Jesse Sue

[Tiger_Watto]

I'd have him starting at 13, pickup where he left off.

If not, definitely a bench option, work on bringing some impact and aggressiveness to our bench.

Good idea.. Bring Sauce off the Bench, while starting Blair & Woods?

 

[tig_prmz]

I'd have him starting at 13, pickup where he left off.

If not, definitely a bench option, work on bringing some impact and aggressiveness to our bench.

Good idea.. Bring Sauce off the Bench, while starting Blair & Woods?

that's what i'd do. it worked good at the back end of the year.. no need to change that imo.

sirro/bmm fighting it out for the last spot in the backrow alongside fulton and sue.

 

[BrotherJim05]

I think it will really depend on what style lock Potter wants to play. If he wants an aggressive forward (who will almost be like a third prop) then Sue is a good option.
Fulton was named as a lock in the top 33 so dunno how Potter will play it. Halutau will definitely get a bench spot and I assume he will run on as lock mid-game.

I'm glad we have a number of options but the curiosity is killing me!

 

[innsaneink]

Galloway is hardly going to make much impact off the bench….someone like Fui Fui we need at 20 mins to really rip n tear....maybe a Tapau!

 

[Gray]

Where does he start 2014 if everyone is fully fit?

We know Woods, Galloway, Blair & Fulton will be wearing starting jumpers, so its gona be a battle ensuring a start in the 17.

Looks a good prospect!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

I'm not so convinced if they will all get guaranteed starting spots. Potter doesn't care too much about who you are. You are probably right that they will, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sue gets the nod over Keithy or Blair.

Also, why didn't Galloway play for Scotland in the worldcup?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Galloway is hardly going to make much impact off the bench….someone like Fui Fui we need at 20 mins to really rip n tear....maybe a Tapau!

I think Sauce still gets his meters every game Ink… I'd like to see us bring an experienced Prop off the bench as well as Taupau. We seemed to struggle with meters after our first rotation this year and we continually saw a momentum shift throughout the 2nd 20min.

Taupau can be the aggressor and Sauce can grind out his meters. But more importantly, having 3 props on the pitch for most of the game will ensure oppositions defences will need to remain focused.

 

[fergiefurr]

I know he has played (and been very impressive) mostly in the middle, but I'd really like to see him moved to the edge in 2014\. He has plenty of pace, great footwork and showed an offload late in the season. I think he could be a real weapon a bit wider.

Plus I feel our back row is really lacking, apart from Fulton and BMM, there isn't much else there. In the middle third woods, Galloway, Blair, taupau, Ava, Buchanan, brown and gavet…we're fairly well served.

 

[LaT]

Sirro will be on one edge, he really started to shine for us towards the end of the year. Plus we have Taqele who could be a smokey to be turned into a Trex style benchie.

Anyone know what sort of role could Akoula play, I haven't seen a whole heap of him.

 

[pHyR3]

I know he has played (and been very impressive) mostly in the middle, but I'd really like to see him moved to the edge in 2014\. He has plenty of pace, great footwork and showed an offload late in the season. I think he could be a real weapon a bit wider.

Plus I feel our back row is really lacking, apart from Fulton and BMM, there isn't much else there. In the middle third woods, Galloway, Blair, taupau, Ava, Buchanan, brown and gavet…we're fairly well served.

I disagree. we are lacking in quality locks and sue fills the void nicely especially after a good campain in the RLWC at 13.

that leaves BMM, fults, Sironen and Dene in the second row. a bit light but lovett and others can come up from NSW Cup if needed.

fulton can go at lock if sue can't play 80minutes EFFECTIVELY or is injured.

 

[tig_prmz]

Edge backrowers: Fulton, Paterson, BMM, sirro, halatau

Locks: sue, Blair and maybe halatau.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Blake93]

Fulton being an edge backrower is a myth, edge backrowers need to be dangerous. Fulton has never, and will never, be dangerous. He's a lock.

edge backrowers: sirro, BMM, taupau, paterson. (taupau has the speed and agility to play on the edges or in the middle as a prop)

locks: sue, fulton, blair

nsw cup: halatau

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Why are you blokes so keen on playing Blair at lock? IIRC the only decent games he has played for us have been at prop. If he is not forced into getting involved and rolling his sleeves up then he will just slacken off and go missing.

 

[happy_tiger]

Why are you blokes so keen on playing Blair at lock? IIRC the only decent games he has played for us have been at prop. If he is not forced into getting involved and rolling his sleeves up then he will just slacken off and go missing.

Because a lot of those games played at lock were under Sheens

I think if he doesn't perform Potter will drop him , especially if we don't get many injuries

Lock SHOULD be his best position , I still think he is too small as a prop

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Why are you blokes so keen on playing Blair at lock? IIRC the only decent games he has played for us have been at prop. If he is not forced into getting involved and rolling his sleeves up then he will just slacken off and go missing.

**Because a lot of those games played at lock were under Sheens**

I think if he doesn't perform Potter will drop him , especially if we don't get many injuries

Lock SHOULD be his best position , I still think he is too small as a prop

Probably ALL of his games at lock were under Sheens, but what has that got to do with it? Fairly certain Sheens would not have told him to make 3 hit-ups and only 20 tackles per game, but they were pretty much what his stats were like in his games at lock.

