Trials are done!!! Round 1 v Raiders in Vegas

[Thatwasnthighref]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

And who will take the final bench spot – the position Webster said last week he and his staff were "struggling" with, even as they felt they had "nailed" their starting lineup.

"Do you have two hookers? Do you put an outside back on the bench? Do you go with another forward, who can play multiple positions? Form? It's just about making sure we don't leave ourselves short and we get the right balance."

I hope the outside back comment was just a smokescreen.

 

[Meth]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

I hope the outside back comment was just a smokescreen.

Well, based on his previous selections, it can't be assumed that it is. Also, a bit bizarre to be asking these questions aloud

 

[ozenzud]

It will be the smallest pack in NRL history...well not quite, but the smallest in the NRL surely atm. We have like 3 specialist actual props in the club JFH, Bunty and Ale. We are using second rowers/locks as props including Barnett. Ford a prop? Bunty or Ale have to get a gig?

 

[Scott]

It will be the smallest pack in NRL history...well not quite, but the smallest in the NRL surely atm. We have like 3 specialist actual props in the club JFH, Bunty and Ale. We are using second rowers/locks as props including Barnett. Ford a prop? Bunty or Ale have to get a gig?

The positions of props & second rowers no longer exist. The are all now considered either middles or edge forwards.

JFH is a middle.
Bunty is a middle.
Barnett & Ford can do both jobs.
Jacob Laban is an edge forward.

Yes, size matters at times, but isn't everything. The coaches would probably take mobility over size. We were lucky with AFB, he had both.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Well, based on his previous selections, it can't be assumed that it is.

Yea that's what worries me. Carried Pompey on the bench twice last year, used him for a grand total of 5 minutes across both games, and flogged the middles instead. And we lost both those games.

Had hoped we'd never see that bollocks again and yet here we are. FMD

 

[JJ]

The positions of props & second rowers no longer exist. The are all now considered either middles or edge forwards.

JFH is a middle.
Bunty is a middle.
Barnett & Ford can do both jobs.
Jacob Laban is an edge forward.

Yes, size matters at times, but isn't everything. The coaches would probably take mobility over size. We were lucky with AFB, he had both.

Yep, JFH would not be close to one of the biggest props/middles, but he's also one of the 5 or so best - the likes of Haas and AFB are pretty special units

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

The positions of props & second rowers no longer exist. The are all now considered either middles or edge forwards.

JFH is a middle.
Bunty is a middle.
Barnett & Ford can do both jobs.
Jacob Laban is an edge forward.

Yes, size matters at times, but isn't everything. The coaches would probably take mobility over size. We were lucky with AFB, he had both.

This is true, but I also agree with @ozenzud that when a team is just generally small across the board, it does tend to come back to bite you eventually.

We are lacking in that we are both small and slow. Somehow we've ended up with maybe the most athletically unimpressive squad in the NRL.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I learned today that Jacob Laban isn't in Vegas, which seems really harsh and not at all what I expected after he started the Sharks trial in impressive fashion

 

[JJ]

Somehow we've ended up with maybe the most athletically unimpressive squad in the NRL.

Years of dedication, careful selection and development