Your RD 1 2018 line up

[Big Mick]

Do you guys think Fish is best suited at second row or prop?
All his best footy has come at second row imo, but I think his only chance at decent minutes is to play as a bench prop. Yeo, CHN, Kikau have all overtaken him on the pecking order

For mine his future is at Prop. Much like the transition JWH went through.

 

[mxlegend99]

I think this year is make or break for JFH. After promising signs early on he has not really taken any steps toward being better as such.

He looks fully fit going into this sesson though. No excuses for a poor year. But there's room for him out wide. Yeo. CHN. Kikau and May/Peachey on the bench. I think JFH will spend most of his mi utes in the front row or giving Mez a spell.

 

[franklin2323]

Do you guys think Fish is best suited at second row or prop?
All his best footy has come at second row imo, but I think his only chance at decent minutes is to play as a bench prop. Yeo, CHN, Kikau have all overtaken him on the pecking order

I have him as prop simply because he is great in defence. Is better running at players than into gaps but he will spend some time in 2nd row too I think

 

[betcats]

I think this year is make or break for JFH. After promising signs early on he has not really taken any steps toward being better as such.

He looks fully fit going into this sesson though. No excuses for a poor year. But there's room for him out wide. Yeo. CHN. Kikau and May/Peachey on the bench. I think JFH will spend most of his mi utes in the front row or giving Mez a spell.

I wouldn’t say that. His debut year was great but he was never fit last year. He just needs a good run of games. He’s a future international for sure imo.

 

[franklin2323]

I wouldn’t say that. His debut year was great but he was never fit last year. He just needs a good run of games. He’s a future international for sure imo.

He played tests in 2016. Part of him being underdone last year was the 4 nations from 2016

 

[mxlegend99]

If he left us no one would think he could ever get that form back or be part of our top 17.

He had a couple of great games in 2016 mixee with some average ones.

2017 was a terrible season for him with a few average games mixed in with a few bad ones.

Another season of that and surely he loses his bench spot. Thats why I ghink its make or break for him. He needs to establish himself as a must pick. I would definitely prefer him in the front row to Browne or Mckendry. We need a bit of aggression from someone other than RCG or DWZ.

 

[betcats]

If he left us no one would think he could ever get that form back or be part of our top 17.

He had a couple of great games in 2016 mixee with some average ones.

2017 was a terrible season for him with a few average games mixed in with a few bad ones.

Another season of that and surely he loses his bench spot. Thats why I ghink its make or break for him. He needs to establish himself as a must pick. I would definitely prefer him in the front row to Browne or Mckendry. We need a bit of aggression from someone other than RCG or DWZ.

Disagree. He would have numerous clubs chasing him if he was off contract. He is a talent. An injury free year will see him as one of our better forwards and pushing for a starting spot. He will play for NZ for a long time. He has the talent and the aggression to be a beast, just needs experience.

Judging him on last season is ridiculous, he was 20 and literally couldn't get through a game without getting hurt. In 2016 he was still nyc eligible and was very impressive, he got picked for NZ who do not lack good forwards, one injury interrupted season isn't going to turn clubs off a player like JFH, not at his age.

 

[OldPanther]

Unfortunately injury did him last year. Came back 2 or 3 times and got injured in his comeback game.

 

[betcats]

JFH is a year younger than Kikau, he has plenty of time left to make it.

 

[franklin2323]

JFH is a year younger than Kikau, he has plenty of time left to make it.

He isn't even 22 yet. Given forwards don't peak until 26 he has plenty of years to further improve

 

[Bob]

For round 1 I would go
1) Edwards
2) Crichton ( DWZ to have a couple of games in Reggie’s for match fitness)
3) Whare
4) Blake
5) Mansour
6) Maloney
7) Cleary
8) Tamou
9) Wallace
10) JFH
11) Kikau
12) Yeo
13) Merrin
14) Egan
15) RCG
16) Leota
17) CHN

Peachey to reserves till he can catch a ball

 

[billypilgrimnz]

If Peachey starts in the reserves, he'll be gone before mid-season. Not that that should be a reason to keep him in the top 17 if he is not performing, but that's the reality.

 

[Bob]

If Peachey starts in the reserves, he'll be gone before mid-season. Not that that should be a reason to keep him in the top 17 if he is not performing, but that's the reality.

I can live with that, I don’t think we need a distraction like peachey wanting a release hampering the team

 

[betcats]

If Peachey starts in the reserves, he'll be gone before mid-season. Not that that should be a reason to keep him in the top 17 if he is not performing, but that's the reality.

I'd say the same will be true if he is being used off the bench for short stints. We need that spot for Katoa/Egan anyway.

I really wish we'd take a punt on Katoa starting at hooker with Egan off the bench this year, I think by the back end of last season we looked much better when Katoa was playing hooker and Egan looks to be a really good prospect at the position as well. Wal as captain has limited our options of further developing both these players. The competition for the spot will be good for them tho. Katoa has more utility value and is more of a power player(hooks wet dream) so I'd say he will get the nod early with Egan playing 80 in NSW cup. Going forward I think Egan is the long term hooker.

 

[OldPanther]

I'd say the same will be true if he is being used off the bench for short stints. We need that spot for Katoa/Egan anyway.

I really wish we'd take a punt on Katoa starting at hooker with Egan off the bench this year, I think by the back end of last season we looked much better when Katoa was playing hooker and Egan looks to be a really good prospect at the position as well. Wal as captain has limited our options of further developing both these players. The competition for the spot will be good for them tho. Katoa has more utility value and is more of a power player(hooks wet dream) so I'd say he will get the nod early with Egan playing 80 in NSW cup. Going forward I think Egan is the long term hooker.

There couldn't be a more perfect comment.

 

[franklin2323]

For round 1 I would go
1) Edwards
2) Crichton ( DWZ to have a couple of games in Reggie’s for match fitness)
3) Whare
4) Blake
5) Mansour
6) Maloney
7) Cleary
8) Tamou
9) Wallace
10) JFH
11) Kikau
12) Yeo
13) Merrin
14) Egan
15) RCG
16) Leota
17) CHN

Peachey to reserves till he can catch a ball

I like RCG off the bench too. The question for me is we need to give him a chance to do the same starting are we better off from the start or getting him off the bench for the 1st few weeks

 

[franklin2323]

There couldn't be a more perfect comment.

Egan wouldn't get enough time for me. Katoa should be the bench hooker when Wallace doesn't play then Egan play with Katoa. Atleast Origin will give us that chance

 

[OldPanther]

Egan wouldn't get enough time for me. Katoa should be the bench hooker when Wallace doesn't play then Egan play with Katoa. Atleast Origin will give us that chance

In an ideal world last year was Wallace's final year with Katoa taking over and Egan on the bench increasing his minutes as the year went on.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

In an ideal world last year was Wallace's final year with Katoa taking over and Egan on the bench increasing his minutes as the year went on.

I disagree I think Wal has still got something good to offer the team. I think perhaps 2018 should be his last year in top grade, but I think throwing others into such an important position is too soon. Less than 12months ago Wal was in origin (picked for origin) how do you go from origin to not being in the team amazes me.

 

[betcats]

Egan wouldn't get enough time for me. Katoa should be the bench hooker when Wallace doesn't play then Egan play with Katoa. Atleast Origin will give us that chance

You can get him time easily if Katoa was starting. Katoa can play lock and backrow as well as having a break, a good 30 minute stint for Egan in FG each week is plenty of time for him to develop.

Katoa debuted when Cleary was still coach, he needs to be playing regular FG this season if he is going to kick on, Egan can get plenty out of NSW cup and whatever FG stints he can get.