3 games this year have all had one thing in common. Paramatta have started all games horribly as they have been rolled through the middle by the opposition with ease.
This has resulted in JDB being dropped. However, JR said JDB still has an important role to play in NRL so hopefully he fixes it that ASAP because we need it now with the news of Hopgood doing his ACL.
I think JR learned his lesson today that Walker needs to stay on the bench and is not the answer to fixing our poor starts. Smith is a speed bump to start games if he doesn't have support from his middles. Walker does not help that.
Paulo is meant to be the leader of the forward back but he is ageing and providing no go forward. Plus his defense to start the games have been poor. However with a lack of options I think Paulo will start.
You can tell JR knows this is a problem as he has been pushing hard to buy an elite middle from the open market which we all know has failed time and time again.
Our bench has been very strong this year and been the reason we have got back into games the past 2 weeks. So to me Walker, TDS, Doorey and Tuivita have to remain on the bench for me. Don't change that. The only person that has potential to start is Tuivita but I wouldn't consider that till end of the year or next year because Tuivita is still very young and needs to build his defence still and play consistent NRL.
To me William is a starting backrower or a bench middle. He is not a starting middle forward. He does not have that aggression to start games in the middle. Perhaps its more mental that a phsyical limitation for him starting games cause he has the leg speed and size. Got to be more aggressive with his line speed and first contact in defence. The way he plays right now I would want to start him as the eddge backrower and move him intot he middle at the 20th minute. But the problem with this strategy Williams, Walker, TDS, Tuivita and Doorey is a 5 man bench. So I assume JR will persist with starting Tuilagi at backrow and Williams at lock.
8. Paulo
9. Smith
10. Moretti
11. Tuilagi
12. Kautoga
13. Williams
14. TDS
15. Walker
16. Doorey
17. Tuivita
18. Guymer (hopefully he is ready to step up to starting nrl games in the middle. At his best he loves to lead the line speed and be aggressive in defence. However, his meterage is not the best)
19. Papalii
I think 18 and 19 will be filled by Samrani and Papalii when Samrani and Penisni is fit.
Replies
Tuivita starts (is it time?), DeBelin starting lock, junior comes off the bench and someone comes in to replace hopgood off the bench (I'm not sure who - next man up). Williams needs to be on an edge
Great thread EA.
Ive come to the realisation that we just don't have the personnel in the fowards to win the comp.
Inconsistency at hooker not knowing what we are getting week in week out is an issue.Granted both Smith and TDS are basically rookies so there is that.
The foward pack is missing that alpha and a couple of fowards who play on that edge that can swing momentum.Nathan Brownesqe.
We have athletes but we just lack that balance top to bottom in the pack.
In a sentence we haven't got a foward pack that'll go after teams.Tonight as an example I watched the Dragons first set after the kickoff first half and they were arrow straight for 5 tackles and were rolling the ruck then I thought shit this is going to be a long tough game for the fowards.Physically we aren't upto the mark IMO.
Honestly I'd start the Paulo's JDBs of the world and let them do all the donkey work then roll into the Moretti's Tuivaitis Walkers let the mentioned take all the sting then hit 'em with the young fullas that's where we are getting full value get into the grind go set for set live off the back of Moses kicking game and let the mentioned and Walker be our point of difference.
But as mentioned as constructed this team isn't winning the comp without a serious influx in the outside backs and middle fowards going to need at least 2-3 more guys or some of the developed mentioned talent take the next step.R and R get your shit together and start rolling some more talent in the door or this is a wrap.
Going to need a stand off and a centre for starters in the backs next year.
Theyve been hunting for a middle the last 12 months I'd be looking to move Hopgood back to 13 once they find a middle.Get Williams back on an edge.
Stand off? Showing your age their mate.
Or his Union roots. ..
8. Tuivaiti
9. Smith
10. Paulo
11. Tuilagi
12. Kautoga
13. Guymer
14. Walker
15. Moretti
16. Doorey
17. Da Silva
No Williams?
Obviously I'd assume you'd have Williams in there off the 6 man bench. I agree it's time to give the young boys a go, tuivaiti and guymer are our 2 most promising fringe younger forwards. Both defend well too.
Very lucky we have so many forwards, sucks for Hopgood but we are not short on options. Outside backs a big issue
Has there been any word on Samrani? That one looked really concerning
Scans to come but sounds like he's avoided acl. Maybe 4-6 week type
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