Our bench, how would you arrange it

Our bench, how would you arrange it?

  • 4 forwards/second row.

    Votes: 1 2.4%
  • 3 forwards/second row. one Utility or half

    Votes: 18 42.9%
  • 3 forwards/second row. one Hooker for Api

    Votes: 17 40.5%
  • 2 forwards/second row. One utility that can play in the forwards and one half

    Votes: 3 7.1%
  • 4 Wings, Max Sheensball

    Votes: 3 7.1%

  • Total voters
    42
  • Poll closed .
...and what about the suggestion that TDS must complete an apprenticeship when Galvin, Fainu's, Miller, Laulilii etc arent required to?

I think those other guys we debuted in the last few
rounds of the season were victims of circumstance
haha, but I take your point. No use playing Latu for
10 mins each game when Api needs a spell on the
sidelines. I just thought we could get more utility
value out of Latu for say, half the season, and then
bring TDS into the rotation. Like @Demps said it
is all pretty much contingent on who we play at 13
or who we recruit from now until round 1, 2025 TBF
 
by default I like the Penrith model.

hooker/utility
middle that can play edge
middle
backrower that can play centre

problem is, a lot of the guys that fit those roles are gonna be in the starting 13 for us, because our squad is atrocious.
 
I think if Latu isnt our starting halfback, which it doesnt seem will be the case at all, then he is the one to serve an apprenticeship in Flegg or KOE.

We need long term planning here and I suggest he will be our long term halfback starting as early as mid to late 2026. Galvins days as a 6 are numbered and Luai will be far more effective wider of the ruck which is where he also does his best work.

I wouldnt waste Latu's time making him ride the pine for 8 minutes per week. Let him run a team as a 7 every week.
I'm glad someone else feels this way.

he got thru 80 minutes once in 2024, and that was in reserve grade. he needs an entire year steering the ship in Cup.
 
I'm glad someone else feels this way.

he got thru 80 minutes once in 2024, and that was in reserve grade. he needs an entire year steering the ship in Cup.
Theres something about him...he is potentially our best player and could be a 10+ year elite level halfback for us.
Thats not to say that I am not very interested in Lachie, Bula and Sammy....all three have massive ceilings. Im not as enthusiastic about Galvin at 6 as most are...but he is a hell of a footballer and proper planning must be done now to lock him in for a big stay here.
Through necessity, Sam may have to play a bit of middle for us but he is good enough to thrive there as he is beginning to do as a backrower.
Faataape is my sleeper for 2025. He'll be 24 next year and playing alongside some great backs. He has a long way to go, but seems the type who will bust his arse to get there. If we can unlock him ala how Penrith did Alamoti, he will surprise a few.
 
The bench makeup will make a lot more sense once we know what the starting 13 look like, particularly where Bird fits.

If he's 13-

Do we carry an extra middle (lock) to replace him?
Do we need to carry an edge that can play centre if he can?
Ditto with halves cover or does he suffice?

If he's a 2nd rower-

Do we run a specialist, backup edge on the bench to unlock Bird's ability to shift to cover any of the above injuries?

If he's a centre-

Does he lose his utility value in this scenario?
Do we then revert to having an edge on the pine that can cover centre as a few have already said?


That's just with Jack. I think the fact that a few setups could work is a good thing. But the coaching staff will need to make sure that they actually align their bench with how they want to play, a set style, because this year, it was pretty scatter-gun.

For the sake of discussion, I'm playing Bird at 13, Sione as lock/prop cover, with TDS, Hunt and ideally Seyfarth, but I think we're forced into running him in Bateman's place, meaning that last spot goes to a Twal for now. But I'd love to see a Fa'agutu, Johannssen or a tree-shaking middle acquisition take that spot.
 
IMO we need someone who can cover 9. Api shouldn't be playing 80 minutes as it stands. Whether rotation of TDS, Latu and even Heath Mason week to week or picking and sticking with the most developed out of the 3. The other option is Sullivan. If he trains well in the off season and is the best choice there is no point making him play ressies just to prove a point.
 
IMO we need someone who can cover 9. Api shouldn't be playing 80 minutes as it stands. Whether rotation of TDS, Latu and even Heath Mason week to week or picking and sticking with the most developed out of the 3. The other option is Sullivan. If he trains well in the off season and is the best choice there is no point making him play ressies just to prove a point.
Yes, its very important not to over work Api in 2025.
He has become such a target in defence that he was 17th in the league for the amount of tackles made and 1st for tackles missed. Add them together and the bloke is being asked to make 43 tackles per game. His greatest asset to this team is his attack. His defensive workload needs to be lessened.
 
