Your 2016 Rnd 1 team

[Kilkenny]

I think our starting lineup is going to be somewhat different to what we were used to under Ivan.

A new coach with new ideas and his own man with no preconceived or pressures to pick certain players.

I think our salary cap for a long time is in good shape and our new coach can pick who he believes is our best 17. No favorites. No automatic selections based on salary, or salary cap restrictions.

I've got no idea who will run out in round 1 against Canberra but I think there may be some surprises in store.

 

[MrBlack]

1. DWZ (test player - when not injured)
2. Mansour
3. Whare (test player)
4. Hiku (test player)
5. Jennings
6. Moylan
7. Soward

Depth TMM Blake Jennings

8. Merrin (test player)
9. Seggyaro
10. McKendry
11. Peachy
12. Cartwright
13. Taylor (test player)

RCG
Matagi
Latimore
Yeo Latu Kikau

Looks like a side that can win the comp this year - not one that is developing.

 

[ACTPanthers]

3 things

1. Whilst the Hiku signing isn't a bad one, I fail to see how that makes us a side that can win the comp... He's solid, not a superstar.

2. DWZ would've played yeah, but didn't - So no, he's not a "test player" yet

3. Moylan is unproven in the halves

 

[Rhyno]

I'm just glad the eels bumped up his price and made penrith pay massive overs for him

 

[mxlegend99]

I'm just glad the eels bumped up his price and made penrith pay massive overs for him

You're already paying overs for Scott, Watmough and Foran.

 

[Copperhead]

I'm just glad the eels bumped up his price and made penrith pay massive overs for him

I'm just glad we'll get to see Morgan in first grade again.

 

[mxlegend99]

Pretty confident our round 1 team (if we have no injuries) will be:

1. Matt Moylan
2. Josh Mansour
3. Peta Hiku
4. Dean Whare
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Jamie Soward
7. Peter Wallace
8. Reegan Campbell-Gillard
9. James Segeyaro
10. Jeremy Latimore
11. Bryce Cartwright
12. Elijah Taylor
13. Trent Merrin

14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Suaia Matagi
16. Leilani Latu / Sam McKendry (I think McKendry may be our 5th choice prop now, but hard to say with a new coach)
17. Te Maire Martin

Only spot up for grabs IMO is the final bench spot. I'm leaning towards Te Maire Martin based on him being talked up in the pre-season as potentially starting in the halves for us. Which is great to hear, but we all know Wallace will get picked if fit.

But really it could go to another prop so that Griffin doesn't need to cut one of them, or it could go to any number of fringe second rowers like Yeo, Garcia, Sopoaga etc. or even a different direction of utility with Sione Katoa.

If we sign Chris Grevsmuhl for 2016 then that final bench spot is gone, and it's just a matter of what player is cut from the front row and what numbers are on players jerseys. But after spending $400k+ on Hiku I don't think we will be fitting Grevsmuhl in for 2016. Not unless Jamal Idris was on ridiculous money also.

 

[MrBlack]

3 things

1. Whilst the Hiku signing isn't a bad one, I fail to see how that makes us a side that can win the comp... He's solid, not a superstar.

2. DWZ would've played yeah, but didn't - So no, he's not a "test player" yet

3. Moylan is unproven in the halves

1. Its not the signing of Hiku alone that makes us a side able to win the comp. Once added to Merrin, Matagi and others, they are all better players than the ones we have in their respective positions now. (Blake may well be a good player in the future, but right now Hiku is better)

2. Agreed - but it is nice to see we are now fielding a side with a few current rep players.

3. Unproven yes - but is good enough to make an impact there this year, and hopefully will be given the opportunity to do so.

 

[Copperhead]

Only spot up for grabs IMO is the final bench spot. I'm leaning towards Te Maire Martin based on him being talked up in the pre-season as potentially starting in the halves for us. Which is great to hear, but we all know Wallace will get picked if fit.

But really it could go to another prop so that Griffin doesn't need to cut one of them, or it could go to any number of fringe second rowers like Yeo, Garcia, Sopoaga etc. or even a different direction of utility with Sione Katoa.

Could also go to someone like Kikau, who can cover prop, second row or centre. he offers more impact than Yeo.

I'm curious how they play Taylor. His value is in the middle, but Merrin likely pushes him out wide. Can't see that working.

 

[chrisD]

Would play DWZ at centre and Hiku on the wing.

