With our team close to travelling to Darwin to play Gold Coast at TIO Stadium next Saturday we will be stretched more then any other NRL club. With us missing Foran, Takarangi, Kelly, Cornish, Faraimo, Paulo, Watmough, Hasson, Tanginoa and Moss we will be missing a very large amount of players that may have been selected for next round. For us to beat an in form Gold Coast would be a great win, if not the best this year.
With the weather forecast to be 33 Degrees for next Saturday in Darwin I would play French at fullback as it is expected to be very dry and a fast track (the best conditions for French to shine). I would select Gutherson at 5/8 as Foran, Takarangi, Kelly and Cornish are unavailable. Gutherson has played 5/8 for Manly NSW Cup and is a ball playing fullback and offers more in attack then Edwards. Although Edwards has filled in at 5/8 I think Gutherson has better hands and will give better ball to Jennings and Semi (we don't want Edwards to stifle Jennings and Semi). With the injuries we have my team in Darwin would be:
1. French
2. Semi
3. Jennings
4. Toutai
5. Gordon
6. Gutherson
7. Norman
8. Mannah
9. De Gois
10. Wicks
11. Ma'u
12. Scott
13. Moeroa
14. Pritchard
15. Edwards
16. Gower
17. Terepo
Replies
I drop Terepo for Alvaro
You could easily go with Alvaro as starting and push Wicks back to the bench. I think if you are going to pick Alvaro he has to start as he isn't an impact player off the bench.
Agree, Alvaro start & Terepo to miss out. He has continued his unimpressive form since his promotion. Blowed if I know why he is picked at all.
Hi Dave, I doubt that BA will move Gordon. IMO BA is generally very predictable & conservative in his selections so I think that he will stick with Gordon at FB & probably again slot French onto the wing if he uses Guthro in the halves.
I 100% agree with what you have said, as I do think BA is conservative. The team above is what I would select, as I think Darwin would be a great fit for French to make his debut at fullback - hot, dry and a fast track. Like last week with French making his debut against Newcastle I think it is all about timing. If next week's game was in Sydney at 8pm in the cold and wet I would leave Gordon at fullback, but as the conditions are going to be perfect I would give French at crack at the back. It is all about "timing" with young players.
1 Gordon
2 Semi
3 Jennings
4 Toutai
5 French
6 Norman
7 Gutherson
8 Mannah
9 Pritchard
10 Alvaro
11 Mau
12 Scott
13 Moeroa
14 Edwards
15 Wicks
16 Terepo
17 Gower
And French on the bench - to come on in the last 20 minutes
Maybe he could get somebody else to play for him in disguise ?
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