Round 3 Team Prediction

[nrlsurvivor]

Team list Tuesday is almost a week away. How do we all think we should line up? This is my ideal squad. I’m breaking up our right side combo for better balance of attack/defence on each side of the field.

FB Doueihi
RW Thompson
RC Joey L
LC Mbye
LW Nofoaluma
FE Benji
HB Brooks
LK Taylor
RE Luciano L
LE Garner
F1 Twal
HK Grant
F2 Aloiai

B1 Mikaele
B2 Musgrove
B3 Lawrence
B4 Jennings

18-21
Chee Kam
Reynolds
Walters
O Clark

I know this will create a stir but I’m keeping Jennings on the bench as genuine cover if an outside back goes down (although tempted to put in Talau). It’s been the trend to include an outside back on the bench to cover for HIA’s. I don’t think Chee Kam can cover if one of our wingers goes down.

 

[Goldust]

Team list Tuesday is almost a week away. How do we all think we should line up? This is my ideal squad. I’m breaking up our right side combo for better balance of attack/defence on each side of the field.

FB Doueihi
RW Thompson
RC Joey L
LC Mbye
LW Nofoaluma
FE Benji
HB Brooks
LK Taylor
RE Luciano L
LE Garner
F1 Twal
HK Grant
F2 Aloiai

B1 Mikaele
B2 Musgrove
B3 Lawrence
B4 Jennings

18-21
Chee Kam
Reynolds
Walters
O Clark

I know this will create a stir but I’m keeping Jennings on the bench as genuine cover if an outside back goes down (although tempted to put in Talau). It’s been the trend to include an outside back on the bench to cover for HIA’s. I don’t think Chee Kam can cover if one of our wingers goes down.

That’s as good as our teams gets i reckon 🔥
Hopefully talau comes good as the year rolls on

 

[TheDaBoss]

Early team news for Round 3

Early team news for Round 3
Author
Dan Talintyre
Timestamp
Mon 18 May 2020, 05:50 PM

Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire will have some big decisions to make when he sits down next week to pick his side for the club's season opener against the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday, May 30.

With Luke Brooks, Moses Mbye and Thomas Mikaele all back in full team training, Maguire will have a plethora of new options available to him for selection, with all three likely to force their way in to the final 17-man squad one way or another.


Brooks' return at halfback is the most obvious selection where he will partner Benji Marshall in the halves, while co-captain Mbye appears destined for left centre — the position he was playing in during the final trial match against the Warriors.

In speaking with the media last week, Maguire indicated that Adam Doueihi would likely get first crack at fullback with Corey Thompson moving to the wing, although we'll to wait and see if that is official in next Tuesday's team list.

Maguire told reporters that "it's still open, but I want to see where Adam can take us as a fullback — that's part of the reason why I signed him. Corey is so competitive that he can slip there on the wing if need be."

Coaching Insider: Return to trainingCoaching Insider: Return to training
Coaching Insider: Return to trainingCoaching Insider: Return to training
If Thompson does take that left wing spot with Mbye at centre, all eyes will then be on the right edge where the combination of Joey Leilua and David Nofoaluma also appears most likely after time together in the trials and opening two rounds.

The return of Mikaele, the arrival of Shawn Blore and Russell Packer's return to fitness creates a welcome problem for Maguire in the forward pack with a number of players all gunning for spots in the 17-man squad.

The likes of Chris McQueen, Matt Eisenhuth and Oliver Clark all missed out against the Dragons and Knights to start the year, and potentially trying to add in new personnel in Blore and Packer will only make that forward battle more intriguing.

Harry Grant also stands to feature somewhere in the squad after Maguire gave the new arrival a glowing endorsement following his return to training last week.


"One thing I've spoken about a lot with this process of getting Harry is that playing hooker is a bit of an art," Maguire said. "It's about ruck speed and grabbing markers and rolling your forwards on to the ball, and when you've been doing that in the position for all of your career it's just a natural part of the habits.

"Harry has definitely got that and he's been behind someone at the top of his game in Cameron Smith as well as Brandon Smith too.