 

[Blues Riff]

I'm just glad the eels bumped up his price and made penrith pay massive overs for him

I heard the Panther's offer was significantly less than the Eels. He would rather have gone anywhere else than the black hole that is Parramatta. We don't play overs. We look for players who want to be here. You should know that. Just ask your mate Trent why he came here.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

What it will be:

1. Moylan
2. Mansour
3. Hiku
4. Whare
5. Watene-Zelezniak
6. Soward
7. Wallace
8. Campbell-Gillard
9. Segeyaro
10. McKendry
11. Cartwright
12. Taylor
13. Merrin

What it should be:

1. DWZ
2. Mansour
3. Hiku
4. Whare
5. Gennings
6. Moylan
7. Soward
8. Campbell-Gillard
9. Segeyaro
10. Merrin
11. Cartwright
12. Peachey
13. Taylor

And if Moylan sucks there, then lets hope that TMM is up to it, or that Peachey suddenly becomes a reliable half.

 

[mxlegend99]

Disagree with Merrin at prop. We have Latu, Matagi, RCG, Latimore and Mckendry. That's before even considering Kikau. I think our prop options are better than our second row options after Cartwright, Peachey, Merrin and Taylor.

I also think that most of our props will improve under the new interchange rule.

 

[maple_69]

Agree with that but otherwise agree with the "should be" team. With Brown, Idris, Manu and Docker leaving, I don't think our depth is that great in the back row. Definitely Yeo, Garcia, Smith and Sopoaga aren't bad options but not stand outs at this stage. We may still get Grevsmuhl though.
Meanwhile at prop we have RCG, Mckendry, Latimore, Latu,, Matagi, Kikau, plus Albert, Clarke and JFH on their way to being very good props.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Disagree with Merrin at prop. We have Latu, Matagi, RCG, Latimore and Mckendry. That's before even considering Kikau. I think our prop options are better than our second row options after Cartwright, Peachey, Merrin and Taylor.

I also think that most of our props will improve under the new interchange rule.

I just don't want Taylor wide.

 

[mxlegend99]

I just don't want Taylor wide.

We will see how he goes. Griffin might decide to play Merrin wide and leave Taylor in the middle. He might shift them around. He may even use him in the front row as you suggest.

My team would be:

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
2. Josh Mansour
3. Peta Hiku
4. Dean Whare
5. George Jennings
6. Matt Moylan
7. Jamie Soward
8. Reegan Campbell-Gillard
9. James Segeyaro
10. Suaia Matagi
11. Bryce Cartwright
12. Elijah Taylor
13. Trent Merrin

14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Leilani Latu
16. Jeremy Latimore / Sam Mckendry
17. Te Maire Martin

With view of Te Maire Martin taking over the 7 fulltime by mid 2017. Assuming ofcourse he impresses off the bench and does well in the games he starts. We need both he and Moylan to be developed before Soward retires. If we can't develop them god knows how long we will be waiting for a decent half. The rest of the team won't matter if our hakves are shit.

 

[maple_69]

I think Taylor could surprise a few out wide. He is normally do drowned in tackling that he doesn't feature much with the ball, but occassionslly hell take a run with a really nice line and good elusiveness. Maybe a bit wider with less workload he could show more of that.

I think it should depend on how our props go. If they pull their weight i think we can afford to have Merrin wide. If not, we need him in the middle making big meters.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

I've seen enough of Taylor to know he's no good out wide.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Yeah, but if he's out wide he can ball play and throw some of those sweet no look passes that fool nobody but the ball receiver.

He did have a purple patch of form in his last year with us before joining you guys though. He was becomming pretty good at cutting against the grain and hitting a hole off Johnson, but not sure how much of that you could put down to him or the defense being worried about Johnson.

Perhaps Moylan in the halves with a bit more elusive ability could develop a similar combination with Taylor, but outside of that he's just a tackle bot holding an edge in defense out wide.

 

[Kilkenny]

If Wallace & Soward are fully fit Ihave no doubt they will start round 1 as our halves combination. Other positions will be up for grabs but the new coach will almost certainly play it safe with the halves.

I don't get any vibes at all that Moylan is seriously being considered for a positional change. I think he lacks the all round kicking game needed to make a switch to the five eighth role. The Moylan to 5/8 has been fan driven rather than seriously considered by the powers that matter.