TEAM LIST Round 2 vs. Knights

Team List
I watched every min of every game...call me a masochist 🙂

I agree AJ played well. I am just not sure a converted center, with about 120 mins of gametime in the backrow, will be up to the task defensively v a player of Ponga's class.

Second row is 'the' key defensive position in the modern game. Big ask, but I hope you are right.
Eh ponga is a bit of a myth nowdays
 
I watched every min of every game...call me a masochist 🙂

I agree AJ played well. I am just not sure a converted center, with about 120 mins of gametime in the backrow, will be up to the task defensively v a player of Ponga's class.

Second row is 'the' key defensive position in the modern game. Big ask, but I hope you are right.
I think AJ will be fine, it's the other two I'm worried about.
 
@Earl I hope you're right about Toa bud, like our spine barring Api, I have all our centres in one category and have labelled it "not quite good enough"

I'm not stating he is great but we have a bunch of guys who are young and close to being good NRL players. Tupou, Talau, To'a, Nadan and Kepaoa. I just think To'a out of all of them has performed the best in the top grade. Nadan mightn't be young but he is in the same bucket.

I'm hopeful one or two of them come good but atm they are all not quite good enough.
 
It doesn't all get pinned on him for me.

But a halfback is a large part of a clubs success as well. It goes both ways.

If we had Cooper Cronk, instead of Luke Brooks for example, our results would be vastly different. There is no argument here.
Vastly different--- i severely doubt it,
 
We'll probably make him look like Brett Kenny this sunday
If Sheens and co have any smarts at all they will make sure that Ponga is contained and they get the team to mark up,cut the handling errors and start playing smart rugby league...I know its only early days but gee we have a much better team than the last few years and we need them to win games with great football,lets not forget the main guys in the squad are highly experienced and paid professionals,lets see if they can perform to their paychecks....
 
I’m scratching my head re some of this Toa love, I can only assume some people think we’ve signed Brian Too. Toa played like 2 good games last year and then was generally atrocious. I actually saw the guy step out of the way of opposition players so he didn’t have to make a tackle. Last week for the magpies he looked over weight, there were a few line breaks made down his edge (shock) and on not one occasion did he turn and chase, just gave up on the play.

Kepaoa as a starting back rower is completely ridiculous. Playing in the forwards isn’t simply about being big and making meters with hit ups. Defending on an edge is extremely technical. He offers nothing with the ball but I would absolutely be starting Seyfarth there over AJ, his defence is solid.
 
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I think the centre pecking order is something like this:
1. Naden
2. Talau
3. Kepaoa
4. To'a

Given Kepaoa is now covering for Blore in second row and Bateman is MIA, it makes sense that To'a is there.

I'd like to see Tupou given a shot there, but I'm assuming Tupou has been training on the wing and To'a centre.
 
I’m scratching my head re some of this Toa love, I can only assume some people think we’ve signed Brian Too. Toa played like 2 good games last year and then was generally atrocious. I actually saw the guy step out of the way of opposition players so he didn’t have to make a tackle. Last week for the magpies he looked over weight, there were a few line breaks made down his edge (shock) and on not one occasion did he turn and chase, just gave up on the play.

Kepaoa as a starting back rower is completely ridiculous. Playing in the forwards isn’t simply about being big and making meters with hit ups. Defending on an edge is extremely technical. He offers nothing with the ball but I would absolutely be starting Seyfarth there over AJ, his defence is solid.

Completely agree re Toa. He is a terrible centre.

Jury still out regarding AJ in the backrow. I actually suggested it on here last year when we had so many injuries, so for me it's interesting. Personally I would have him right centre though.
 
If Sheens and co have any smarts at all they will make sure that Ponga is contained and they get the team to mark up,cut the handling errors and start playing smart rugby league...I know its only early days but gee we have a much better team than the last few years and we need them to win games with great football,lets not forget the main guys in the squad are highly experienced and paid professionals,lets see if they can perform to their paychecks....
Papalii is going to be so important ...and his centre will be even more important ...reading Ponga little skip to the outside and then the explosive speed of the mark is crucial ...gotta cut down his time to act /think/move
 
I think the centre pecking order is something like this:
1. Naden
2. Talau
3. Kepaoa
4. To'a

Given Kepaoa is now covering for Blore in second row and Bateman is MIA, it makes sense that To'a is there.

I'd like to see Tupou given a shot there, but I'm assuming Tupou has been training on the wing and To'a centre.
I only really know Naden... None of the others really stand out to me they're that average
 
I watched every min of every game...call me a masochist 🙂

I agree AJ played well. I am just not sure a converted center, with about 120 mins of gametime in the backrow, will be up to the task defensively v a player of Ponga's class.

Second row is 'the' key defensive position in the modern game. Big ask, but I hope you are right.
Simples, play AJ at centre. Bring matumala or tumeth onto the bench!
 
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