"He's pushing really hard for that dummy half spot — he's doing really well."

Shawn Blore on why he joined Wests TigersShawn Blore on why he joined Wests Tigers
Shawn Blore on why he joined Wests TigersShawn Blore on why he joined Wests Tigers
Whether Grant starts at hooker still remains to be seen, however, and it'll be interesting to see whether he is given full licence in the number nine jumper or instead splits time with Billy Walters or Josh Reynolds given his limited first-grade opportunities so far while with the Melbourne Storm.

It would appear unlikely that all three of Grant, Walters and Reynolds find their way in to the 17 due to their similar positions but there's certainly plenty of flexibility either way — making it a fascinating positional battle to keep an eye on next week.

Benji Marshall: Ready for the returnBenji Marshall: Ready for the return
Benji Marshall: Ready for the returnBenji Marshall: Ready for the return
For the Cronulla Sharks, Coach John Morris will likely welcome back Matt Moylan, Bronson Xerri, Briton Nikora and Josh Dugan from injury in Round 3 which will certainly lead to plenty of big decisions around the make-up of the Sharks backline.

Xerri is a straight swap for Josh Morris — who has officially linked up with brother Brett at the Roosters — while Dugan will potentially take the number one jumper from William Kennedy, although Moylan will more likely take that role. That could potentially leave Dugan on one wing outside Ramien with Ronaldo Mulitalo on the other wing outside Xerri — taking the place of Sione Katoa.

Both sides will officially name their teams for Round 1 at 4:00pm AEST on Tuesday, May 26 with the teams set to make their return to action on Saturday, May 30.

 

[happy_tiger]

We gotta fix those edge defences

I want to work out how to play Benji off the bench

 

[Harvey]

I think that is close to the mark. Front row and lock are probably the positions with the most uncertainty.

About the only selection I would question would be Jennings on the bench. That takes me to Sheenius days, I would think Reynolds or Walters (maybe MCK at a stretch) would likely be the bench utility.

 

[JC99]

1. Doueihi
2. Nofa
3. Joey L
4. Mbye
5. Thompson
6. Benji
7. Brooks
8. Aloiai
9. Grant
10. Twal
11. Garner
12. Luciano L
13. Taylor

14. Walters
15. Musgrove
16. Mikaele
17. Chee Kam

I feel this is the most balanced our squad can be, I have a feeling Lawrence will be picked over Chee Kam but I like having MCK on the bench as he can play centre if we get an injury to our back line. It’s definitely a lot stronger of a team compared to the first two rounds

 

[Russell]

Team list Tuesday is almost a week away. How do we all think we should line up? This is my ideal squad. I’m breaking up our right side combo for better balance of attack/defence on each side of the field.

FB Doueihi
RW Thompson
RC Joey L
LC Mbye
LW Nofoaluma
FE Benji
HB Brooks
LK Taylor
RE Luciano L
LE Garner
F1 Twal
HK Grant
F2 Aloiai

B1 Mikaele
B2 Musgrove
B3 Lawrence
B4 Jennings

18-21
Chee Kam
Reynolds
Walters
O Clark

I know this will create a stir but I’m keeping Jennings on the bench as genuine cover if an outside back goes down (although tempted to put in Talau). It’s been the trend to include an outside back on the bench to cover for HIA’s. I don’t think Chee Kam can cover if one of our wingers goes down.

Agree with your team - but you are kidding with Jennings. Would rather only field 16 players than play that guy.

 

[Guest]

I can't find room for Jennings when everyone is fit.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

like the team i would have Jennings in for Nofo

 

[gallagher]

like the team i would have Jennings in for Nofo

I'm not convinced Thommo is a certainty either.

 

[TheDaBoss]

I can't find room for Jennings when everyone is fit.

Same here

reserve for me

 

[WT2K]

like the team i would have Jennings in for Nofo

I'm not convinced Thommo is a certainty either.

Same

 

[JD Tiger]

Personally I'd like to upgrade Thommo and Nofa, with BJ becoming the weakest cog in our backline. For now, I'll take those two over Jennings.

