Our starting 13 is very strong but there were times this year when I thought our bench let us down. A strong bench is vital to success and it's an area I think we need to improve.
Who do you have on your bench for next season?
Here's mine:
14. Stone
15. Paulo/Evans
16. Niukore
17. Terepo (if he plays like he cares. He was awful this year)
Replies
I don't see much in stone atm hopefully he can turn it around
Early in the 2019 season and while on the field reaching down to loosen his undies, Terepo caused a very serious injury to the atretic ovarian follicle, leaving Terepo experiencing immense pain with his every movement.
At first life threatening, Terepo, and our medical and high performance staff, finally found a way to alleviate the debilitating effects holding Terepo back from being at his best.
For 6 hours, he goes on the operating table tonight, and I wish him and his family all the best in surviving this gruelling and gruesome operation, and getting back to his best in readiness for the 2020 season kick off.
Go the Eels.
Good start to the season, Choc.
My bench would be
14: Niukore; 15: RCG; 16: Kafusi/Alvaro 17: Stone
I do believe that Alvaro is likely to be on the bench, replacing either Stone or Kafusi. Stone will be utility to allow Mahoney a break especially in early season and heat isssues, & can play lock if needed.
Colin, for me the big decision for our bench is in who is going to be our specialist utility come back up 9.
If we are not buying another backup specialist in the hooking dept, then we need to look at Salmon.
Through this off season we turn him into our long-term utility.
With his excellent utility body shape and with his great skill-set and speed, Salmon can play from 1 to 7, then 9, 11 and 12, so he is our best candidate for taking one of our bench spots.
He will need to put on a few more kilos while working through this off season to become proficient as a 9 to cover for Mahoney while also working with the backs and forwards to build up his defensive techniques within the defensive structures of our game plans covering from the back-row operating on the edges to a back playing wherever in the back line.
14. Salmon or Stone
15. & 16 RCG, Alvaro, Terepo, Kaufusi, Utoikamanu, Gower, etc
17. Marata, N Brown, Taka, Davey
1. Gutho
2. Sivo or Fergo (still think Sivo can be turned into an awesome fullback)
3. Waqa
4. M Jennings
5. Fergo or Sivo
6 D Brown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Mahoney
10. Evans
11. Lane
12. Matterson
13. N Brown
Choc, good reply, and you make a good case for the fish. Comparing the two, Salmon is taller but the weights are the same, I have seen a couple of good games from Salmon but, more from Stone, especially in defence. In that area of replacement hooker we need a strong defender, something Mahoney is as he has a high quota, Stone would have a higher one than the fish. Its possible though that BA will be experimenting with who goes to the 9 spot in the trials in place of Mahoney.
Salmon, is a back and where he has played so far, that's not to say he could not adapt to a forwards role, but for me, I would have Stone first choice if another back up hooker is not signed, & I think we are close to our full squad now. leavin just enough room possibly for one more signing.
Good luck to Peni - that would explain his dropping away
14. Taka
15. Alvaro
16. Evans
17. Niukore
With the likes of Stone, Kaufusi, Utoikamanu to get NRL action as the season goes on.
My bench would be:
14. Evans (Locked in).
15. Utoikamanu (Another big bopper and he is our version of Payne Haas. BA is unlikely to have him in the top 17 come round 1 but with 3 good front rowers already locked in there would be no better time to blood our future. Plus I think Alvaro is a bit of a plodder and Stefano offers more impact).
16. Niukora (Locked in).
17. Stone or Kaufusi (No need for Taka as we now have Matterson who can cover all the positions that Taka could).
BA loves Taka. Taka will be on the bench without doubt due to his ability to cover so many positions.
With Matterson you don't need that anymore, he can fill the same positions as taka plus also play in the middle.
For me, the Matterson signing has religated Taka to back up centre, Matterson will play on the right edge but if you have an injury in the outside backs or the halves than Matterson can move to fill the hole.
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