Based on the list below. We are lacking one alpha prop, one centre/fullback - depending where you put Gutherson (but I expect him to have a better year at full back). Dummy half seems lacking but I am not worried as I think what we have (Mahoney and Schneider) will be really strong in a year or so. Also expect Evens to pick off where he left off last year which was good (much better than his start of the year) and push back into the starting side if we do not pick up an alpha prop. So I think with the addition of Paulo we will be competitive in the middle regardless.
Middle Forwards:
- Paulo
- Alvaro
- N .Brown
- Mannah
- Terepo
- Evans
- Gower
Dev. Utoikamanu
Edge Forwards:
- Moeroa
- Lane
- Ma’u
- Niukore
- Kaufusi
- Davey
Dummy Half:
Dev: Mahoney
- Pritchard
- Smith
- Stone
Not in team but rising star. Schneider
Halves:
- Moses
- Norman
- Salmon
Dev. Brown
Fullback:
- Gutherson
Wing:
- Fergerson
- Gennings
- French
- Sivo
- Leleisiuao
Centres:
- Mennings
- Takairangi
- Hoffman
Replies
That's how I think the season will start out. I just don't want to see Taka on the bench as a 2nd rower.
Norman could also go fullback and Salmon 5:8
Would definitely like another prop but Paulo is great pick up, Alvaro is solid and consistently near our best and Terepo improved heaps last year adding variety to his hard runs and he h8s errors dropped significantly. Our problem was we never had our fowards working as a group with strong runs repeated in any set. I think the foward rotation will be improved by having ferguson helping early in the set. Maybe Paulo and alvaro starting fowards then bench Terepo and mannah. Brown was disappointing last year the same as everyone but would like see him follow a quick Paulo play the ball and maybe offload for gutho or French lurking in support creating a retreating defence for the halves to shine.
Although we were terrible last year a strong start to our set, giving our fowards a little more momentum can give our halves the extra second or 2 to attack a retreating defence and find a hole runner like Lane. I am expecting our attack and momentum to improve greatly. Lane proved to be deadly close to the line for manly last year being close to their top try scorer.
Everyone last year agreed semi was huge loss and our fowards lacked punch. We got ferguson and Paulo so have addressed the 2 major issues yet people aren't happy. Yes another prop would be ideal but the eels have never been able to attract talent due to the unstable environment with boards, hence coaches and direction of the club. We will be a lot more competitive this year and as pointed out in another story and blog the fact so many are playing for their career and contract can only be a good thing. Form picks up at contract time and although people complain saying should put full effort in all the time, contract time sees players at all teams not just parra, improve as it is difficult to keep fully motivated and maximise effort for the full season or once games start getting away on the scoreboard.
French will be at fullback. I'll put my house on it.
He's either fullback or playing for Wenty. You won't ever see him on the wing again.
I think he just needs time to settle in at FB again and train a preseason there, especially after losing his PCL and not really ever becoming the same player after.
He does have good leg speed for a big man and knows how to find a hole
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