I do like the team, there is a number of positional questions I have regarding our players for next year though.
1/ Can Wright kick?, and if so very well?, also can he catch?
2/ Can Anderson still play centre?
3/ Why not just play Green exclusively at hooker?, once again purely due to potential, by the end of the year will he not be better than Hughes?, furthermore, happy to see him used in the team before Cu2, (who I reckon is crap)
4/ Simmons back on the wing, bring it on, this is where he has by far played his' best football (and he has put size on since than), he is hopeless at centre
5/ Is there any way to push any of our second rowers up to props full time?, you would think the only 2 that could be considered are Gallen and Tupou (did Tupou play some prop earlier in his' career?) Thinking if they could get away with all of the above, we could get rid of Selmes and use Millington instead (who I think will be a great player)
The only problem I see with the above team is that generally there is no significant addition of pace added to the back line but if they use one of the second rowers as a prop that would make the team a more mobile anyway?
What are peoples thoughts about the best team for next year?, and also the above?
1. wright is an excellent goal kicker and has taken over the kicking duties in every team he has played in, including rep games. he can jump and is safe under the high ball, he has genuine speed and pace, he has excellent evasive skills and is very strong at his age, this kid has it all. he can play wing, centre or fullback but he will play wing when he breaks into firsts.
2. anderson can definately play centre and will be a better centre or winger after his run in the back rowthis year, his game has improved out of sight all over the park.
3. i would have green playing the full 80 at hooker but i know ricky loves a hooker on the bench so thats what im predicting he will do.
4. we have alot of options for that wing spot but i think simmons will hold onto it for the time being.
5. the answer is no, these guys, gallen, tupou and milo are specialists backrowers and would never make good props. tupou did play a bit of prop earlier in his career but i think he was about 10-15 kilos heavier.
6. the pace is where it should be, on the wings, and i think pom and ando are big, strong and fast enough to create the opportunities for their wingers. despite the criticism he receives in here simmo does have pace, he is just carrying more weight this year cause hes playing in the centres and i think he has done a decent job and so must ricky cause hes still there. if simmo trims down again, which he can and probably will for next year, then he will regain his speed so dont worry, but if not their is always brown, orcher, stapleton or even goodwin (if he remains here) who all have pace to jump onto that wing spot
i thought i might take this in the other direction. so with what we know of recruitment and the players we have available for next year i am 99% totally sure that ive got no farkin idea what stuart is going to do with the team next year, but im going to have a guess at what i think he'll do. i think this will be the 17 man team, barring injuries and suspensions, he will settle on after experimentation with combinations and so on.
