1-Will Hopoate
2-Semi Radradra
3-Ben Crooks
4-Ryan Morgan
5-Reece Robinson/Vai Toutai
6-Corey Norman
7-Chris Sandow
8-Tim Mannah
9-Nathan Peats (c)
10-Lee Mossop
11-Anthony Watmough***
12-Manu Ma'u
13-Kenny Edwards
14-Isaac De Gois
15-David Gower
16-Junior Paulo
17-Tepai Moeroa
18-Pauli Pauli
Close-Peni Terepo, Brad Taikarangi, Joseph Paulo (hopefully not), Mitch Allgood, Darcy Lussick, Bureta Faraimo, Beau Champion
****Who knows what's going on there. Obviously he's in our best side if he does come.
I've named 18 because of Watmough, and because even if he does come I can see a horses for courses approach with the bench. I would have both hookers, De Gois surprised me last year and he and Peats are easily our strongest defenders, which is an area we lack. Peats can still play 80, he is more than capable of playing lock and defending in the middle as a 13, and so is De Gois. Obviously without Watmough they shift up, Gower or Tepai into the back row and Pauli or Peni Terepo onto the bench. Maybe Peni, he's more of a prop option.
Strength is the pack (strength=relatively speaking). It's pretty handy. Not a competition winning pack IMO but definitely a good one, if young. Tepai, Paulo, Ma'u, Edwards, Pauli will all be better for the experience of last year. Edwards was awesome towards the end of the year, Ma'u was awesome before injury, Paulo was awesome at times and Tepai looked at home almost straight away. We'll be ok up front IMO, especially if Watmough comes.
Weakness is the back 7. There is class there, Hoppa is all class, Semi is a very good attacking winger. I'd have Ben Crooks in the side straight away, he had issues with his coach last year but he made the ESL team of the year as a 19/20 year old and has 30 odd tries in 40 odd games. Beau Champion is good enough when fit, but he has hands like feet and is always injured. Ryan Morgan is rubbished unfairly, he's good without being a match winner. Robinson and Toutai are interchangeable, Robinson is lightning and can score a try, Vai is big and strong and can score a try, both are ordinary defenders who can have shocking games. Halves are hit and miss. Norman needs to get more involved this year, although reports indicate he was playing with some sort of knee injury. Sandow....who the f**k knows?
Ultimately I don't think we will make the 8. But I also don't think we'll be as awful as some do and might surprise a lot of people...it'll be more about attitude than anything for us. If we deal well with losing Hayne mentally it'll be a similar year to this year with the possibility (luck permitting) of being a bit better in terms of ladder position, if not....I'll become an alcoholic...
