Yes, just another opinionated 2025 team list. But hear me out.
I'm thinking our premiership window isn't quite shut just yet. Frankly, as long as we have Moses as our 7, I think we have a shot. In saying that, i do think with an aging team and players becoming too comfortable, Ryles needs to make some hard decisions by moving on some of our senior players to be replaced by our promising SG Ball Cup winning players. Not saying that this is the winning formula, but its similar to how Panthers continue to blood in solid juniors.
Before i go ahead, I want to make the point that this is assuming Ryles begins a defensive overhaul during the offseason, changing our defensive systems from the top down. I'm talking a Ciraldo 2024 overhaul. Because otherwise, with the same outdated system of jamming in and absolutely no sliding, even Lomax will just become another Sivo on the wing.
Below is assuming we make no further signings for 2025.
1. Lomax
2. Simonsson*
3. Penisini
4. Gutherson
5. Talagi
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. RCG
9. Hands
10. Moretti
11. Guymer
12. Tuilagi
13. Hopgood
14. Arthur
15. Cartwright
16. Ofahengaue
17. Paulo
*Tago/Mulitalo/Alameddine/Russell
Greig/Ogden pushing for bench spots.
Out: Matterson, Lane, Sivo, Makatoa.
These are our rocks and diamonds who we simply cannot afford to keep in the team. They cannot win you a game, but they sure can (and do) lose you a game with silly penalties or errors, especially out of frustration.
YOUTH vs EXPERIENCE, WORKHORSES vs POWER FORWARDS
After 2022, we didn't just lose talent upfront in Mahoney, Papali'i, Nathan Brown, Kaufusi, Stone and Niukore. We lost their passion for winning, their pride and respect for the jersey. We were left with the players that are 'hands on heads', sleeping around the ruck, unreliable in defence, and complacent.
I think this lineup for 2025 is a good mix of the next generation with the support of some experienced grand finalists. More importantly, these guys play with pride in the jersey 9 out of 10 times. They don't throw in the towel or only show up for the big games - they are there giving it 100% all the time.
In the backline, Penisini is visibly upset and frustrated with himself whenever he makes an error or a bad play, expecting better of himself. He's never caught napping on the line, never afraid to take on the line. Simonsson is the same here. He is solid without being a superstar, but he never throws the towel in the ring. Always competing and, along with Brown, is consistently the only one chasing down players. Throw in the same compliments to Talagi and ofcourse Gutherson.
At the front, I think we need to inject the young Liam Martin-type workhorses who take pride in their performances and are absolutely ruthless. This is the direction the game is going in now, rather than the bigger forwards. I see this in Guymer (SG Ball GF winning captain), Hopgood and Moretti. 2 years ago, our forward pack was unmatched - the most destructive in the game. The game evolves quickly, however. And you can tell teams are using the same tactic against us week after week - targeting in behind the rucks (because our bigger guys are slow to recover) and then a set play into either of our corners (because instead of a fast sliding defence, we for some reason stick with a 'jam in' approach).
ATTACKING FULLBACK OVER A DEFENSIVE FULLBACK
Defence wins you games. Offense dictates how much you win them by.
Remember the time we moved our old and trusty Luke Burt from fullback into the wing and replaced him with a new and exciting attacking weapon in Jarryd Hayne? Well, it's time for that again.
Gutherson is awesome at the back. Safe under the high ball, great awareness and footy IQ, awesome positional play and has an unreal engine. But he provides nothing in attack. No speed to break the game open, no agility to create a 'Plan B' when a play breaks down, no impact or power off kick returns, no bullet-passes, no fancy footwork. He is a standout because he plays with heart and he cleans up other peoples mess. But with a solid defensive system, you would be an idiot not to have an x-factor fullback.
I would personally rather 12 hard working defenders with a game breaking fullback, than have our best defender and hardest worker wasted in the back. That says a lot about the efforts of our team.
Look at Bellamy's Storm who pride themselves on defence, yet have Papenhuyzen and Faalogo at the back - two absolute speedsters. Or Bennett's Dolphins, who have both Tabuai-Fidow and Fuller. Even Flannagan and Robinson, both premiership-winning coaches, have both Sloan and Tedesco respectively. Bulldogs, the biggest improvers in 2024, fixed their defence extraordinarily over the offseason and placed Tracey at the back who provides so much speed and impact upon kick returns, with Kiraz filling in from time to time.
