So we know Gasnier has come out saying Hayne should be on the wing.. And i completely understand that Haynes best position is on the wing, ive said that for years. When has he ever had a bad game on the wing?!!!! Wing also suits his fitness level.
However i dont think thats what is best for the team
The problem here for me is that if Jarryd takes a wing spot that means Auvaa misses out on a wing spot and i know opinions on Auvaa are somewhat of a mixed bag but for me Auvaa is that dynamite personality that puts fire into the eels. When ever he does a big play like take someone over the side line or score a try, he revs the team up and gets their blood pumping. He is so full of energy and passion and i can remember how valuable that was for the eels last year. The rest of the team followed his lead, the aggressive passionate cuddles and cheering each other on started when Auvaa came into the side and started to make an impact.
He also does it when his team mates do something good, he runs over and fires the boys up and gets them proud of themselves and this lights a fire in the teams belly sometimes when they are starting to lose focus or desire which happens to nearly all teams.
Not to mention hes built like a brick shithouse and is rarely injured.
In saying that tho, he lacks the creativity of hayne, hes just a hard aggressive ball runner, with good speed and a pretty decent finisher
So in order to solve the selection problem I started considering
Hayne on one Wing
Auvaa on the other,
Gutho Jennings at center.
French at fullback
While this is not a bad option, it comes with a massive problem, and that problem is points.
When French was on the wing, it was common for him to score 3 or 4 trys per game. When he was at fullback we lacked points
So even tho Gasnier is right that haynes best position is wing, i feel that the best option FOR THE TEAM is to have hayne in the centers and hope that he can become strong and consistant there
For me, Auvaas high energy and ability to get the team reved up is too valuable to leave out of the side.
And French is just too much of a try scoring machine on the wing to be kept away out the back at fullback and not good enough of a passer to be at fullback. Gutho is the better option at fullback
1. Gutho
2. French
3. Jennings
4. Hayne
5. Auvaa
6. Norman
7. Moses
8. Mannah
9. King
10. Evans
11. Manu
12. Meroa
13. Brown
14. Scott
15. Matagi
16. Edwards
17. Alvaro
18. Vave
19. Terepo
20. Gower
21. Will Smith
For me, If Hayne performs well, Takairangi doesnt have a place in the top 21 until Beau Scott Retires
Terepo and Gower are better options
Replies
lol
Didnt we get T-Rex as a winger?!?!?!!!!??!!????!!?
Hi Pops, there is pros and cons for Auva'a being on the wing. His experience in first grade is probably more wing now, but he did play a bit of centre at Souths. Now that Semi is gone he is probably our best winger for rucking the ball out of the red zone. Up close and personal Auva'a is built like Mal Meninga with huge shoulders and legs like tree trunks and is suited to that power winger game. At centre he offers no ball play and has tunnel vision and doesn't link well (I've seen all of his Wenty games). On the wing he has a simple game with less stress in reading the play. At centre he would struggle in defence.
But French is a better passer than Gutho.....
Gutho's big plays last year were mainly from dummy half runs, if he could learn the defence of centre he could be similar to Justin Hodges
It is "never" a headache having competition for spots (NEVER). Coaches dream of having depth with their squads like what we have this year. Conversely, it IS a headache when you don't have any depth and you get injuries to your top 13.
The great thing with the players you mention is that they can play more then one position.
From what Takairangi has recently stated BA has had him training in the forwards. If Taka was telling the truth then that explains his position. Whether that is in the top 17 only time will tell.
Hayne will be in the centres unless injuries force him to move.
French will stay at fullback until Gutho returns, and then will move to wing.
Edwards is a certainty on the bench.
Alvaro and Evans will be in the 17. That leaves two positions left on the bench. Scott will get one position to start the season off, but only time will tell if he stays in first grade due to his decline in form in 2017 (offers little in attack).
Takairangi, Terepo, Vave, Williams, Smith, Pritchard, Matagi and Gower will be fighting it out for the last position in the top 17 at the start of the season.
BUT, injuries usually make it easy for BA to select the teams.
That’s well put Dave; and seems to be on the mark and more to the point with what has been said by coach / players.
Crypto King:
"Hayne on one Wing
Auvaa on the other,
Gutho Jennings at center.
French at fullback"
This is the exact backline I picked in my season review.
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