Round 1 Team

[the_third]

its like a preseason training field stouch in here. haha

 

[The_Patriot]

We need a great year from the 7 or we are just making up the numbers again

First and foremost we need a great year from our pack. It's essential that we are able to roll up the field and contain the opposition's go forward. We need field position and our share of the ball. Without that foundation, the best halves in the game wont get us into the 8.

It will matter nothing if the halves don't take their opportunities.

It's a balance but in the end good halves can get you there if your pack is just ok. Ask South's

 

[The_Patriot]

We need a great year from the 7 or we are just making up the numbers again

First and foremost we need a great year from our pack. It's essential that we are able to roll up the field and contain the opposition's go forward. We need field position and our share of the ball. Without that foundation, the best halves in the game wont get us into the 8.

Exactly! We need a hooker who can take our forwards up the high diddle diddle and just like a chess game, control the centre.

Hey diddle diddle his name is Liddle

 

[The_Patriot]

We need a great year from the 7 or we are just making up the numbers again

First and foremost we need a great year from our pack. It's essential that we are able to roll up the field and contain the opposition's go forward. We need field position and our share of the ball. Without that foundation, the best halves in the game wont get us into the 8.

Field position also goes down to the halves. Of course forwards need to roll up the middle but if your halves can't put a good kick in and get you down the other end of the field it's pointless. All the best halfbacks on the game can find the grass in the corner of the field and turn momentum, brooks rarely finds the turf with his kicks and gives up a good 20-30 metres to the opposition.

Getting repeat sets are important too to build pressure and maintain field position and brooks is normally good at that but struggled last year with it

Absolutely. That's what the Brooks apologists forget

 

[JC99]

We need a great year from the 7 or we are just making up the numbers again

First and foremost we need a great year from our pack. It's essential that we are able to roll up the field and contain the opposition's go forward. We need field position and our share of the ball. Without that foundation, the best halves in the game wont get us into the 8.

Field position also goes down to the halves. Of course forwards need to roll up the middle but if your halves can't put a good kick in and get you down the other end of the field it's pointless. All the best halfbacks on the game can find the grass in the corner of the field and turn momentum, brooks rarely finds the turf with his kicks and gives up a good 20-30 metres to the opposition.

Getting repeat sets are important too to build pressure and maintain field position and brooks is normally good at that but struggled last year with it

Absolutely. That's what the Brooks apologists forget

Field position is what wins you games nowadays and it's something we struggle with, comes down to defence metres up the middle and kicking game, and we suck at all three.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Tukis debut for us becoming a very near thing with blore out nearly 8 rounds

 

[JC99]

Tuki surely gets a debut if he performs in this weeks trial.

 

[kiwitiger]

We all have to agree that this has been a great off season recruitment wise..The hooker position is Liddles to lose in my opinion,he has an opportunity to show his undeniable skills within the role as long as he is injury free..
Mbye will be our fb as he has been training there all off season and no captaining responsibilities or injuries will allow him to play the way he did when he first played for us in 2018,I think he will have a much better year...
Madden,Laurie and many other young talented guys may be a little way off NRL selection,they will need time and games under their belts in CC this year..
If you look at the big picture,you can see why the club has extened Madge,he has quality young guys coming up and experienced NRL players to mentor them as they go along..
Madge will get us in the finals and establish a culture that is completely the opposite of what we the fans have seen for many years,it just takes time and hard work...none of us can doubt the integrity and passion that Madge has displayed while on this journey...he deserves a shot and much support from us...

I agree that the recruitment this offseason has been really, really good. But I think a lot of the credit for that needs to go to Hartigan. Since he joined in Mid 2019 we've added AD, Tamou, Roberts, Luciano, Ofahengaue, Musgrove, Blore, Laurie, Simpkin, Simpkins, Stefano, BJ and AJ. We've also managed to move on Reynolds.

Prior to him arriving we signed Jennings and were looking to sign Mannah.

Also I think Laurie is absolutely ready for NRL.

The big thing for me is that everyone that's left has been replaced with someone who's better or who has way more potential. Sure they're not star players but it's a consistent upgrade of the overall squad

Our lineup this year is substantially better than last year imo, and 2022 should be much better again. We're not in a position to be pushing for a premiership, but we need drastic improvement this year.

If our new signings all perform there's no reason we couldn't sneak into the 8. Biggest issues are defence and whether our new spine will work.

This is why I think we will miss the 8. If everything goes well we will scrap in to the 8. Other teams think if everyone goes well we'll finish top 4. Good teams don't aim for 8 ina 16 team comp.

 

[Geo]

Before the trial team is named..

1 Daine Laurie
2 David Nofoaluma
3 Joey Leilua
4 James Roberts
5 Tommy Talau

6 Jock Madden
7 Luke Brooks

8 Joe Ofahengaue
9 Jacob Liddle
10 James Tamou
11 Luke Garner
12 Luciano Leilua
13 Alex Twal

14 Jake Simpkin
15 Russell Packer
16 Thomas Mikaele
17 Stefano Utoikamanu..

 

[Dallas]

Before the trial team is named..