I actually rated Talagi at the back. It was refreshing watching a fullback with speed through the slightest of gaps close to the line (got through twice, but one was pulled up for an obstruction). Sure he was horrible under the high ball, but unfortunately that's part of blooding them in. It's not entirely his fault, though. There is still an onus on the 12 other players to control the metres gained by the opposition through line speed and kick pressure, two things we lack over the last couple of years.
With Lomax's arrival next year, I would walk him straight into fullback, otherwise keep him on the wing with Talagi at the back.
Regardless, Gutho needs to be moved on from Fullback next year. His experience and defence is needed in the centre, anyway.
Keen to hear everyone else's thoughts on changes you'd make and why!
Replies
We need minimum 3-4 more signings for our top 17 before we consider semi's in my opinion.
Which positions would you target?
Well it all has to depend on who we want to offload and who we manage to offload. Regardless of offloading talent, we need at least 2 more Wingers, even for depth. I would look for a Prop, edge, utility and Winger for starting 17, maybe even another back-rower if one is there that Ryles likes.
Storm have a history of wanting tall, quick and atheltic wingers. Wonder if Ryles wants that? Or your yardage type of wingers.
I want to see how Gutho goes at centre during the trials games next year. He has good footy IQ which will help in defence. But lets see if his body is good enough for it. I would give Gutho every chance to win a centre spot otherwise use him at 14. MA can have another season in nsw cup and we move Gutho on at the end of 2025. Plus we need to prepare for the possibility that MA follows BA to Perth. If the club know MA wants to follow his dad. Fair enough but that means he should stay on a development deal next year and in cup.
I think it is way to hard to have a prefered line up for 2025 now until we know who is getting a tap on the shoulder from Ryles. And who we are interested in on the open market.
Pretty much agree with all of this. Regarding 2025:
I still don't have a solid opinoin on Blaize, Lomax, Gutherson. My current feeling Blaize FB, Gutho centre and Lomax right wing. I agree with OP that I liked what Blaize offered at FB.
My 17 for next year, for now:
1.Talagi
2. NEW SINGING
3. Penisni
4. Gutherson
5. Lomax
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. RCG or Matterson
9. NEW SIGNING
10. Moretti
11. Tuilagi
12. Doorey
13. Hopgood
14. Arthur
15. Paulo
16. Guymer
17. NEW SIGNING
Cartwright as 18th man as well.
I'm open to keeping both RCG and Matto for one more year but if they can both be moved on I'm ok with that and give Greig a run in the team despite that being a downgrade but better to move sooner rather than later.
Lane, Makatoa, Ogden, Sivo and the Cup players like Lumelume and Harper I really don't want around. Even Jake Tago bless him if Miller-Stephen, RPenisini come back in good shape he can go or settle back in Ron Massey.
Regarding new signings:
1. Someone to replace Sivo basically, won't mind him being old but reliable as hopefully Martin can take that spot or even Alemaddine if he keeps the meteoric rise in 2026 or 2027.
2. A hooker. THis is hard, and I like Hands, but I do think the game now needs two hookers. Hands is good but he gets tired. Maybe Ryles can properly rotate him with Arthur. I can't see many hookers available. Damien Cook would've been good for a couple of years until Arthur matures. Maybe Brandom Smith? Our hardest recruiting spot this.
3. A new edge forward. Someone still rough and can be molded. Klese Haas I like but his reputation is rising so might be hard. Dylan Lucas been mentioned, would be good. Someone who can cover backs too. Our bench needs to be dynamic. Only one proper prop should be on it.
I think those signings and changes overall are enough work for a first pre-season for Ryles. Clear the Cup team of all the deadwood and blood the youngsters and let them fuck up and learn there for a few years.
Agree with this! I initially had Talagi at the back until a last minute edit, only because i'm hearing mixed messages about Lomax not wanting to be a winger.
We know for certain Guth is happy to play anywhere and he will fit perfectly in at centre.
If Lomax genuinely is happy at the wing, he could be the X factor we have needed for years on the edges that we haven't had since probably Semi.
Only one I'm not sure about in there is Doorey. Not sure, I haven't seen too much of him but to be fair he probably hasn't been given consistent opportunities.
Would love to see Hopgood moved to the edge. I think he could lock it down defensively and could actually elevate his game. He has the capacity to be more than a tackling bag.
Carty and Hopgood give you offloading threats, toughness and good lateral movement and footwork.
Im not surprised Hopgoods body is failing him, I'm not sure he is built for the middle.
If the rumor is true about Garlik I think that works well for our 9. Hands off the bench for more impact but Garlik can hit hard in defence.
Id really love to see Cheese come in as a lock there isn't much out there in terms of agression.
Brailey is your best option.