The RLW Top 17 team for 2012

[Whats Doing]

Evarn's biggest flaw is that he doesn't dominate the ball carrier in defence resulting in him often not being in position for the next play.

His last game in the semi's however was very good and probably his best for the club.

 

[billy2]

I think only maybe 6 guys have their starting spots set in stone - Boyd, Aku, Gids, Snowy and Bedsy - every other player could lose their spot before first game kickoff if someone trains the house down.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Hickmans has by all accounts had them all training like their lives depend on it. I think Billy is on the money about the six or seven definite walk ups but i would hate to pick the rest of the team. Mckinnon is my bolter for the bench.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Evarn's biggest flaw is that he doesn't dominate the ball carrier in defence resulting in him often not being in position for the next play.

His last game in the semi's however was very good and probably his best for the club.

He'll go alright although i can't see Nev not playing front row.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

We have a lot of young guys who could put their hands up for prop.
It's one position where Bennett could spring some surprises.

Tets

Eddy could move to prop.

Lawrie could get fit and slot right in from game one.

Rochow played prop for most of last season.

Rodney Mason plays prop.

Korbin Sims' brother slotted into firstgrade last year at a similar age.

Sam Anderson is posibly a year or two away.

Schillings might improve a lot with fulltime training.

Even House might move back to prop now that we seem to have too many second rowers.

I saw house on christmas eve at a real estates sausage sizzle. The blokes a beam poll. He's tall but has the arms of a 10 year old girl. The bloke cooking the snags had bigger guns.

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

IMO, D.Boyd is the best all-round fullback in the world.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I would say second best all round, but he would pip billy slater on his play making abilities, but billy would have him everywhere else.

 

[slotmachine]

Chicken legs too, haha!

 

[drago brelli]

IMO, D.Boyd is the best all-round fullback in the world.

'best all round', don't know what this means. When given the right game plan he certainly is a very good player. He showed this at the Dragons. I think he will be very good for Newcastle. Slater and Stewart are better players IMO.

 

[TooheysNew]

Beam poll. lol

 

[billy2]

House has always been a bean pole, but that didn't stop him being an effective prop.
He is a 60 minute prop, and so is Snowy, so we could afford to carry some real impact guys on the bench - Faas and Lawrie on for 20 minutes each.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

House must have trimned down cos he was a big unit in 2009 before u know what happened. I think we may have even said given his frame at that time he should be more dominant.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Chicken legs too, haha!

This is true. I've seen better legs on a table.

 

[perverse]

House is a rangy backrower in the Steve Simpson mould (at least when he runs it hard)... and like Simmo can fill in up front when need be. you wouldn't stick him there full time, at least not in the prime of his career. i still think it will be him, Zeb and Costigan filling jerseys 11 -> 13... im just not sure which goes where between the 3. i can just quote my post from the other thread for the team i still feel would serve us best for round 1:

1. Boyd
2. Uate
3. Wes
4. Sau
5. McManus
6. Mullen
7. Gidley
8. Snowden
9. Buderus
10. Tuimavave
11. Houston
12. Taia
13. Costigan

14. Hilder
15. Edwards
16. Fa'aoso
17. Tetevano

i don't really feel that Tahu should/will be a walk up start. he may well force his way into the team... and i hope he does. injury will provide opportunity, no doubt. McManus will win Bennett over with his work ethic and attention to detail, i'm sure... at least enough to retain his wing spot out of the gates next year. Fa'aoso and Tetevano both provide flexibility and power from the bench... either can play in the back or front row, and ditto Eddy for that matter. Hilder is also versatile. Buderus to play the first and last 20 of each half... maybe more in the big matches. i'm not 100% sure who will play where between Houston and Costigan... it depends whether Bennett prefers Neville or House out wide.

Snowys back/neck concerns me.

i think that's a big, scary, capable team... with strike power out wide and in the forwards. we have some crazy depth, too. it's all going to depend on how the spine works out. if Mullen can't shine like a diamond amongst this lot then he never will.

looking at that, i still don't really want to change anything. biggest question marks for me are where Tahu will feature, and whether Bedsy will go to the starting spot. i suppose that big lazy twat Laurie might be in the running too... possibly in palce of Tetevano, although personally i would love to see Tetes feature strongly next year. he was coming along very well.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Buderus to play the first and last 20 of each half...

lol That's the whole half mate

 

[Spot On]

Really can't see Nev staying in the backrow under Bennett.

 

[perverse]

lol That's the whole half mate

haha, i meant the first and last quarters of the game. reading it again, it sounds f**king spastic, i agree. lol.