OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[orange&black]

It is clear that although AD may have a 7 on his back he is not playing the role of a genuine halfback. His best contribution and where he is most effective is when he is running the ball wide of the ruck down the edge channel of the field. More as a centre or edge backrower might do.
Furthermore as much as he has a few try assists from constructive passing, I still feel his skills in this area are questionable for a quality ball player, and his kicking game is average.
As much as it would be a mistake to not find a spot for AD in the 13, I also believe Jock is an integral piece to our game and probably more so with Luai as 5/8. For me the best option is to run AD as a right hand side second 5/8 (Officially a right centre) allowing him to continue playing the same style game. Benji would need to devise some hybrid style of attack but I feel it could be a handful to defend against if they get this humming. On the D side we’d have KPP on the same edge to assist AD.
So Madden to stay as the 7.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

6. Luai
7 Madden

13/14 or centre Doueihi

We have not had attacking structure and kick management for 15 years. Madden offers that, he cannot drop to 14, I guarantee we perform worse with Madden on the bench.

Doueihi has no choice but to move to the middle, Bench or centre.

I actually prefer Luai as number 14 since why change something when it's broken?

Benji has some big decisions to make but he cannot drop Madden, screenshot this, we will do significantly worse with Madden on the Bench.

We shouldn’t move a chunk of the team who are performing to make room for Jock.

Moving AD to lock means Twal moves away from the role he is in peak form & really valuable for us. Thats 2 of our season best performers moving to totally different roles.

Moving AD makes zero sense either for us and if AD moves has to be center or not at all. He could play that role and switch with KPP in attack. Which running wise wouldn’t lose much.

 

[Jolls]

While there is plenty to debate about Madden and AD it really isn't that relevant to our performances to date. Either will be capable of driving us around the park given the performance of our pack in defence. Combine this wtih the go farwrd provided by our back five, combined with the dominace of the middle corridor and you haove our recipe for success so far. Our attack has been better with Madden and AD but our attack will continue to improve as long as we settle on a combination. We still have a fair way to go with pill in hand - passing among the middles and the edge combinations are still developing.

I expect Benji will rin with AD and Luai until it isn't working or AD is injured and Jock pushes AD out by superior performances in the 7 jumper.

Great problems to have!

 

[rugbygoated]

if we dont play jock against Brisbane we will lose

I think Brisbane will know how Jock plays. If there's any team he may not play as good against, it may be his old club, and Madge no less

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

I think Brisbane will know how Jock plays. If there's any team he may not play as good against, it may be his old club, and Madge no less

not with luai as his partner, luai will have plenty of space and time
jock will play structured like cleary does

 

[lathami]

I really don’t know what they should do, but bunji so far doesn’t change a winning team. I know Luai is a strong leader for the club. I reckon Luai either sits out this game and rests his knee longer or he plays the 14 for this week. I reckon Luai would cop that fairly. This creates a great culture at the club. If we are going poorly against the donkeys u bring him on. If we smash them rest him. Keep the winners in, unless they screw up like Skelton!
Just my call

 

[Tigerdazz2]

If Jock is not in the 19 for the Broncos game, Benji should at least award him Captaincy of the Magpies this weekend.

 

[EllisFan]

If Jock is not in the 19 for the Broncos game, Benji should at least award him Captaincy of the Magpies this weekend.

I think we’ll see them both in the 19 and both will know their form needs to hold if they want the 7 jersey.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

If Jock is not in the 19 for the Broncos game, Benji should at least award him Captaincy of the Magpies this weekend.

That would be Tyrone McCarthy to decide that and the Magpies have the week off

 

[Tired Tiger]

Probably controversial but this is my take.

Luai is the best 5/8 at the club and when fit he starts.

Jock stays at 7, has earnt the right. Plays direct, organises the team, gets them deep, has the best kicking game at the club and kicks goals.

AD goes to lock, strong running game, erratic in accurate kicking game. Can kick goals.

TWAL to the bench, gives AD a breather at lock.

Latu stays as the 14

Sayfarth enjoy NSW cup.

It's literally the best solution for the team but I don't think it's likely to happen. I think it was a big mistake to virtually guarantee AD the number 7......

