Your RD 1 2018 line up

[OldPanther]

Will be fit but won't do training or a trial. So best to come back via NSW Cup

I agree. Should help team cohesion if the guys there have been training through the off season.

 

[mxlegend99]

I think Mez to prop is absolutely crucial considering our frint row depth vs our second row depth. As far as players being able to do both. He's our best for that IMO. The others are much better in one position.

Front row (in order I think they are picked):
RCG...... Tamou..... Browne. Leota. McKendry. Clarke.

Second row/lock (no order at all really):
Cartwright. Yeo. CHN. Kikau. JFH. Peachey. May

In reserves I think the likes of Jed Cartwright, Ellis etc. Are also closer to NRL ready as second rowers.

Mez in the front row gives us 3 potentially rep standard props. Which can be rounded up with an average prop no worries. At lock though we are missing a quality second rower or playing them in a worse position.

 

[mxlegend99]

Baaed on what looks like our settled roster. My side would be:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Whare / Peachey
4. Blake
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Tamou
9. Katoa (i know it will be Wallace though)
10. Merrin
11. Yeo
12. Kikau
13. Cartwright

14. RCG
15. Leota / Browne / Mckendry
16. CHN / JFH
17. Peachey / May

The multiple options are for positiins where I think the differences are negligible really.

 

[pandas]

Good team but CHN will be out for a bit as far as I know. He had to have shoulder surgery.

Oh yeah I forgot about his shoulder. Ease him back in through NSW cup like Franklin said and maybe start Carty in 11 with Leota coming onto the bench then.

 

[OldPanther]

Baaed on what looks like our settled roster. My side would be:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Whare / Peachey
4. Blake
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Tamou
9. Katoa (i know it will be Wallace though)
10. Merrin
11. Yeo
12. Kikau
13. Cartwright

14. RCG
15. Leota / Browne / Mckendry
16. CHN / JFH
17. Peachey / May

The multiple options are for positiins where I think the differences are negligible really.

This is my favourite by far.

 

[franklin2323]

I agree. Should help team cohesion if the guys there have been training through the off season.

Part of our bad start last year was due to guys like Merrin, JFH etc having limited pre seasons and starting the year. We have so much backrow depth no need this year.

 

[franklin2323]

I think Mez to prop is absolutely crucial considering our frint row depth vs our second row depth. As far as players being able to do both. He's our best for that IMO. The others are much better in one position.

Front row (in order I think they are picked):
RCG...... Tamou..... Browne. Leota. McKendry. Clarke.

Second row/lock (no order at all really):
Cartwright. Yeo. CHN. Kikau. JFH. Peachey. May

In reserves I think the likes of Jed Cartwright, Ellis etc. Are also closer to NRL ready as second rowers.

Mez in the front row gives us 3 potentially rep standard props. Which can be rounded up with an average prop no worries. At lock though we are missing a quality second rower or playing them in a worse position.

I said it when Latu went. Merrin/Tamou starting props. RCG off the bench is the best props we have. The 2nd bench prop can be who ever offers what we need

 

[MrBlack]

Baaed on what looks like our settled roster. My side would be:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Whare / Peachey
4. Blake
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Tamou
9. Katoa (i know it will be Wallace though)
10. Merrin
11. Yeo
12. Kikau
13. Cartwright

14. RCG
15. Leota / Browne / Mckendry
16. CHN / JFH
17. Peachey / May

The multiple options are for positiins where I think the differences are negligible really.

This is looking good. The only thing I see different would be using Browne as a starting prop. it worked very well for us last year and I cant see them changing that. Move Tamou to the bench.

Gives us a bench of

14 RCG
15 Tamou
16 CHN / JFH
17 Peachey

I also think they may move Kikau to the bench and start CHN (if available)

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Browne should not be in the team, let alone starting prop in my opinion.

 

[mxlegend99]

Browne should not be in the team, let alone starting prop in my opinion.

Agree that hes not top 17 worthy. But for now none of Leota or Mckendry are better. Without Latu we need one average guy to round out or rotation.

But the bright side is RCG, Tamou and Mez can do big minutes. 60 for RCG. 50 for Mez Tamou and whoever round it out share 50 mins.

 

[umina panther]

RCG to start he has gone to another level, we need to start games a LOT faster

 

[CCJohnC]

I think Jed Cartwright can be looked as a back up centre as well.

 

[OldPanther]

RCG to start he has gone to another level, we need to start games a LOT faster

Yeah. Going to the bench was a good for him but the best props should be starting.

 

[mxlegend99]

RCG to start he has gone to another level, we need to start games a LOT faster

I like him coming on after 20 and finishing the game.

The issue was Tamou and Browne werent good enough starting. Tamou needs to fire up. Paired with Mez thats an improvement even if he doesnt.

Make it a competition. RCG replaces the bloke not performing aswell and he gets shit all minutes coming back on later. Its a shame we don't have a Matagi or Masoe style 4th prop. Or Akauolo even. A 15 minute cameo from.a kamikaze runner.

RCG does it over 60 mins. No one else will do it even once.

 

[MrBlack]

Browne should not be in the team, let alone starting prop in my opinion.

He does a job for us. Takes the heat in the first 20 minutes then hands over to RCG, fresh.

Rarely plays any more minutes after that.

 

[mxlegend99]

He does a job for us. Takes the heat in the first 20 minutes then hands over to RCG, fresh.

Rarely plays any more minutes after that.

Well hes on the field. But he doesn't contribute much. Its a big reason we are slow starters. That and Tamou playing like he didnt care in 2017. Its just sad that our 3 options for that spot are all similar in quality.

Moses Leota has shown glimpses of more. But for the most part I think you're getting the same quality out of Browne, Leota and McKendry.

 

[umina panther]

He does a job for us. Takes the heat in the first 20 minutes then hands over to RCG, fresh.

Rarely plays any more minutes after that.

By this point against Melbourne or North Queensland the game is gone. Kikau and Peach is enough impact from the bench

 

[Kilkenny]

Baaed on what looks like our settled roster. My side would be:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Whare / Peachey
4. Blake
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Tamou
9. Katoa (i know it will be Wallace though)
10. Merrin
11. Yeo
12. Kikau
13. Cartwright

14. RCG
15. Leota / Browne / Mckendry
16. CHN / JFH
17. Peachey / May

The multiple options are for positiins where I think the differences are negligible really.

I think you'll be very close and yes I agree Wallace will most likely retain his spot early in the season although I would prefer to see Katoa as well.

 

[Big Mick]

I'd like to see JFH get a bit bigger so he can cover Prop if needs be.

My team would be:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Whare
4. Blake
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Tamou
9. Wallace (Would prefer Katoa but probably wont happen)
10. Merrin
11. Yeo ( C )
12. Kikau
13. Cartwright

14. RCG
15. JFH
16. CHN
17. Peachey

Then once May is fit...look to see who is out of form in the centres and move Peach to that spot to ease May back into the 17.

Then we still have guys like Luai, Leota, Browne, McKendry, Ellis, Martin etc in Reggies waiting for call up.

 

[Kilkenny]

If Liam Martin lives up to the huge wraps on him he will be putting pressure on the top 17 and god forbid more pressure on our cap. Didn’t one of the lower grade coaches say he could be the next Bradley Clyde.