your side for Round 1

[chewsta]

It's very hard to judge where Holmes is in his development. Playing in that team at the end of last year would cruel anyone. Let's see how he trials. I really, really, really like the look of him. And so do the coaches. That includes Rep coaches from qld and kangaroos.

There was a highlights reel on facebook of Holmes just the other day.
(I'll try and find the link.)

The kid is going to be something special for sure! He knows how to run a great angle turning the defence inside out and has speed to burn when he is in the clear.

 

[ghoti]

If they take the same approach as what the roosters did with Mini-Sheck, He'll only get better.

Holmes has Raw Talent but you could see a few times last year that his "footy brain" in not developed yet. Made a few bad calls, not necessarily mistakes but more low percentage plays.

For mine, Gagan on the other hand didn't, he showed skill and maturity very quickly.

I am not too sure that we'll see either of them initially, I think m.Brown and Feki will be our wingers with Beale and Leutele our centres.

As the next 2 years progress, you will see Gagan and holmes get their opportunities again.

An interesting one for me is the fourth bench spot. As Ennis usually plays 80, is it a forward or a utility?

Is it Brown, Stanley, Murphy, Polotoni, Bird or Gardener even?

Or will we go 4 forwards?

Because then you have, Bird, Arona, Fifita, Prior (woh showed a bit of gutso at the end of last year) or possibly Roqica.

It's interesting....

Totally agree with this post... Gagan looks to be a first grade winger already. Can finish, can defend, is imposing and strong, saves a try...even if he has to crack grade from behind Brown and Beale, I think he's the next in line by a mile.

The fourth bench role is really tough. I'd suggest four forwards since we have the strength/depth (a lot of competition between Boogs, Heighno, Taga, Arona, Prior, Tupou), but if Ennis or a half goes down we're pretty much rooted. Ennis goes off, Robson shifts to hooker, Graham/Lewis shifts to 5/8 and Barba can't run a side as a halfback. We don't have that flexibility in the 13 to cover for a ballplaying injury.

Considering F Brown has been training as a hooker, I'm guessing that's the immediate plan for any utility, but I thought Politoni had a great back half of the season (better than Lichaa by a long way) and wouldn't be out of place if Brown doesn't kick on defensively.

 

[ghoti]

There was a highlights reel on facebook of Holmes just the other day.
(I'll try and find the link.)

The kid is going to be something special for sure! He knows how to run a great angle turning the defence inside out and has speed to burn when he is in the clear.

What about a lowlight reel? The reserve grade highlight reels of Holmes, Murphy, etc are pretty misleading... Tim Robinson was in the NSW Cup team of the year in 2013 wasn't he?

 

[chewsta]

No idea how to post a video into a reply but heres the link i was talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjNQAIUkUdo

 

[chewsta]

What about a lowlight reel? The reserve grade highlight reels of Holmes, Murphy, etc are pretty misleading... Tim Robinson was in the NSW Cup team of the year in 2013 wasn't he?

Im sure he has made the odd blunder or two but f**k the positives far outweigh the negatives for Holmes. Half that highlights reel is NRL matches too.

 

[southland]

Holy Shit thanks for that Holmes reel. That woke me out of a 34 degree summer haze. Bring on 2015. Holmes gotta be our full time fb by 2016. Realise a bunch of that is NSW cup but he has a mean body swerve reminds me of a cross between Barba 2012 and Milford... Gotta love the idea of Holmes and Barba on the same team.

 

[Weaponhead]

Holmes is a natural footballer. He has the x factor. Developing him into the player he could be is the challenge for the coaching staff.

Gagan showed that he is a top class finisher and some of his try savers last year were phenomenal.

Its nice to have some speed and potential out wide after a decade of plodders.

 

[Card Shark]

Holy Shit thanks for that Holmes reel. That woke me out of a 34 degree summer haze.

Me too.

Watching that video, I'm calling it.....he's the next Jarryd Hayne.

Runs like him & is elusive like him.

 

[island pro]

Just watched a Shannon Walker highlights reel. Frick that guy had potential... just like Holmes does. Anyone have any idea what he is doing and where he ended up? Exactly. There may have been different issues at play, but my concern remains.

We have to introduce Holmes gradually. I want him to see FG this year for sure, but don't want him on the scrap pile of unfulfilled potential.

 

[gavin_miller]

I watched the Round 25 game of last year against the Cows where we lost by a point last night (on youtube.) Holmes was bog average. Made a few good runs, was lost in traffic, messed up a certain opportunity by going himself...gotta be very careful about bringing him in slowly. At the stage he was at in the back end of last year, he could lose us games... Mitch Brown for example, ain't too flashy, but he won't lose you many

Disagree with respect about Mitch brown and the calibre of NRL player he is. Lost us some as a shark, improved as a dog but still, I'd rather the future of Holmes in there with spark and inexperience than an average player like Mitch. I think Mitch will help out as the season goes and be a good recruit but not at the expense of a Val Holmes. No way Flano will pick Val week 1 though!

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

Flash
Feki
Beale
Leutelle
Gagan
Barba
Robson
Gallen
Ennis
Fifita
Lewis
Bakuya
Graham

Topou
Tagatese
Arona
Heighington

 

[Card Shark]

I'd go with that too RCB.

Hold Holmes & N.Brown back a bit, they'll get their chance.

 

[DJShaksta]

^^ me three

 

[shaggs]

I think nu brown needs to be there somewhere. Arona sucks. He can drop out.

 

[Madsharkie]

I think nu brown needs to be there somewhere. Arona sucks. He can drop out.

Agree about Nu bring in there. Give Ennis a rest and let Nu carve up some tiring forwards.

 

[shaggs]

Leave them both on.
Nu, barba and Gordon and even Holmes sniffing around Fifita, Gallen and heighbo sounds like a plan.
Ennis can keep the defence tight and play a bit out of dummy half, with nu scooting every couple of plays when we are on the front foot

 

[Card Shark]

I think nu brown needs to be there somewhere. Arona sucks. He can drop out.

It's a long season & I'd prefer him fresh for later in the year

 

[chewsta]

I think nu brown needs to be there somewhere. Arona sucks. He can drop out.

Agree on both points!

Arona looked okay the first couple of games but after that, i couldnt tell the difference between him and Vave, he became fat and lazy! I guess that reflects on the lack of a coach and training last year but man he went downhill fast.

 

[ghoti]

A plan for missed tackles maybe..

 

[Dragon Slayer]

I'd like to see Feki play centre this year.

He certainly has great tackle bust potential, speed and is a decent defender.

Played as a centre in his Warriors Toyota Cup days.

This is the position we have lacked the most impact for a very long time.

We have plenty of players we can shove on a wing but not many that could make a big impact at centre.

Will be interested to see how well Jack Bird develops this year as a centre if given the chance. It is the position he has stated that he wants to play.