But hoping Bradley or Scolari is a dark horse and has a standout year in First Grade.

 

[tiger_one]

But hoping Bradley or Scolari is a dark horse and has a standout year in First Grade.

Season 2020 will be so hard for all the Bradleys and the Scolaris - Canterbury Cup players, reserve graders - who have no comp to play in, no comp to show their development, no comp to regularly progress, improve and pressure First grade (except for injury).

 

[supercoach]

There will be a utility player on the bench and we have a truck load of them on our books, but Iam tipping Walters will get the nod. I doubt they would carry Walters and MCK, so Iam guessing Lawrence might get a run off the bench along with Musgrove and big Tom. 1 thru 13 is pretty inked in except maybe the 2 and 5

 

[TheDaBoss]

like the team i would have Jennings in for Nofo

I'm not convinced Thommo is a certainty either.

Same

Bradley > Jennings

 

[happy_tiger]

There will be a utility player on the bench and we have a truck load of them on our books, but Iam tipping Walters will get the nod. I doubt they would carry Walters and MCK, so Iam guessing Lawrence might get a run off the bench along with Musgrove and big Tom. 1 thru 13 is pretty inked in except maybe the 2 and 5

Does Benji's attack out weigh his defensive issues .....I'm serious abouting playing him in the 14 jersey

1 Thompson
6 Douehi
7 Brooks
9 Grant
14 Marshall

 

[JC99]

There will be a utility player on the bench and we have a truck load of them on our books, but Iam tipping Walters will get the nod. I doubt they would carry Walters and MCK, so Iam guessing Lawrence might get a run off the bench along with Musgrove and big Tom. 1 thru 13 is pretty inked in except maybe the 2 and 5

Does Benji's attack out weigh his defensive issues .....I'm serious abouting playing him in the 14 jersey

1 Thompson
6 Douehi
7 Brooks
9 Grant
14 Marshall

Benji on the bench means Thompson at fullback which is a big negative. Would prefer Doueihi there and Benji starting, sure his defence is bad but our spine overall is much stronger that way especially in attack.

 

[happy_tiger]

There will be a utility player on the bench and we have a truck load of them on our books, but Iam tipping Walters will get the nod. I doubt they would carry Walters and MCK, so Iam guessing Lawrence might get a run off the bench along with Musgrove and big Tom. 1 thru 13 is pretty inked in except maybe the 2 and 5

Does Benji's attack out weigh his defensive issues .....I'm serious abouting playing him in the 14 jersey

1 Thompson
6 Douehi
7 Brooks
9 Grant
14 Marshall

Benji on the bench means Thompson at fullback which is a big negative. Would prefer Doueihi there and Benji starting, sure his defence is bad but our spine overall is much stronger that way especially in attack.

Defence with the new rules is going to be so important

I just can't see our edges holding up if we lose the ruck and the middle collapses ...especially if we are continually giving up extra sets of six to bigger stronger teams

And the bigger issue will be teams could get the ball for 5,6 or even 7 minutes straight ...doesn't that scare every WT's supporter

 

[tiger_one]

There will be a utility player on the bench and we have a truck load of them on our books, but Iam tipping Walters will get the nod. I doubt they would carry Walters and MCK, so Iam guessing Lawrence might get a run off the bench along with Musgrove and big Tom. 1 thru 13 is pretty inked in except maybe the 2 and 5

Does Benji's attack out weigh his defensive issues .....I'm serious abouting playing him in the 14 jersey

1 Thompson
6 Douehi
7 Brooks
9 Grant
14 Marshall

Benji on the bench means Thompson at fullback which is a big negative. Would prefer Doueihi there and Benji starting, sure his defence is bad but our spine overall is much stronger that way especially in attack.

Defence with the new rules is going to be so important

I just can't see our edges holding up if we lose the ruck and the middle collapses ...especially if we are continually giving up extra sets of six to bigger stronger teams

And the bigger issue will be teams could get the ball for 5,6 or even 7 minutes straight ...doesn't that scare every WT's supporter

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It's a new life
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