TEAM LIST Preseason Challenge v Eels

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Rumour mills make me laugh šŸ˜†
I for one will chill and just wait till our side is named for round 1 against Newcastle,
Except for API-suspended
Iā€™m hoping everyone is fit and available for selection and we can see Benjiā€™s top 17.
 
Charred said:
Iā€™m a little confused why everyone is so fired up about these selections for a trial game. I understand the ā€œneed for game time with new players and combosā€ argument, but I think if some players are carrying niggles or arenā€™t fully recovered from a previous injury it makes a whole lot more sense to ensure they are fit and firing come round 1.

Bula, Luai and Turuva have all had well documented injuries. Bula had a fairly serious shoulder injury requiring surgery so the coaching staff are probably making sure that it heals properly before returning. Additionally, Turuva and Luai have had their own minor injuries and all these 3 will be highly important to the team throughout the season so I would much rather they fully recover to reduce the chance of re-injuring so they can play more games throughout the year.

Olams knees are bust. Lots of reports on here about him and NRL site lists him as injured (knee) with allegedly a round 1 return (if itā€™s serious Iā€™d expect later).

Luke Laulilii reportedly has a head knock. Heā€™s had many so that makes sense that heā€™ll be out for a while. Hope he sorts it out as Iā€™m a big fan of him.

Klemmer was a late withdrawal from the first trial so I thought his chances of playing the second were going to be low as he is likely carrying some injury.

I think those were all the noteworthy players missing (please correct if wrong). At least 4 of them are confirmed injured/rehabbing, 1 reported (LukeL) and 1 inferred (Klem). I donā€™t think these players missing should be a big surprise to anyone. Anyone who knows anything about sporting injuries knows that if you take shortcuts through the recovery process you are highly likely to re-injure the same area in the short-term. Itā€™s a trial match, please calm down.

Additionally, Manly have not named DCE, Turbo, Brooks, Olakauā€™atu. Penrith named a reserve grade team (assume most going to Vegas and being rested). Eels havenā€™t named Moses, Brown and probably others (I donā€™t know their team). The other teams have named mostly strong squads, but some players are still rested. We are also playing eels in round 2 so there may also be some strategical reasoning with selections, but thatā€™s just speculation.

Furthermore, a lot of people are concerned about Doueihi. To be fair he is like the 4th best half at the club so given Luai isnā€™t playing he kind of has to be in the line up unless you want Galvin and Fainu to play 80 minutes each. I heard a lot about Galvin and Latu not gelling well in the first trial so heā€™s probably there so they can play with Doueihi instead of each other for a period of time. Yeah I agree he (Doueihi) isnā€™t the greatest player and Iā€™d hope he spends the year playing reserve grade,but we have unlimited interchanges and we probably donā€™t want to burn Galvin and LFainu out, particularly as they are both likely to be in the round 1 team (Latu as 14).

To be honest most of these selections make sense to me from the information I know/can infer. With the injuries this is probably the strongest we can put out (yeah itā€™s not flattering but the missing 7 are mostly highly valuable players) and the better players from the first trial seem to have been rewarded with a second (Faataape, Kit, Hope).

Once again itā€™s just a trial so you guys shouldnā€™t get too worked up, but I do agree the lack of information from the club particularly around injuries is certainly frustrating.

Certain feeling footy fever starting to begin again. Canā€™t wait for Round 1 to come around. Letā€™s go Tigers!
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Brilliant post.

From memory Olam actually did his knee in last years trial which he carried and had to manage all season.

I want cohesion in the team but I also donā€™t want to rush rehab or see our best players injured in a trial match.

I think itā€™s worth noting Eels didnā€™t name their strongest lineup either so itā€™s not like either team will trot out this lineup for round 1.
 
How many times do we expect to see Doobie playing at 7 during the season?

FFS ā€¦ give last weeks invisible man Latu a go instead ā€¦try to get him some confidence ā€¦ he needs it
 
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I have thought about the selections and the late breaking news about Klemmer and although the AD selection came as a shock, given that he isnā€™t a noted game manager and has significant defensive issues, the selection has some merit.

