I know there was a lot of team blogs during the off-season, but for those of us who have just gotten back into the footy and given we've got a bit more info on who is likely to be playing where, I thought it was time to crack open a team list blog.
Let's make this a little deeper, though, rather than just list a team give us a bit of an explanation as to why you'd play those players there, and the type of game you'd have them playing.
Replies
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Ryan Morgan
3. Will Hopoate
4. Willie Tonga
5. Ken Sio
6. Corey Norman
7. Joseph Paulo
8. Tim Mannah
9. Nathan Peats
10. Junior Paulo
11. Peni Terepo
12. Fuifui Moimoi
13. Darcy Lussick
14. Chris Sandow
15. Mitchell Allgood
16. Joseph Ualesi
17. Kelepi Tanginoa
As you can see I've picked a pretty much monster side, and I've also gone looking for players with a bit of experience because I think we need to focus firstly on getting our defence right, and trying to limit the amount of points that sides are putting on us. I think this backline have enough experience to make the right decisions in defence, enough size to compete and enough speed to provide some attacking flair. A bit worried about Morgan under the highball playing wing, but I think he's too good a footballer to leave out of the side. I've documented my reasons for picking Paulo at seven elsewhere.
The only thing I liked about Stuart's team selections last year, was the way he handled his forwards. I like basically starting off with a pack full for front rowers. As I said in my Paulo blog, I think we need to play very direct and up the middle and I'd be looking for this big pack to lay some solid foundations. I need a few of these guys to be able play some decent minutes so I'd be looking for the likes of Mannah and Lussick to play close to a full 40 minutes. I've got who two youngs guys who I think are our best edge prospects coming in off the bench and Chris Sandow as my super-sub. His general role will be to drop into half-back as the half winds down and we begin to play a more expansive game. That said, if we've managed to get in front and the first 13 are working, I either leave him on the bench and I'm instead looking for him to give Peats a break at some stage at dummy half.
I just slammed my head against the desk seeing Paulo at halfback. He is not, and never will be a halfback. Swap him and Sandow. Sandow to defend at fullback. Starting Junior? He's only a young guy and you don't want to burn him out too early. You have to start Fuifui at prop. Too many times we have played out wide or off the bench at the start of the game and we're on the back-foot immediately. He's our most explosive player and our hardest runner. Start him at prop and move him wide later in the game. Start Tanginoa and play Junior off the bench.
Quite a good side.
Very similar to what I'd go with across the board but obviously as I've said previously, I would need to see more of Paulo at halfback and at a consistent level, before I become completely sold on the idea.
Certainly a very big, mobile pack is something we have at our disposal this year. It's a great way to set the tone early and keep the opposition on the back foot both in defence and attack.
And definitely agreed on Morgan. He's too good to leave out of the side and has earned his spot and selection over the last couple of years.
A fit Loko doesn't make your 17? would Jamal Idris or Tony Williams make your 17? because a fit Loko is better the both those boys, younger too.
1. Hayne
2. Hunt
3. Hopoate
4. Tonga
5. Radradra
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Lussik
11. Tanginoa
12. Smith
13. Mossop
14. Terepo
15. Moi Moi
16. Jnr Paulo
17. Edwards
Backline
Fresh blood, winning attitude and culture, experienced success in first grade. Tonga, Hopoate and Hunt (apart from being very talented football players) come from clubs who have winning cultures and i am hoping that can help us climb the ladder.
Halves
Sandow for me wins the duel for the halfback spot because of his superior skill set and i am hoping putting him in the line outside Smith and inside Hopoate will help his defence.
Forwards
I can see Peats and Mossop really tightening up our ruck defence. Terepo and Moi Moi providing big impact off the bench and Lussik, Tanginoa and Smith bringing the sting in defence.
You have to have biggish wingers these days to get your sets going, can't see either Morgan or Hunt doing a job there. I'd go with
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Semi Radradra
3. Will Hopoate
4. Willie Tonga/Ryan Morgan (depending if Tonga is able to get back to his best)
5. Ken Sio (later in season we may see Fariamo)
6. Corey Norman
7. Chris Sandow
8. Tim Mannah
9. Nathan Peats
10. Fuifui
11. Peni Terepo
12. Kelepi Tanginoa
13. Darcy Lussick
14. Joseph Paulo or Jones
15. Mitchell Allgood
16. David Gower or Brendan Santi
17. Junior Paulo
Not sure why you want to hold back a young guy at prop. The Bear started playing FG when he was 17 and had a long and distinguished career. That was when props reallly belted each other as well.
As the saying goes ...If he is good enough then he is old enough.
In today's day and age, asking a young bloke to start at prop and lead the team is a huge demand, especially when you have more experienced props available. Bring him off the bench so he gets used to the speed and intensity of first grade. 2014 is different to when the Bear started. These guys are elite and any weakness, especially in the forwards, is exploited nowadays.
How many U20's props do you see actually start? Even Mannah only started 3 games due to injury in 2009.
See your viewing this in isolation and very one dimensional. What's more demanding? To start in a team where he's surrounded by the likes of Mannah, Lussick and Fuifui or have to carry the forwards by interchanging when he's matched up with Allgood. Far more responsibility on him in the latter scenario. If I was carrying traditional second rowers in my starting side, I might agree with you, but I thought our forward matched up far better when we went with the big pack later in the season.
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