I know we are only hours away from finding out the team, but it's fun to speculate and place ourselves in the position of BA.
The two big outs are Junior and Blake.
I'd play Nathan Brown at prop and put Matterson in 13. If Lane is fit, he goes to left edge. If Nuikore is healthy, I'd put him on right edge and ICE on left edge. If neither Lane or Nuikore fit, it will have to be Carty on the left and I'd debut Rodwell on the bench. If both Nuikore and Lane fit, Lane starts on left and Nuikore and Carty stay on the bench.
I don't have an informed opinion on who takes Blake's left wing spot. However, I don't want to see a backline re- shuffle, nor do I want to see Opicic on the wing. I suspect BA will go with Perham given how close he has been to selection recently. However, it wouldn't shock me to see Zac Cini there either. Tigers are his old club and he will probably aim up.
I'll trust whatever BA selects. I also don't see this as a 'danger' game. The Eels of the last decade would have really worried me in this game. However, I truelly believe we have graduated into a genuine top 4 team - and top 4 teams don't lose at home to a basket case like the Tigers. I'm tipping Eels 20+
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I think Paulo replacement is simple, Kaufusi will start and either Greig or Cartwright will come onto the bench, depending if he wants Rein on the bench again Cartwright and Greig could get a bench spot each. Or Niukore on bench for Kaufusi if BA prefers him in middle, i say that as i think BA will put him at centre for two reasons, 1. fitness and 2. he has succeeded there in the past.
Or he will go Perham on the wing, then goes Niukore on the bench for Kaufusi who starts, done. If Lane is out and Niukore is at centre then Greig will be in already so Cartwright gets a bench spot with Rein and Maka, if Rein is not on the bench then you could see a Rodwell or dare i say JA gets onto the bench.
In terms of straight up wing options i think in order it goes; Opacic, Perham, Naiduki, Loizou, Cini, Komolafe. Due to his top 30 contract Naiduki jumps up the depth chart, if i was picking them i would look at Komolafe who has been good in NSW cup, big and has speed.
Cant see opacic getting moved from the centres until waqa and sivo are back
You could be right Trent, but i could see BA thinking that Opacic sure's up that side in defence and having Niukore there helps. Perham could very well slot straight in with no issues but i keep thinking that BA may want an actual winger or someone who has been there and done that, Opacic has played enough games to fill in on the wing. That is also why i see Naiduki as a legit chance, not saying i would pick him but i see him as a legit shot due to him being an actual winger and a winger BA likes in terms of set starting and size.
BA would keep Opacic at centre until a centre is available, but Niukore is available. I am torn between Niukore and Perham for who comes in. But i could be way off and BA throws a curve ball and upgrades Cini or names Loizou or hell Russell might be fit to come back who knows. But since we are winning it excites me to see what happens at 4pm.
Papalii prop, matterson and lane 2nd row, nuikore, rein, kaufusi and makatoa bench, perham wing.
BA is very likely to pick JA on the bench or even go as far as starting JA at 6 with Brown at centre.
OMG HKF can you imagine if he did that? move Opacic to wing and put Brown to centre for JA at 6. CommBank would be in ashes come Easter Monday ahahahaha.
I think JA is a legit chance of getting the 17 jersey over Rein. Not saying he should but being realistic.
I like that HKF - although I don't think JA will start at 6. DB has been playing too well allongside Moses to tinker with the scrumbase combination.
Kaufusi in for Junior, Greig for Kaufusi and Perham for Blake.
Unless Cini is promoted to top 30, he won't be considered.
Naiduki would be the smoky for Blakes wing but the extended bench selections in the last few weeks seems to indicate Perham is next man up.
Though Rock, i would take Perham being 18th man as a utility type of thing. If a winger was actually out i am not so sure he would name Perham, he might but wouldn't say 100%. Perham being able to play Fullback, Centre, Five-Eighth and Halfback makes him a handy 14, if he was on the bench for GC then yeah he would have played on the wing. Though if let's say Simonsson was out against St. George BA maybe would have named Perham anyway, but not so sure with Naiduki there too.
Please do not think i am undermining you Rock, just saying Perham at 18 is no sure fire thing to me as he can play a variety of other spots before wing that warrants an 18th man spot, but i might be way off.
I would have no qualms with Perham being named either Centre or at Wing.
you're 100% correct - to me its between Perham and Naiduku, but tend to think Perham has his nose in front.
BA has been faily consistent over the years of naming the next junior to "debut" in the extended bench for a few weeks before they actually play, thats all i take my leaning from.
And i do not disagree at all. That is why i also see Loizou and Naiduki as possibilities.
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