Theres something about him...he is potentially our best player and could be a 10+ year elite level halfback for us.
Thats not to say that I am not very interested in Lachie, Bula and Sammy....all three have massive ceilings. Im not as enthusiastic about Galvin at 6 as most are...but he is a hell of a footballer and proper planning must be done now to lock him in for a big stay here.
Through necessity, Sam may have to play a bit of middle for us but he is good enough to thrive there as he is beginning to do as a backrower.
Faataape is my sleeper for 2025. He'll be 24 next year and playing alongside some great backs. He has a long way to go, but seems the type who will bust his arse to get there. If we can unlock him ala how Penrith did Alamoti, he will surprise a few.
I agree on Latu. there'll come a day when he'll make an irrefutable case to partner Luai at the scrumbase. it's just when that day comes and how Galvin reacts.

Samuela's pretty exciting as you say. I think long term he ends up in the middle, but right now he's best served on that left edge.

interesting your take on Faataape. I think there's a serviceable depth player there, but more than happy to be proven wrong. my biggest issue is he's a bit undersized. that said, he had a reasonable year after only half a preseason and will benefit from another year in a full time system.
 
interesting your take on Faataape. I think there's a serviceable depth player there, but more than happy to be proven wrong. my biggest issue is he's a bit undersized. that said, he had a reasonable year after only half a preseason and will benefit from another year in a full time system.
Theres a player in him. He went ok in his rookie year...played 24 games across NRL and KOE - with 17 in the top grade. Thats great experience added to his QCup efforts, so hopefully an excellent preseason will see him step up. Whilst I agree he isnt the tallest centre getting about @ 5ft 10, he is 103kgs and is very strong. I dont think I saw him running in space enough to judge his speed but he has some good footwork.
A work in progress, but I wouldnt condemn him to reggies just yet.
 
Yes, its very important not to over work Api in 2025.
He has become such a target in defence that he was 17th in the league for the amount of tackles made and 1st for tackles missed. Add them together and the bloke is being asked to make 43 tackles per game. His greatest asset to this team is his attack. His defensive workload needs to be lessened.
Yep Api's high energy style in attack and defence is what makes him so good, but it is also what makes him a 50-60 minute player. So many of those missed tackles would have been him leading the line speed without any support. He looked exhausted by the end. I will be seriously questioning Benji if he plays Api the same way this year.
 
I would be rotating Latu and Tallyn in the 14 as Latu need time in KOE to learn how to run a team and he won't get that exactly playing 10-15 mins a week off the bench. Tallyn needs time also to nurture his game so just depends on who we play, injuries etc who gets the 14.
Hunt would be the impact prop.
Sione would be my 16.
Seyfarth if not starting would be my 17 to cover 2nd row.
My 2 starting props would be Pole & Klem.
 
I would go to the market and buy 4 quality players. Sayfarth and twal coming off the bench with a dummy half/utility as first choice is just a reason not to get excited
 
So Api goes the full 80 each week?
Could Fainu get a play at 9?

I think that's the big question. If Fainu can cope with 9 then we should inject him there a bit.... But I don't see Latu Fainu adapting well to first grade yet. Hooker will just be too much for him.
 
Could Fainu get a play at 9?

I think that's the big question. If Fainu can cope with 9 then we should inject him there a bit.... But I don't see Latu Fainu adapting well to first grade yet. Hooker will just be too much for him.
No.
He is not a 9.
We already have a gun young 9 and he’s ready to go.
Latu should be trained up to become our 7.
 
by default I like the Penrith model.

hooker/utility
middle that can play edge
middle
backrower that can play centre

problem is, a lot of the guys that fit those roles are gonna be in the starting 13 for us, because our squad is atrocious.

Which is why I think we need to change how we use Api.

At the moment Api is a hooker all game. Yet I think he has some versatility in his game.

Give Api a starting 20/30 minutes then bring him to the bench and bring on TDS. Api isn't a guy I want playing lock or a hooker that normally plays lock. But in an extreme circumstance he could.

Naturally factoring in Jack Bird we could have Bird at lock do a spell at Hooker. Yet we have TDS and Fainu who should be putting up their hands for first grade positions....Arrgh.
 
I can’t see it really mattering at this stage , our forwards are weaker than last years team at this stage , so unless we get some new signings , it’s will just be shuffling deck chairs on the titanic
 
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