 

[lathami]

Probably controversial but this is my take.

Luai is the best 5/8 at the club and when fit he starts.

Jock stays at 7, has earnt the right. Plays direct, organises the team, gets them deep, has the best kicking game at the club and kicks goals.

AD goes to lock, strong running game, erratic in accurate kicking game. Can kick goals.

TWAL to the bench, gives AD a breather at lock.

Latu stays as the 14

Sayfarth enjoy NSW cup.

It's literally the best solution for the team but I don't think it's likely to happen. I think it was a big mistake to virtually guarantee AD the number 7......

Don’t agree, Doubie has been our best player this season. He has earned his spot, and it’s his to lose. Keep winning and playing well, keep your spot!
Simples
Rest Luai another week, not hard really

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

This is just my opinion, I feel that Adam Doueihi can do everything he is doing now at centre. You give him stipulations that when we are in the opposition 40m he essentially becomes a second 5/8 and can roam as he sees fit.

You don't see it often but it has happened in another form in the past. Back when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was a Rooster, he would start on the wing, but when they were in the 40m he would be at fullback and Minichiello would go to wing. We can do the same here - I think the coverage is Bula going to centre in red-zone attack.

We'll find out what Benji does tomorrow. My gut feel is he will allow Luai and Doueihi the opportunity to prove themselves as the halves combo going forward. I can foresee him making changes mid-game if the first 20-25 minutes doesn't work.

 

[mtd#2]

Don’t agree, Doubie has been our best player this season. He has earned his spot, and it’s his to lose. Keep winning and playing well, keep your spot!
Simples
Rest Luai another week, not hard really

Not hard to rest our highest paid player another week when he was probably ready to play against the knights? Lol I disagree.

 

[lathami]

Not hard to rest our highest paid player another week when he was probably ready to play against the knights? Lol I disagree.

Probably is not a fact, resting a knee injury in a long season is smart. Especially when we are going well. It’s a 4-6 week recovery period and I understand if we are losing to rush him back. But we aren’t so we shouldn’t.

 

[innsaneink]

Herbert kicks goals

18/25 NRL career

 

[mtd#2]

Probably is not a fact, resting a knee injury in a long season is smart. Especially when we are going well. It’s a 4-6 week recovery period and I understand if we are losing to rush him back. But we aren’t so we shouldn’t.

In theory yeah maybe. But i guess we are all operating on theories at the moment.
Ive anticipated team lists Tuesdays before, but this one is big!

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

I reckon If Luai is good to go he goes back to 6, AD 7 and latu would need to be 14 to cover hooker. Madden extended bench or cup.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

I really don’t know what they should do, but bunji so far doesn’t change a winning team. I know Luai is a strong leader for the club. I reckon Luai either sits out this game and rests his knee longer or he plays the 14 for this week. I reckon Luai would cop that fairly. This creates a great culture at the club. If we are going poorly against the donkeys u bring him on. If we smash them rest him. Keep the winners in, unless they screw up like Skelton!
Just my call

as AD should be willing to step into another role for the team as he is the most versatile

 

[TrueTiger]

All I can say is that JL is our highest paid player,but, how can you dump Jock after his games so far,great goal kicker,great organiser and kicks in play are great....
AD has had a fair few injuries but playing recently he seems to want to prove a point..one thing he has to learn is he can't win the game on his own,so find the gaps and spread the ball ...
Benji has a headache that I don't think Panadol will cure....

 

[tig_prmz]

The strongest pArt of our game this year has been Pole, Twal, May and Api. That's a killer front row for now and I wouldn't change that.

Douehi is taking his opportunities but he's not kicking goals or taking kicks. He's not running at full strength.

Id get him to rehab/ rest his hamstring all week and then play him off the bench in the game. He's not a lock, he doesn't straighten the attack much and definitely cannot defend.

I would have Hunt, Seyfarth, Douehi, Latu and Sukkar on the bench. We can use Latu and/or Douehi depending on whether we need more attack in the middle or on the edges.

Madden has to be 7 until Douehi is 100% but then if Madden continues like this then he stays regards of how good Douehi is going.