Many, including myself, have been critical of ADā€™s performances, particularly in defence. However, he has experience as a 5/8 and has shown that he has versatility; not that he has performed well in any of the positions since his second ACL injury. He has shown that he can break the line; although he has not really shown the same level of strength since his latest return.

Having said that, his off season started after the Souths fiasco so he has had ample opportunity to work on his strength and conditioning, and the glaring deficiencies in his game, in preparation for this season. Many on here also supported his ambitions to Captain the club, so even though I donā€™t agree with the assessment that he is Captain material, he does have some leadership traits. I will give him this ā€“ AD has expressed a strong commitment to the team and, despite his overinflated opinion of himself, can play when his head is in the game.

He probably has the presence and definitely has the attitude to reel Galvin in a little and this may be all that is required to get a bit more balance into our attack. So, on reflection, and given this is a trial, we will get the opportunity to see if AD has learnt from his poor showing as a 5/8 and worked on his deficiencies. I expect that he will be suspect to an edge runner coming back against the grain as his lateral defence is poor; but he should be able to provide the inside pressure that we need. Maybe he will be a half in reggies working with Latu (I hope not ā€“ but this is Wests Tigers).

The Twal decision also concerned me; however, again, on reflection, I think this is a workable solution that has some merit. Many are concerned about Birdā€™s fragility. Having Twal play as a third prop in the middle through the opening 20 of the game may provide, a fit and fresh, Bird with real opportunities in the middle of the field. He has shown he can offload (and may have been working hard on this) and if he follows May and Hunt could pick up a few crumbs. He is definitely not going to set the world on fire ā€“ but also wonā€™t let us down. The more I think about it ā€“ the more I want to see how this combination works. We also may not wish to demonstrate how we will exploit the middle so Bird may also tuck it under his arm as Matamua did in the first trial.

It is a trial and Benji is experimenting ā€“ none of us armchair critics are down at training and understand how our players are developing. Bring on the Parrasites ā€“ Iā€™m now looking forward to it!
 
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Jolls said:
I have thought about the selections and the late breaking news about Klemmer and although the AD selection came as a shock, given that he isnā€™t a noted game manager and has significant defensive issues, the selection has some merit.

Many, including myself, have been critical of ADā€™s performances, particularly in defence. However, he has experience as a 5/8 and has shown that he has versatility; not that he has performed well in any of the positions since his second ACL injury. He has shown that he can break the line; although he has not really shown the same level of strength since his latest return.

Having said that, his off season started after the Souths fiasco so he has had ample opportunity to work on his strength and conditioning, and the glaring deficiencies in his game, in preparation for this season. Many on here also supported his ambitions to Captain the club, so even though I donā€™t agree with the assessment that he is Captain material, he does have some leadership traits. I will give him this ā€“ AD has expressed a strong commitment to the team and, despite his overinflated opinion of himself, can play when his head is in the game.

He probably has the presence and definitely has the attitude to reel Galvin in a little and this may be all that is required to get a bit more balance into our attack. So, on reflection, and given this is a trial, we will get the opportunity to see if AD has learnt from his poor showing as a 5/8 and worked on his deficiencies. I expect that he will be suspect to an edge runner coming back against the grain as his lateral defence is poor; but he should be able to provide the inside pressure that we need. Maybe he will be a half in reggies working with Latu (I hope not ā€“ but this is Wests Tigers).

The Twal decision also concerned me; however, again, on reflection, I think this is a workable solution that has some merit. Many are concerned about Birdā€™s fragility. Having Twal play as a third prop in the middle through the opening 20 of the game may provide, a fit and fresh, Bird with real opportunities in the middle of the field. He has shown he can offload (and may have been working hard on this) and if he follows May and Hunt could pick up a few crumbs. He is definitely not going to set the world on fire ā€“ but also wonā€™t let us down. The more I think about it ā€“ the more I want to see how this combination works. We also may not wish to demonstrate how we will exploit the middle so Bird may also tuck it under his arm as Matamua did in the first trial.

