TEAM LIST Round 3 vs Rabbitohs

[Fish88]

Has Skelton ever played centre before? Im nervous about it. KPP seems a good defender, he will have his work cut out for him.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

Has Skelton ever played centre before? Im nervous about it. KPP seems a good defender, he will have his work cut out for him.

Jeral's biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. He loves to JAM the attacker and rushes out of the line, he is either going to pull off a "Steve Matai" bone rattler on Trell Mit that will be our highlight reel for Vegas next year, or he is going to leave his winger in no mans land by himself to defend a three on one !!! Ill happily take the first result !!!

Going to really love it if Skelton gets under the rib cage of Latrell and sends him into tomorrow!

 

[mtd#2]

Has Skelton ever played centre before? Im nervous about it. KPP seems a good defender, he will have his work cut out for him.

I am convinced its a smokescreen.

 

[gregjm87]

I am positive this year they changed it he can play from round 1

No, the changes were for development players only. T and T can play but only with NRL permission. That permission is only granted when top 30 players of the same position aren't available. So extended squad would make sense as if we were to lose a 3rd centre you would think permission could be sought and likely granted.

 

[Jolls]

Has Skelton ever played centre before? Im nervous about it. KPP seems a good defender, he will have his work cut out for him.

Ihad to do some digging and used chat gpt to pull it all together but it looks like he came through the junior grades as a centre before switching to Union and then came back into KoE as a centre before shifting to the wing. So in short NRL experience is zero - but he has experience in the position overall - just not much. Detail from Chatgpt below:

🧒 Junior & Early Development (Rugby League → Rugby Union)​

🏉 Junior club football​

• Played junior rugby league in Queensland (Redcliffe area)
• Junior club: Wests Rugby / Wests Bulldogs (RU)

👉 Positions (junior phase):

• Primarily an outside back
• Likely mix of:
  
  • Centre
  • Wing
    

There’s no formal stat breakdown, but all evidence points to him being developed as a strike outside back rather than a spine player or forward.

🔄 Teen Years → Switch to Rugby Union (Key for Position Insight)​

Australia Rugby Sevens (2017–2020)​

• Selected in Australian Sevens program

👉 Positions in Sevens:

• Wing / edge runner
• Occasionally roaming outside back

💡 Important insight:
Sevens players are position-fluid, but his role was:

• Speed + power carry
• Edge finisher
  → Reinforces wing/centre profile

🏉 Super Rugby – Melbourne Rebels (2020–2022)​

• Played limited games but listed as:
  
  • Centre
  • Back-row (flanker)

🔁 Return to Rugby League Pathway​

🐶 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (NSW Cup → NRL)​

• NSW Cup before debut

👉 Positions:

• Centre (NSW Cup) → explicitly noted
• Transitioned to wing at NRL level
  

 

[Tigerwould]

Ihad to do some digging and used chat gpt to pull it all together but it looks like he came through the junior grades as a centre before switching to Union and then came back into KoE as a centre before shifting to the wing. So in short NRL experience is zero - but he has experience in the position overall - just not much. Detail from Chatgpt below:

🧒 Junior & Early Development (Rugby League → Rugby Union)​

🏉 Junior club football​

• Played junior rugby league in Queensland (Redcliffe area)
• Junior club: Wests Rugby / Wests Bulldogs (RU)

👉 Positions (junior phase):

• Primarily an outside back
• Likely mix of:
  • Centre
  • Wing

There’s no formal stat breakdown, but all evidence points to him being developed as a strike outside back rather than a spine player or forward.

🔄 Teen Years → Switch to Rugby Union (Key for Position Insight)​

Australia Rugby Sevens (2017–2020)​

• Selected in Australian Sevens program

👉 Positions in Sevens:

• Wing / edge runner
• Occasionally roaming outside back

💡 Important insight:
Sevens players are position-fluid, but his role was:

• Speed + power carry
• Edge finisher
  → Reinforces wing/centre profile

🏉 Super Rugby – Melbourne Rebels (2020–2022)​

• Played limited games but listed as:
  • Centre
  • Back-row (flanker)

🔁 Return to Rugby League Pathway​

🐶 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (NSW Cup → NRL)​

• NSW Cup before debut

👉 Positions:

• Centre (NSW Cup) → explicitly noted
• Transitioned to wing at NRL level

sounds like he played a fair bit of centre before making NRL level. finger crossed, tough backline to come up against if he gets a go. really hopes he goes as we, suddenly we are really lacking in the centres

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I am convinced its a smokescreen.

I agree. Benji puts trust in players and I reckon he'll put trust in Turuva at right centre. Turuva is no muppet.

 

[mtd#2]

I agree. Benji puts trust in players and I reckon he'll put trust in Turuva at right centre. Turuva is no muppet.

As long as its Maka or Turuva, I think itll be the right choice.

 

[weststigers]

I understand the line of thought, but you could then say why play an 18 year old in the nrl at all if we want to protect him?

Maka is 192cm and 105kg..
Latrell is 193cm and 105kg..

Maka is the best person in our squad to be lining up against latrell. Hes already playing nrl. Theres no "protecting him" because of his age. That went out the window the moment he played wing for us taking hit ups in the middle of the field against the forwards who are bigger that latrell.

What is the worst that happens? Latrell schools him. Maka uses it as a development opportunity to improve his game.

Whats the best that can happen? He goes toe to toe with latrell..

It would he idiotic to put turuva or skelton against latrell imo.. maka is the person we need to step up.

The only thing is Latrell is a filth rag and will be bullying him all game. Is his confidence up to it?

The kid is still in awe of the coach and his teammates so coming up against Latrell before he's settled in to NRL could be a unnecessary test at this stage in his career.

Not sure how I feel about it.

 

[TigerNeddyK]

The only thing is Latrell is a filth rag and will be bullying him all game. Is his confidence up to it?

The kid is still in awe of the coach and his teammates so coming up against Latrell before he's settled in to NRL could be a unnecessary test at this stage in his career.

Not sure how I feel about it.

Tim brasher marked Mal Meninga in a grand final when he was 17, Makka will be fine ! 😉

 

[EllisFan]

I think Turuva at centre in D. He will definitely be the more talkative one out there and overcommunicating.

Skelton can be used at centre in attack to just run a straight hard line with KPP either wrapping around or running an unders line with him. Then it's on Douehi to pick the right option.

Centre, especially R centre is the most important defensive position against Bunnies. If these guys don't aim up, Walker will open up the flood gates to a 50 point scoreline.

I think Turuva is the best bet. His defensive technique is not good but he’s all energy. Get him moving up fast, hitting Latrell early with everything he’s got and Latrell will probably get sick of the sight of him.

No doubt he’ll get shrugged off a few times so he’ll need numbers in support. I’d be shifting our defensive numbers right and daring the Bunnies to go the other way.

 

[old_man_tiger]

Easier for skelton to blindside fatrell from wing.