Eels Blogs

Our Forward Pack

Posted by RV on January 13, 2011 at 12:07pm

We have a stronger forward pack this season than we have had for some time. I think the first grade line-up will look like this in the forwards:

Starting:

Mannah

Keating

Moi Moi

Hindmarsh

Shackleton

Ben Smith

Bench:

Poore

Webb

Horo

McGuire

Waiting in the wings, we also have Maitua, Manakafoua, O'Hanlon, Allgood, Mitchell amongst others.

So which are the toughest forward packs to watch out for in 2011? St George, Souths. Anyone else? I think our pack will hold its own.

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Replies

timbo turtle January 13, 2011 at 12:15pm

Horo will start at 13, Keating will struggle to keep his spot in the 17 with Mitchell and McGuire on his hammer
Jake Morris January 13, 2011 at 12:23pm

The Raiders will have a big pack again. The Raiders utilised their big forward pack well towards the end of last season, it gave them easy metres.
YDIDISAYIDO January 13, 2011 at 1:36pm

It's a good pack but Cayless will be missed. He did a lot of work in D.

I have big concerns with lateral movment in D.... I have the feeling we will get found out occasionaly but my gut feel is we will mix it with most packs.

Hindy and Fui are no spring chickens either.

SK will put more of a premium on ball control which will put less pressure on the forwards in D (hopefully)
HH - Love You Iongi Time! January 13, 2011 at 1:42pm

I think it will be Smith, Horo, Hindy, Mannah, McGuire & Poore.
Bench will be Moi Moi, Shacks, Webb & Mitchell.
Daneel January 13, 2011 at 1:43pm

Lets fast forward to May 2011 (and assuming no injuries)

8. Poore

9. McGuire

10. Fui Fui

11. Hindmarsh

12. Shackleton

13. Horo

14. Maitua

15. Mannah

16. Webb

17. Smith

18. Mitchell
postcard January 13, 2011 at 2:19pm

13. R Maitua

12. J Horo

11. N Hindmarsh

10. J Poore

9. A Mitchell

8. T Mannah

14. F Moi Moi

15. P O'Hanlon

16. B Smith

17. C Maguire

18. S Shackleton

19. M Allgood

20. C Webb

21. M Keating
1Eyed Eel January 13, 2011 at 3:35pm

Justin Poore will start. He and Fuifui are a well suited combination as Poore can use his good speed to take advantage of the impression Fui makes in the line.

I also think Mannah does such a great job off the bench, it's silly not to take advantage of that.

For me the big question is the number of minutes our props are likely to play. I think Poore has to be a 50+ minute player this year, given Webb will most likely be used in short bursts. Fuifui and Mannah have both only been 40 minute props, so I think those extra minutes are going to fall on JP, which should be ok, given he often played 60 minutes for the Dragons.
Burtyfan "CYA FRANKIE" January 13, 2011 at 11:48pm

with kearney as coach i wonder if he has a different playing style for them or the usual with offloads and 2nd phase football

we might not be the biggest pack but we were a very mobile pack