The Way too Early Team 2026 Thread

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

As much as I love the heart and effort of Crossland and he's become an important team member he lacks creativity and running threat out of dummy half.

The safe conservative choice is Ponga 1 Smith 7 Brown 6 Crossland 9

The bold choice that includes all our most potent attacking players within the spine, offers some creativity and threat out of dummy half Ponga 1 Brown 7 Sharpe 6 Smith 9 Crossland 14

The latter requires patience and Holbrook may just feel too much pressure to get instant results.

Sharpe is too good to not have in the spine.

 

[Zoidberg]

I’m getting antsy. Been watching highlights of games on Fox league.

 

[SamSepi0l]

As much as I love the heart and effort of Crossland and he's become an important team member he lacks creativity and running threat out of dummy half.

The safe conservative choice is Ponga 1 Smith 7 Brown 6 Crossland 9

The bold choice that includes all our most potent attacking players within the spine, offers some creativity and threat out of dummy half Ponga 1 Brown 7 Sharpe 6 Smith 9 Crossland 14

The latter requires patience and Holbrook may just feel too much pressure to get instant results.

Sharpe is too good to not have in the spine.

This is the way it should be.
Ponga, Sharpe, Brown, Smith.

You going 1/7/6/9 is tilting though

 

[perverse]

I’m getting antsy. Been watching highlights of games on Fox league.

Not ours I hope.

 

[Zoidberg]

Old 90’s games, one when Raiders smacked us in ‘95. Still gets me itching for some footy.

 

[mozza91]

I can see Arthur grabbing the starting 9 jersey by years end and Crossland moving to 13 or 14.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

I can see Arthur grabbing the starting 9 jersey by years end and Crossland moving to 13 or 14.

Based on? I've not seen anything from Arthur to suggest he's a 1st grader yet

 

[mozza91]

Based on? I've not seen anything from Arthur to suggest he's a 1st grader yet

Talent and what I’ve seen in Cup. Plus Crossland not being a particularly good dummy half.

 

[Knight Tales]

You know you are close to being a top side when you can discuss Brown, Smith and Sharpe as your halves options. Particularly given the player market at present. I am still not really sure how we managed to land Sandon TBH.

 

[mozza91]

You know you are close to being a top side when you can discuss Brown, Smith and Sharpe as your halves options. Particularly given the player market at present. I am still not really sure how we managed to land Sandon TBH.

Yep. Options are way sexier than Hastings, Cogger and Jake Arthur.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Talent and what I’ve seen in Cup. Plus Crossland not being a particularly good dummy half.

Maybe 12 months ago but Phoenix was outstanding at 9 for NZ in the recent Pac Champs. I think he's turned a big corner there.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Maybe 12 months ago but Phoenix was outstanding at 9 for NZ in the recent Pac Champs. I think he's turned a big corner there.

I wouldn't say he was outstanding. Good yes, but not outstanding.

 

[mozza91]

Maybe 12 months ago but Phoenix was outstanding at 9 for NZ in the recent Pac Champs. I think he's turned a big corner there.

He did a solid job for NZ, good service and great defence.
He’s in my 17 for sure but we could definitely use some more creativity out of dummy half.

 

[Yosh]

He did a solid job for NZ, good service and great defence.
He’s in my 17 for sure but we could definitely use some more creativity out of dummy half.

I think he is good to start and when the grunt gets taken out of the game a little, then sub in a sneaky hooker might be the way to go. Crossland can come back on as a 9 or 13 depending on how the game looks.

 

[ryan.a87]

I’m bored and trying to think outside the box

what if the team tried a dual fullback structure where both Ponga and Sharpe played full back for different sides of the field

would mean less energy spent running horizontally for Ponga in defence as I see it working like this. Whichever side the ball is on, that full back is a bit closer to the defensive line and the other fullback sits further back incase they try a cross field kick or big sweeping play

in attack it just means 2 roaming fullback player like how Teddy and Turbo played that origin series where nsw dominated

on plays 4 and 5 in defence the wingers already drop back to cover kicks. So this might not be needed as much as well

 

[Grandpa Joe]

He’s in my 17 for sure but we could definitely use some more creativity out of dummy half.

Do we? If Ponga, Brown and Smith are firing with Sharpe running support we have attack coming out of our bums.

Could be a case of too many cooks if you add another creative player.

I am happy to have a solid defender who gets the ball to the right person at the right time. With the odd scoot out of dummy half.

 

[Rod]

I’m bored and trying to think outside the box

what if the team tried a dual fullback structure where both Ponga and Sharpe played full back for different sides of the field

would mean less energy spent running horizontally for Ponga in defence as I see it working like this. Whichever side the ball is on, that full back is a bit closer to the defensive line and the other fullback sits further back incase they try a cross field kick or big sweeping play

in attack it just means 2 roaming fullback player like how Teddy and Turbo played that origin series where nsw dominated

on plays 4 and 5 in defence the wingers already drop back to cover kicks. So this might not be needed as much as well

Not sure if it would work but I like the thinking. It would also lessen the emphasis on the weakest part of Ponga's game (fielding high kicks and kick returns).

 

[Knight Tales]

Sharpe should be roving wherever he wants in attack. Much like Reece Walsh. He can be positioned at wing in defence but the game has evolved now to make that traditional winger game anything but being stuck in an edge. He is smart enough to know when.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Sharpe should be roving wherever he wants in attack. Much like Reece Walsh. He can be positioned at wing in defence but the game has evolved now to make that traditional winger game anything but being stuck in an edge. He is smart enough to know when.

I see him as a Ryan Pap(Long way to go before peak pap) with some more strings to his bow.

 

[perverse]

I hate that we've recruited ourselves into a weird corner where the team doesn't make any sense. When was the last time our club had a 1, 6, 7 and 9 that just uncontroversially picked themselves?