It is a trial and Benji is experimenting ā€“ none of us armchair critics are down at training and understand how our plyers are developing. Bring on the Parrasites ā€“ Iā€™m now looking forward to it!
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You don't win the Melbourne Cup in a Barrier Trial at Warwick Farm in February. It's won in the back straight from Chiquita Lodge when the pace quickens and the true stayers make their move. We haven't been in that position since 2005 and later in 2009 & 2010.
 
I'll be in the minority here, but i really like Twal starting at 13, IF the intention is to bring in bird at the 20. Twally, is so reliable in the middle will do so much clean up, then allows him to come off have a rest and get back into the prop rotation after that. Protects bird from the first 20, him and Hunt go on and Twal and Pole come off then Twal probably gives may a spell or Kit comes on.
Bench is looking a bit light without Klemmer so hopefully if he does go there is a replacement in mind
 
LeichhardtTiger said:
You don't win the Melbourne Cup in a Barrier Trial at Warwick Farm in February. It's won in the back straight from Chiquita Lodge when the pace quickens and the true stayers make their move. We haven't been in that position since 2005 and later in 2009 & 2010.
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You are on the money there - I was more concerned that we were wasting an opportunity to give developing players a run for the reason you outlined above. Our depth will be the telling factor at when we hit Chiquita Lodge; we need to develop them to give us the legs to come home strong.
 
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Jolls said:
So a bit to unpack here:
Luai - precaution with leg or we aren't showing our cards to Newcastle before round 1. So we have a plan to ambush them?
Taruva - return to playing protocols afte appendicitis - no issue there.
Bula - still in cotton wool after surgery
Olam - still in cotton wool after surgery or reinjured. How do we find out the facts here?
Klemmer - ????
AD at half? He has never shown the ability to control a game or pass well. We also can't hide him defensively on an edge either. This will really be a test our left edge. I assume Latu comes on for him and he shifts out to centre at some point. Will we see him at 13?????
Toa and Naden in the centres - Good to see; they get a chance to impress and cement a spot. I'm keen to see how they both play - Toa should be injury free and Naden a "rejuvinated' player.
Twal - at lock? mmm Let's see what he brings to the party - maybe he perfected 200 passes over the off season. I doubt we are going to be seeing too much ball playing off him.
Triston Hope - good call - I liked what he did on Sunday. He deserves to have a shot at cementing the backup 9 spot (assuming Api and TDS tag team this year)
Sione F - good to see him with another opportunity. I trsut he is being developed as an edge with Galvin.
Sukkar - probably at the last chance hotel.
Kit L - I want to see him as an edge in behind the Baby Giraffe and also as a lock in the mix with Bird. `Matamua's absence it telling.
As I indicated earlier this game is about structures and game plans so nothing to be too upset about. Interesting selections to say the least - but I don't expect that Benji is trying to replicate what others do. Ie he about to do a Warren Ryan and change the way the game is played? I guess time will tell.
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Lets be Frank. What's the difference btwn your thoughts and that of mainstream opinion? You require no subscription. I'll give you that.
 
AmericanHistoryX said:
Lets be Frank. What's the difference btwn your thoughts and that of mainstream opinion?
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They are my thoughts - I don't particularly care for mainstream opinion - if it is simlar or the same so be it. Just my assessment of where Benji is heading - I have reflected upon it and actually don't mind what he has done here. Not what I would have done - but he's an NRL coach and I played/coached park footy. Take it for what its worth.
 
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No no. I mean yes yes. 100%. Im with you. You do it and don't get paid. They do it and get paid. Im with you. In regard to Benji I balk to forecast for i am no fortune teller. Benji's done well in particular Recruitment. Better than Bennet, Bellamy, Gould or Cleary! A+ in that department. I mean there are no excuses now. Its on him. Lets see if he is a NRL coach that you are happy with.
 
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