He just seems to have that laid-back attitude that can easily turn in half-heartedness and laziness if he is not forced into a higher workrate by playing in the front row. As for Blair's size (or lack of it) he wouldn't be much smaller than James Graham, Matt Scott etc would he? And they are two of the premier props in the NRL. If he has got the aggro and the competitiveness to get in there and rip n tear then he is big enough IMO.

 

[happy_tiger]

Why are you blokes so keen on playing Blair at lock? IIRC the only decent games he has played for us have been at prop. If he is not forced into getting involved and rolling his sleeves up then he will just slacken off and go missing.

**Because a lot of those games played at lock were under Sheens**

I think if he doesn't perform Potter will drop him , especially if we don't get many injuries

Lock SHOULD be his best position , I still think he is too small as a prop

Probably ALL of his games at lock were under Sheens, but what has that got to do with it? Fairly certain Sheens would not have told him to make 3 hit-ups and only 20 tackles per game, but they were pretty much what his stats were like in his games at lock.

He just seems to have that laid-back attitude that can easily turn in half-heartedness and laziness if he is not forced into a higher workrate by playing in the front row. As for Blair's size (or lack of it) he wouldn't be much smaller than James Graham, Matt Scott etc would he? And they are two of the premier props in the NRL. If he has got the aggro and the competitiveness to get in there and rip n tear then he is big enough IMO.

Graham is about 6kgs heavier than Blair and Scott is far , far more mobile than Blair

Potter has his locks play far tighter than Sheens did and that makes a huge difference also

I think if we play Blair at lock we may be able to reduce Robbie's tackle count which I believe will be a major issue next year as we will need Robbie fresh in attack to take the heat off Brooks

If Blair can maintain his workrate at lock that he does as prop with both a fully fit Woods and Keefy we will be a far better unit both in attack and defence

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Why are you blokes so keen on playing Blair at lock? IIRC the only decent games he has played for us have been at prop. If he is not forced into getting involved and rolling his sleeves up then he will just slacken off and go missing.

**Because a lot of those games played at lock were under Sheens**

I think if he doesn't perform Potter will drop him , especially if we don't get many injuries

Lock SHOULD be his best position , I still think he is too small as a prop

Probably ALL of his games at lock were under Sheens, but what has that got to do with it? Fairly certain Sheens would not have told him to make 3 hit-ups and only 20 tackles per game, but they were pretty much what his stats were like in his games at lock.

He just seems to have that laid-back attitude that can easily turn in half-heartedness and laziness if he is not forced into a higher workrate by playing in the front row. As for Blair's size (or lack of it) he wouldn't be much smaller than James Graham, Matt Scott etc would he? And they are two of the premier props in the NRL. If he has got the aggro and the competitiveness to get in there and rip n tear then he is big enough IMO.

Graham is about 6kgs heavier than Blair and Scott is far , far more mobile than Blair

Potter has his locks play far tighter than Sheens did and that makes a huge difference also

I think if we play Blair at lock we may be able to reduce Robbie's tackle count which I believe will be a major issue next year as we will need Robbie fresh in attack to take the heat off Brooks

**If Blair can maintain his workrate at lock that he does as prop** with both a fully fit Woods and Keefy we will be a far better unit both in attack and defence

IF he can it would be great but he has demonstrated plenty of times that for some reason he just bundys off when he plays 2nd row or lock.

And why would Farah's tackle count be any lower with Blair at lock compared to prop Happy? Would love Blair to pull his finger out and become a reliable, high-workrate 2nd rower because that would allow Sue to be a real impact player off the bench. Ease the young fella into it instead of Potter expecting him to churn out 60/70 minutes per game. Sue, BMM and Tapau could be real strike players coming off the bench in waves IMO.

 

[happy_tiger]

Robbie defends in the middle of the ruck and with Blair's effectiveness with the wrestle it will give both Woods and Keefy more time to get back in the line and for us not to get dominated with the oppositions quick play the balls

Also will help us maintain our line speed for longer periods as we won't be fatigued so easily in defence

If the youngers blokes can maintain the defensive rage it will also take pressure of Farah

Too often when a opposition team gets on a roll in attack Robbie is having to come in and assist in defence as a third or fourth defender as many of our players are outmuscled and fatiguing

 

[Fade_To_Black]

You would back Blair to churn out more minutes at prop than Keithy though wouldn't you? Sauce seems to be at his best in relatively short bursts.
We definitely have got the makings of a versatile and effective forward pack (for a change), it will just be a case of tinkering with it to find the best combination. Hopefully that process doesn't drag on for the whole season though. The trials will be vital for some players to rise above the others and get first crack at securing a spot instead of like past seasons when we didn't have many options and basically knew the line-up before round 1.

 

[LaT]

Its the way Potter has played Blair thats mattered. Whether he has a 13 on his back or an 8/10 it shouldn't matter, just as long as Potter continues to get him involved.

Can only hope Blair doesn't have the Benji problems of swapping numbers and falling in a heap.

 

[stevetiger]

Blair to me has to play at prop but I figure we basically play 3 props. The thing is I think Sue and BMM are great options there as well. I'm not sure where Blair fits in.