runs are way too slow for mine. He's not someone who can help get our forwards rolling because he's not enthusiastic enough like a Gidley or Farah etc. Much better hookers at our club already then him IMO. He's an awesome lock and really should only be played there, along with Edwards. Don't really care who starts out of the two.

If Buderus, or another hooker doesn't sign with us, it makes sense to play Gids in the 9 instead. But if Wayne still wants Gids in the halves, then we have to bring one of our lower grade hookers up to FG.