EELS
1 Clint Gutherson
2 Maika Sivo
3 Waqa Blake
4 Michael Oldfield
5 Blake Ferguson
6 Dylan Brown
7 Mitchell Moses
8 Junior Paulo
9 Reed Mahoney
10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11 Shaun Lane
12 Ryan Matterson
13 Nathan Brown
14 Bryce Cartwright
15 Isaiah Papali’i
16 Marata Niukore
17 Oregon Kaufusi
2021 squad: Daniel Alvaro, Waqa Blake, Dylan Brown, Nathan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Blake Ferguson, Clint Gutherson, Keegan Hipgrave, Michael Jennings (stood down), Oregon Kaufusi, Shaun Lane, Joey Lussick, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Moses, Marata Niukore, Michael Oldfield, Tom Opacic, Isaiah Papali’i, Junior Paulo, Jordan Rankin, Maika Sivo, Will Smith, Bryce Cartwright
2021 gains: Joey Lussick (Salford), Tom Opacic (Cowboys), Isaiah Papali’i (Warriors), Michael Oldfield (Raiders), Keegan Hipgrave (Titans), Nathaniel Roache (Warriors), Bryce Cartwright (Titans)
2021 losses: Stefano Utoikamanu (Tigers), Kane Evans (Warriors), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles), George Jennings (Storm), David Gower (retired), Jai Field (Wigan), Peni Terepo, Rhys Davies, Jaeman Salmon, Brad Takairangi (all unsigned)
Replies
Avg team
Keegan Hipgrave will definitley be in the 17
I would be starting Nuikore with Lane to bench.
Haven't really started "The Toughest Pre Season ever" and already we are seeing the click bait team lists. *sigh*
Parraborn1 you could be right. Kafusi out? These days a middle forward is a middle forward, regardless of title of Prop or Lock.
I am not a fan of 4 props on the bench Coryn - if (or more likely when) a backline player goes down we have NO real options to cover them with any form of effectiveness.
Shifting a back rower into the back line is mostly stop gap measure, we have seen this proven so many times with every team that is forced into this situation.
14 should, imo, always be a utility. Cartwright can be that utility, same as Taka and Smith were
Agreed, if your best 5 middles can't get the job done, two more aren't gonna help much
Ah-HAH! Silly me, I took Coryn's comments to mean carry 4 props on the bench.
*sigh* getting older by the day.
So did I
Could ORF SEEZUN MALADY & MADNESS possibly be the cause?
Not to worry, we seem to be reaching agreement now.
4 Props = 2 run on and 2 on bench - Yes?
Works for me and leaves room for versatility.
Nuikore, Lane (best off bench I think), Matto can all do long minutes
Papali'i, Lussick, Roache(?) and Cartwright fighting for the other two bench spots.
I would not consider Carty as run on until he proves he is up to it.
Well, I have been avoiding attacking Bushy (too hard) as of late because it is ORF SEEZUN and with the newbies on the block he will need to prove himself again.
That said Bushy is not kown for learning too many lessons in the past.
Origin is coming back to middle of the season in 2021 which is going to add another dimension with player burn out.
Bring your bench players up to being able to go more minutes is another option that should be looked at imo.
Dependant on ladder position, completely resting players as you said, is also a good option.
This once again comes back to the back up players capable of putting in competitive performances.
I know we will scream and rant with any loss, but playing the numbers game, a la Bennett & Bellamy, is not so silly.
The good teams peak at season's end for their run through the finals.
The "who" in the rotation considerations will become clearer once the season proper is underway.