1 Daine Laurie
2 David Nofoaluma
3 Joey Leilua
4 James Roberts
5 Tommy Talau

6 Jock Madden
7 Luke Brooks

8 Joe Ofahengaue
9 Jacob Liddle
10 James Tamou
11 Luke Garner
12 Luciano Leilua
13 Alex Twal

14 Jake Simpkin
15 Russell Packer
16 Thomas Mikaele
17 Stefano Utoikamanu..

I think Tuki will be there instead of Packer and Mbye instead of Jake Simpkin.

 

[JC99]

Interesting to hear Jimmy Tamou say the round 1 team is pretty close to being set except the hooker position on the radio today. Said they're not as close to picking their starting hooker as they'd like to be

 

[avocadoontoast]

Interesting to hear Jimmy Tamou say the round 1 team is pretty close to being set except the hooker position on the radio today. Said they're not as close to picking their starting hooker as they'd like to be

can someone please check on @Russell

 

[Fraze23]

Interesting to hear Jimmy Tamou say the round 1 team is pretty close to being set except the hooker position on the radio today. Said they're not as close to picking their starting hooker as they'd like to be

I wouldn't be surprised to see Simpkin start with Liddle on the bench. It'll be interesting to see which way Madge goes this week against Manly. Either way I think both Liddle and Simpkin will be in the side for round 1.

 

[JC99]

Interesting to hear Jimmy Tamou say the round 1 team is pretty close to being set except the hooker position on the radio today. Said they're not as close to picking their starting hooker as they'd like to be

I wouldn't be surprised to see Simpkin start with Liddle on the bench. It'll be interesting to see which way Madge goes this week against Manly. Either way I think both Liddle and Simpkin will be in the side for round 1.

Agreed mate. Could go either way and they'll probably play similar minutes

 

[WT2K]

Interesting to hear Jimmy Tamou say the round 1 team is pretty close to being set except the hooker position on the radio today. Said they're not as close to picking their starting hooker as they'd like to be

Delete before Russell sees the post

 

[jrtiger]

Interesting to hear Jimmy Tamou say the round 1 team is pretty close to being set except the hooker position on the radio today. Said they're not as close to picking their starting hooker as they'd like to be

got a link to the interview?

 

[jrtiger]

slightly disappointed that at this point it looks as if Kepaoa has been overlooked for the left wing spot over Talau. Talau is obviously at the stage where he needs consistent first grade in order to improve, but he's a centre. Kepaoa on the other hand is a bit pacier and good in the air and looks a more natural fit on the flank.

 

[BearComplex]

We all have to agree that this has been a great off season recruitment wise..The hooker position is Liddles to lose in my opinion,he has an opportunity to show his undeniable skills within the role as long as he is injury free..
Mbye will be our fb as he has been training there all off season and no captaining responsibilities or injuries will allow him to play the way he did when he first played for us in 2018,I think he will have a much better year...
Madden,Laurie and many other young talented guys may be a little way off NRL selection,they will need time and games under their belts in CC this year..
If you look at the big picture,you can see why the club has extened Madge,he has quality young guys coming up and experienced NRL players to mentor them as they go along..
Madge will get us in the finals and establish a culture that is completely the opposite of what we the fans have seen for many years,it just takes time and hard work...none of us can doubt the integrity and passion that Madge has displayed while on this journey...he deserves a shot and much support from us...

I agree that the recruitment this offseason has been really, really good. But I think a lot of the credit for that needs to go to Hartigan. Since he joined in Mid 2019 we've added AD, Tamou, Roberts, Luciano, Ofahengaue, Musgrove, Blore, Laurie, Simpkin, Simpkins, Stefano, BJ and AJ. We've also managed to move on Reynolds.

Prior to him arriving we signed Jennings and were looking to sign Mannah.

Also I think Laurie is absolutely ready for NRL.

Well when you put it like that. Mumma Mia...... Hartigan the unsung hero!
Props to who ever got Hartigan over here :+1:

 

[avocadoontoast]

slightly disappointed that at this point it looks as if Kepaoa has been overlooked for the left wing spot over Talau. Talau is obviously at the stage where he needs consistent first grade in order to improve, but he's a centre. Kepaoa on the other hand is a bit pacier and good in the air and looks a more natural fit on the flank.

Not necessarily, perhaps he’ll be named starting winger for this weeks trial.

 

[Fraze23]

slightly disappointed that at this point it looks as if Kepaoa has been overlooked for the left wing spot over Talau. Talau is obviously at the stage where he needs consistent first grade in order to improve, but he's a centre. Kepaoa on the other hand is a bit pacier and good in the air and looks a more natural fit on the flank.

Not necessarily, perhaps he’ll be named starting winger for this weeks trial.

I think this is the case. I think not being named in the first trial indicates that he is in pole position for a wing spot.