My crazy left field idea while Brown's suspended

Half of our forward pack is in form while the other half isn't. Evans, Paulo, Ma'u, Lane, Brown, and probably Niukore have all been playing pretty well of late. But the likes of Gower, Tepai, & Peni haven't offered much at all recently and I wouldn't trust any of them to fill in at lock especially going up against the Broncos next week. We could put Niukore or maybe even Lane to play at lock but whoever it is they need to be able to pass the ball and link with the halves. If we try to take the Broncos on directly through the middle we'll lose. We need to throw the ball around. This is why I would suggest Taka. Fergo's back now and Taka needs to be put somewhere. He's never been effective off the bench and if he starts at lock he can easily link with the halves and backline and has an offload in him. No way he'd be able to defend in the middle for the full 80 but it's an idea worth tinkering with I'd say. Thoughts on who should play lock?

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  • This reply was deleted.
    • High chance of big Stefano to make his debut off the bench you'd have to say.

      • Yep that’s what I’m thinking. 

  • I like that idea

  • Whilst the perfect lock is capable of playing a bit of a ball, these days their first job is to take the ball forward. Unfortunately Taka would not tick that box (especially being askes to play long minutes in such a role). In the 90s when teams used the lock as an extra 6 this would have been a possibility.

    • When is Stone ready? I thought he was due about now. 

      Terepo covered earlier in the season whilst Nathan Brown was out. I can see BA going down the conservative path with him. 

      Tep has also been in #13 in the past, but his form is way off. No thanks from me. 

      Gower would be great in bursts. He is not up to 80 minutes unfortunately. 

    • I think Taka's big and strong enough to hold his own. He's been doing a decent job of it on tackles 1, 2, & 3 coming out of our end. Who would you put there?

      • No one brings what brown does. I think Terepo will start there, but he appears to have some fitness or confidence issues because he hasn't been the same since returning from suspension.

        Moeroa is another option but he has been out of form even longer than Terepo so that would seem like an odd move from Arthur.

        Another option is silly, which is moving mau to lock and bringing in Niukore into the right second row spot. The right side didn't get it right against the Bulldogs but has been going well prior and you'd think it'd be dumb to mix that up heading into the final rounds.

        Taka could take some hits, no doubt about that. These NRL blokes are all tough to do what they do, but I just don't think Taka could sustain the intensity required to compete in both the extra attack and defence in the middle.

        I note Kaufusi went well in reserves and made the nswcup team of the week. But I didn't see the game so it'd be pure guessing for me to suggest him. I guess this is a real possibility though.

        I liked what stone was doing earlier in the year but from what I understand he only just came back from injury and played off the bench in nswcup, so it'd probably be a bit much to ask him to start at lock at this point.

         

        I like Gower off the bench.

         

        With brown out I reckon we'll see Paulo play link man to the edges and he'll also play bigger minutes.

  • This reply was deleted.
    • I agree with this. Kaufusi would be the best bet as a middle replacement. Nuikori is far better on the edge I reckon, or off the bench.

      Peni might be good to start against the Broncos big bodies - he won't take a backward step with or without the ball. Tep has been garbage but I'd still get him on the bench for the next 2 weeks.

  • Stefano. Taka is dropped or bench and nothing more. Kaufusi has played lock for wenty and stone probably hasn’t had enough game time since injury. 

  • stone is playing for Wenty tomorrow against the dogs 

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