2027 Spine - how’s it looking ?

T

Tom Shines

Well-known member
What’s the prognosis on these critical positions for next season ?

Api - is he finally running out of gas ? Going into this season with Hope as the backup was probably the biggest mistake the club has made since Richo’s departure… Api needs to be playing 55 minutes a game ..but weren’t we saying that a year ago?

AD- probably been our best player this year…but he is an unorthodox 7 to say the least

Bula - has speed…safe under the high ball and a good defender …also has a big target on his back as the main attacking threat in the team that needs to be neutralised at all costs … we need more out of him though …needs to develop more physical strength over the offseason

Luai - he can play as we saw against the Titans and Dolphins … needs to get more involved week to week as he is one of the few potential match winners in the team …. Danger signs ahead for me, with next season already confirmed as his last..
 
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I’d be thinking of
Luai /AD halves
(backup latu, javon and madden)
Bula fullback
(Backup Tito/ averillo/attard)
API hooker
(Backup/ rest lanyon and Haywood )

Hopefully no multiple injuries like this year
 
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I like AD, and see him as our future Captain, but honestly I think our attack sucks with him leading the team.

Next year I'd be starting the season like this:
1.Bula
6.Luai
7.Latu
9.Api (50mins)
13.AD
14.Lanyon (30mins)

Mid season review:
Luai - If performing poorly, debut Andrews.
Lanyon - Potential swap with Haywood depending on how they're both playing.
Latu - Is he a 7 or is he a 6? could this be a Brooks x Moses situation again with Latu and Andrews?
 
If they get beat by the Drags … than I would suggest the season is over if it isn’t already …

Let’s get a look at Latu at 7 at some stage before the end of the season …
 
Bulla
Turuva , AD , Toa , Skelton
Latu , Luai
May , API , Bunty
Sione , Twally , Tony S
Pole , Seyfarth , Lanyon , Madden
This above is for this week
Next year , god knows but
Bulla
Macca , May Jnr , Alverillo, Turuva
Luai , Latu/ AD.
 
Doueihi is not and will never be a halfback. As soon as Taylan went down, I would have shifted him to left centre and had Latu on at 7.

We almost certainly win with that obvious change, but Benji decides to double down on his off-season mistake and brings on the struggling 18yo instead. Which also stuffed our forwards rotation AGAIN!

It's not that Adam hasn't shown immense improvement in important areas of his game from his first trial run last season, which I have trumpeted, still, sadly, his shining at half so often comes at the expense of team cohesion.
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
wait until if we lose to dragons first.

I want to see Andrews in the halves before Latu
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That wpuld be such a Benji thing to do. Give Andrews continued reps in reserve grade while completely stifling Latu's development. Then when a chance comes he gives it to the new guy rather than the one that has done and played whatever the coach wants to his own detriment.
 
king_sirro said:
That wpuld be such a Benji thing to do. Give Andrews continued reps in reserve grade while completely stifling Latu's development. Then when a chance comes he gives it to the new guy rather than the one that has done and played whatever the coach wants to his own detriment.
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Andrews i think would make the better 6
At present we have AD as a 7 for 2028
 
Not great, good but not great.

Bula is a good player but he has trouble busting out of tackles, he's not light on his feet with out much of a step, these other good fullbacks have these qualities. Hopefully he improves.

Api could struggle next year with the speed of the game, 50 min player

Laui, solid, good defender but he has trouble setting up his runners, probably not totally his fault. Good leader

AD has shown what he can do but sometimes I feel he's not far away from falling out of form because of the ways he plays. He's not your traditional solid half back.

The young guys, who really knows how it's going to play out. Some potential but not as much as some other young players from other clubs
 
UNDER NO CIRCSUMSTANCES SHOULD DOUHEI MOVE FROM 7, HE IS OUR EVERYTHING.

Bula will be 1.
Luai will be 6.
Api will be 9 - but we need a back up, I dont think latu is that guy. Lanyon is the pick of the bunch so far.

It leaves Latu, Madden and Andrews fighting it out in nsw cup for 2 spots.

Which brings us to our next dilemma, we need to make a call on Latu. Either commit to him as a half or turn him into a 13. Because the numbers dont work at the moment. Latu isnt ready to lead a team around in the NRL (yet), he needs reps under his belt and to learn how to control a game.

But incase i wasnt clear - DOUHEI CANT BE MOVED, THE 7 IS HIS.
 
mtd#2 said:
UNDER NO CIRCSUMSTANCES SHOULD DOUHEI MOVE FROM 7, HE IS OUR EVERYTHING.

Bula will be 1.
Luai will be 6.
Api will be 9 - but we need a back up, I dont think latu is that guy. Lanyon is the pick of the bunch so far.

It leaves Latu, Madden and Andrews fighting it out in nsw cup for 2 spots.

Which brings us to our next dilemma, we need to make a call on Latu. Either commit to him as a half or turn him into a 13. Because the numbers dont work at the moment. Latu isnt ready to lead a team around in the NRL (yet), he needs reps under his belt and to learn how to control a game.

But incase i wasnt clear - DOUHEI CANT BE MOVED, THE 7 IS HIS.
Click to expand...

STOP TYPING RUBBISH IN CAPITAL LETTERS
 
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