Starting From Scratch

Firstly the players: I believe the only players that deserve to stay are Gutherson, Alvaro, Brown, Gower, Ma'u & Pritchard. However we all know thats not the case. If I was in charge id be letting all these players go Au'va, Evans, French, Hayne, Hoffman, M. Jennings, King, Matagi, Norman, Scott, Vave & Williams. 12 players from our top 30 gone so who do we replace them with? 

Victor Radley - Can be our starting hooker he is a great defender & he can make some good runs out of dummy half. Pritchard can be on the bench to inject some energy & cut open some tired defences. 

Jaydn Su'A - A great runner of the ball can break the line has a good offload. Can be a starting right second rower. 

Tevita Pangai Jr. - Do I need to say anymore this guys a tank & would be a great Lock forward for us. If he improves his fitness & manages to play at least 60 minutes he will be our greatest forward.

Brian Kelly - A truly damaging centre his defence is a bit of a worry. 

Waqa Blake - Another damaging centre his discipline is a worry however he makes up for it with his fierce attack. 

Jamayne Issako - A star in the making also will be a good backup kicker.

Nathan Cleary - Cleary coming to parra is definitely a long shot but if we manage to sign him unless he is injury plagued will be our saviour image the combo he could create with Moses. We will have to do some outstanding negotiating to fend off Tigers, Roosters & Panthers. 

Kyle Flanagan - Will be a great backup for Moses &/or Cleary 

Blake Lawrie - A good promising forward who is stuck behind a great pack at St. George.

Also bringing up our youngsters to the main 30 including Mahoney, Kaufusi, Leleisiuao, Aukafolau, Parry, Cronin, Clifford. 

1. Clinton Gutherson/ Smith

2. George Jennings/ Leleisiuao

3. Brian Kelly/ Aukafolau

4. Waqa Blake/Davis

5. Jamayne Issako/ Parry

6. Mitch Moses/ Salmon

7. Nathan Cleary/ Flanagan

8. Junior Paulo/ Lawrie

9. Victor Radley

10. Daniel Alvaro/ Terepo

11. Manu Ma'u/ Takairangi

12. Jaydn Su'A/ Moeroa

13. Tevita Pangai Jr/ Stone

------------------------

14. Kaysa Pritchard/ Mahoney

15. Nathan Brown/ Kaufusi

16. David Gower/Clifford

17. Tim Mannah/Cronin

Coach:

Michael Macguire with Luke Burt & David Kidwell assisting him.

Brian Smith or Peter Sterling at head of football. 

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  • I like what you thinkingTrent that not a bad side wont cost that much to but i be letting go of Gower n Mannah to i would gower gettingvto old now but he keep trying i know but to old nbslow n same with mannah  

    But i like your thinking keep up the good work

  • Its probably what the club has to do but...but you lost me with mannah gower and prichard they gotta go to champ.over the next 2 years has to be a complete cleanout .
  • - At his age Cleary won't come to Parra even if it was for more money. Heck he won't come even if it's nearly double. Its just not worth it for him long term. Fact is he will go backwards in terms of value long term.
    - Mau was terribly out of form early in the season and now it's m. Jennings turn to be out of form. They simply swapped form lines. I can't see how one is a must over the other.
    - you'd have to think brown will make the starting side regardless of how this season goes. He probably needs an offseason to get back to last year's form.
    - Gower might retire despite being our current best player.
    - I agree regarding Pritchard off the bench. He could just about be the perfect bench hooker and has the toughness to play out of position in the back row if required.
    • Hey Trent I'm sure Nathan Cleary appreciates the compliment but don't you think he has alot on his hands worrying about loyalty to Panthers and his dear old Dad wanting him at Tigers? Dad had to even drive him to the airport from Penrith yesterday morning before his own game.
  • Trent, do you have any idea how the salary cap works ?

    • Obviously NOT Brett - but we all know how the ORF SEEZUN MALADY works on the (minute) brains of those susceptible to insanity.

      I mean as soon as I saw he would keep Pritchard I knew he was not on the same planet as Earthlings.

      Redefines "Space Cadet"

  • We should not build around Gutho although I would consider him for a utility role on the bench. Give the captaincy to someone else.

    Mitchell Moses should be the focus around whom we recruit or promote.

    Fullback in 2019 if he is ready; Anthony Layoun. Proved his worth in the World Cup for Lebanon. George Jennings to Centre with Hayne is cleared for 2019; Alvaro, Mau, and Junior Paulo + Pangai Junior. French wing and we promote a #9 from Wenty to work with Kaysa.

    Fill the gaps with whoever we are liable to keep.
  • I too would not be building a team around Gutho. Yes, he is a vital part of the team moving forward, but he should not be the central focus. He should also not be the captain of the team, I just don't see leadership material in him, similar to that of Hindmarsh, Mannah etc in the past. They will do anything for the team, but not the bloke to lead them into battle.

    One thing I was thinking at the game on Saturday night is we need a captain who is closer to the ruck. We were getting a terrible run of penalties and bad calls and Gutho was out on his edge, too far away from the referee. This is an area that Cam Smith excels, he defends next to the ref all game and is constantly in his ear. At the moment we obviously don't have that player, especially at 9, but maybe Nathan Brown, he generally plays 80 minutes and he plays in the middle?

    This is not an attack on Gutho at all either, I just think there is too much hope/pressure placed on his shoulders by the club and the fans, and I don't see him as the man to carry that.

    • Guth is playing in the halves, same position as JT, Pearce, DCE & Widdop and they all captain their teams. Darius Boyd, GI, Cordner, Croker, Josh Jackson all play further off the ball and captain their teams. This nonsense about position and captaincy is just rubbish.

      • Settle down mate, it is just my opinion. Maybe it is less to do with his position and more to do with his personality, but I think we need a captain who is closer to the ruck in defence who can have a little more influence over the referees. That was desperately needed on Saturday night and Gutho was not up to it.

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