An article I came across today... it basically says that Kearney is happy with the squad but has the cash if they come across a player they're interested in... they turned down Utai straight away and are only interested in players that they choose, not players being offloaded to them.
I think they know what they're doing regarding recruiting, despite what some people say.
One would assume the 2011 squad to look something like this:
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Luke Burt
3. Joel Reddy
4. Paul Whatuira
5. Chris Hicks/Chris Walker
6. Daniel Mortimer
7. Jeff Robson
8. Tim Mannah
9. Matt Keating
10. Justin Poore
11. Nathan Hindmarsh (c)
12. Ben Smith
13. Justin Horo
14. Anthony Mitchell
15. Casey McGuire
16. Fui Fui Moimoi
17. Carl Webb
It will be interesting to see who the starting & interchange hookers will be and what Kearney decides to do with McGuire. I also think Shackleton will start the season playing for Wenty, keeping in mind he hasn't played for a year. I'm also interested to see who makes way when Shacks and Reni are both fit and available, if anyone at all.
Come on season 2011.
PAUL Whatuira and Chris Hicks look like being the last pieces of Parramatta’s player puzzle with coach Stephen Kearney happy with his squad.
Parramatta CEO Paul Osborne told the Advertiser the club was no longer searching for specific positions after it signed the former West Tigers and Manly backs.
``We still have money available if Stephen comes across someone he is interested in,’’ Osborne said.
``But Stephen is happy with the squad we’ve got.
``We will sign the players we want, not offloaded from somewhere else.
``If this is it, he is happy.’‘
Whatuira and Hicks have both returned from playing in England.
Whatuira is already training with the Eels and signed on a second-tier contract. That means his salary is not among the top 25 players and still affords Parramatta space under the salary cap.
He and Hicks are two of the luckier players to negotiate with the club after Parramatta turned down former Bulldog Matt Utai and several players from South Sydney including Roy Asotasi and Michael Crocker.
Osborne said he read about Utai’s hopeful comeback (``Mate pleads Utai’s case’‘, December 15) before representatives of the former New Zealand representative contacted him.
``His manager spoke to us and we said `no’ straight away,’’ Osborne said. ``We’re not interested. I spoke to Stephen and it was over in 10 or 15 minutes.’‘
Utai, 29, played for the Auburn Warriors in the Canterbury-Bankstown district this year.
His rejection by the Eels was consistent with a club with no positions to fill.
``We look at all sorts of options, but with Hicks and Whatuira we have strengthened out wide,’’ Osborne said.
``If someone pops up we’re interested in, we’ll take a look, but otherwise Stephen is happy.’’
Replies
I understand that many won't agree with me, but I think now that we have a good balance of experience across the board from the backs to the halves to the forwards, as well as talented youngsters with the potential to succeed in future years in the NRL.
I love the defence in this team - we will strangle the life of most teams with that team. I am getting quite pumped about watching the new combinations click. Still worry about MK though - be happy when McQUIRE or MITCHELL take over. We need some thrust out of dummy half.
That is a nice team... Good blog Dan.
I'm not sure how Anthony Mitchell is doing, and whether his defence has improved from last year, but I think role is similar to that Kingston type role, where he comes off the bench and provides a spark.
So, as a result, I'd expect to see McGuire or Keating starting.
I think Keating will get first crack at the starting hooker position. Despite Mitchell's potency in attack, I think his defence is still a bit of worry so probably wouldn't start at this stage of his career - much like Keating was Piggy's understudy.
McGuire was a good little player a few years ago in the Shaun Berrigan mould so he's in the mix but his age will count against him. You wouldn't need McGuire, Keating and Mitchell all in the same 17 so I'd say it SK will go with a MK, CM rotation to start the season.
Get rid of matt keating and put mitchell starting and mcguire as 14 and Shackleton as 15.
Other than that is a good team .
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