Your 2016 Rnd 1 team

[franklin2323]

Merrin, Peachey, Bryce & Matagi against tiring defences lifts our pack up dramatically. Also not many sides have someone like Mansour starting sets off. So we will be great in the forwards. How many sides have players of Blake & Jennings bros in NSW Cup.

Martin had 35 try assists & 37 Line break assists last year in NYC. If he even does half that we will make a huge dent in the comp.

 

[mxlegend99]

Merrin, Peachey, Bryce & Matagi against tiring defences lifts our pack up dramatically. Also not many sides have someone like Mansour starting sets off. So we will be great in the forwards. How many sides have players of Blake & Jennings bros in NSW Cup.

Martin had 35 try assists & 37 Line break assists last year in NYC. If he even does half that we will make a huge dent in the comp.

I think we could potentially have the best kick returning combination in the competition between:

1. DWZ
2. Mansour
5. Jennings

It's probably unlikely we will see that back 3 given Moylan is looking a certainty at fullback. But I think there's 400+ metres in those players alone most weeks. Powerful players like this out wide could become a lot more valuable with reduced interchanges.

Although I still think the reduced interchange rules can be easily exploited with the concussion rules at the moment. I can see a lot of big front rowers being taken off for concussion tests after a phantom head knock to give them a 15 minute break before sending them back on. Giving them two stints with a break between and costing no interchanges at all.

 

[hindy111]

Mansour - in 1 week out for 4

 

[ACTPanthers]

Mansour - in 1 week out for 4

That was basically our whole team this season mate - The Mansourus will be 100% this season

 

[betcats]

One thing about our season last year is we have a few good players coming off a disrupted/poor season, so if they can stay healthy they should be up for a big one next year.

 

[mxlegend99]

Eels also have a better squad than penrith

Which squad would that be? Under 6's?

 

[hindy111]

That was basically our whole team this season mate - The Mansourus will be 100% this season

One of the Jennings boys or Waqua could step up if needed.

I reckon young smith was playing great the last 3-4 games. He is 23 so not too old too come good. If he can put on 3-4 kgs he might do ok. Has good feet and is fast!

 

[Panther Pete]

One of the Jennings boys or Waqua could step up if needed.

I reckon young smith was playing great the last 3-4 games. He is 23 so not too old too come good. If he can put on 3-4 kgs he might do ok. Has good feet and is fast!

Smith was impressive for a few games towards the end of the season but he hadn't shown too much previous to that. It will be interesting to see if he gets a start next year.

 

[panthers2010]

do you guys reckon Merrin will be played in the front or back row, and why

 

[betcats]

He will play lock or prop(doesn't really make a difference) through the middle because that is how he is most effective. He isn't overly fast or agile but has great late footwork and a great offload to cause problems for the bigger guys in the middle. That is how I view him anyway.

 

[Thirsty Panther]

do you guys reckon Merrin will be played in the front or back row, and why

Lock is where the Panthers website have him and I see no reason why he wouldn't start there.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

I want him prop because I don't want Taylor out wide.

 

[greynurse]

I would play Taylor and Merrin tight and to compensate for only 1 wide running backrower( Cartwright ) play Peachey at 5/8 but it won't happen because unfortunately some positions are made politically.

 

[ACTPanthers]

I would play Taylor and Merrin tight and to compensate for only 1 wide running backrower( Cartwright ) play Peachey at 5/8 but it won't happen because unfortunately some positions are made politically.

What do you mean by that? What positions in our team are made politically?

 

[franklin2323]

What do you mean by that? What positions in our team are made politically?

You don't remember seeing Turnbull in the training photos picking our team?

Though being serious. I play Merrin at Prop and Taylor lock. Gives us a chance to get Cartwright and Peachey on the edges

 

[ACTPanthers]

You don't remember seeing Turnbull in the training photos picking our team?

Though being serious. I play Merrin at Prop and Taylor lock. Gives us a chance to get Cartwright and Peachey on the edges

:lol: Oh yeah! ha ha

I think you're right with that - Merrin isn't that big, so I worry he'd get man handled buy bigger packs, but I'd rather Taylor in the middle.

 

[MrAnonymous]

Merrin will play prop and Taylor lock. There is legit no difference if Merrin is playing lock or front row. You can't play him at lock unless you want taylor on the bench which is just a waste.

 

[franklin2323]

:lol: Oh yeah! ha ha

I think you're right with that - Merrin isn't that big, so I worry he'd get man handled buy bigger packs, but I'd rather Taylor in the middle.

He's not but has footwork and can offload so that makes up for it. Taylor's strength is his defence.

Atleast with him in the backrow. It increases the chances Matagi and Latu will play

 

[Copperhead]

Atleast with him in the backrow. It increases the chances Matagi and Latu will play

Really? I thought it guaranteed one would miss out, and maybe both, depending what Hook does with the bench. Unless you think they've jumped Latimore and McKendry in the pecking order?

 

[mxlegend99]

Really? I thought it guaranteed one would miss out, and maybe both, depending what Hook does with the bench. Unless you think they've jumped Latimore and McKendry in the pecking order?

i hope the pecking order is:

#1 RCG
#2 Matagi
#3 Latu
#4 Mckendry and Latimore fighting for a spot

If Lats and Mckendry are average at best, hopefully we can see Kikau get a run and knock them both down to depth. But with the reduced interchange it may even help Mckendry and Latimore be more effective. Mckendry should have been our #1 prop right now. His career just went so far off track in the past few years. Same as Grant. Neither looks likely to get them back on track.