Team round 1

Staines/Tupou will be an absolute coin flip for round 1 if Ken is ruled out.

I think Staines has a slighter advantage over Tupou. Has the ‘x factor’ and size but Staines has been very good over the past two trials and was really strong on carries, plus has greater experience.
Yeah, I think Staines gets it. But more so because he can cover a spine position.

But tupou will be knocking very loudly. He'll be straight in if there is even the slightest niggle with one of the wingers.
 
FB, wing & centre spots still well & truly up for grabs in my opinion. But I’ll have a crack:

1. Staines
2. Nofo
3. Talau
4. Naden
5. Tupou
6. AD
7. Brooks
8. Klemmer
9. Api
10. Stefano
11. Papalii
12. Blore
13. Joffa

14. Simpkin
15. Twal
16. Pole
17. Bateman
 
I'm just happy a few players have nailed their spot. Some of these players were still iffy to me but Laurie,Naden and Douhie have nailed their spot. Makes it better not to have to worry about that position for now.
 
Good side

FB, wing & centre spots still well & truly up for grabs in my opinion. But I’ll have a crack:

1. Staines
2. Nofo
3. Talau
4. Naden
5. Tupou
6. AD
7. Brooks
8. Klemmer
9. Api
10. Stefano
11. Papalii
12. Blore
13. Joffa

14. Simpkin
15. Twal
16. Pole
17.
I think Talau will get the nod over AJ and Joffa a bench forward. But can’t nail down an alternative 13, at present.
 
best 13 has nofo out, but lets be honest, that's a decision we know they won't enforce..
Couldn't agree more.

I'm at:

1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Naden
4. Talau
5. Tupou
6. Douiehi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Api
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Kepaoa
13. Ofahengaue

14. Simpkin
15. Pole
16. Twal
17. Bateman

Blore is a hard miss here, placed simply due to his limited minutes in the preseason, as per Bateman, but Bateman simply will not play Cup. Kepaoa's versatility showed yesterday that he is more than up to the task of being a placeholder for one of, if not both of those men in the 17.

He's really looked impressive and dynamic this off season in my opinion.
 
Yeah, I think Staines gets it. But more so because he can cover a spine position.

But tupou will be knocking very loudly. He'll be straight in if there is even the slightest niggle with one of the wingers.
I think the fact tupou can get high edges him over Staines in our squad, brooks has basically mastered attacking kicks to the wing (alot of ken's tries were from them) and it would be a shame to not have a winger capable of taking advantage of it
 
1. Laurie
2. Stains
3. Naden
4. Talau
5. Nofoaluma
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Klemmer
9. Koroisau (c)
10. Utoikamanu
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue

14. Simpkin
15.Twal
16. Bateman
17.pole
If we play like today I could see us going 4-1 to start the season with the loss being against the Storm.
…… and if Titans bring yesterdays Raiders form with them.
 
I like that we have Seyfarth, Tumeth, Matamua and James playing reserves. All could develop into regular first graders from what I've seen, but they're not there just yet.
 
Round 1
1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Naden
4. Talau
5. Staines/Tupou (genuinely not sure which way they go here)
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau (c)
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue

14. Simpkin
15. Twal
16. Bateman
17. Pole
Man, tough when AJ misses out after that game. You could potentially see him take the place of Bateman for the first round or two.
 
Round 1
1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Naden
4. Talau
5. Staines/Tupou (genuinely not sure which way they go here)
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau (c)
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue

14. Simpkin
15. Twal
16. Bateman
17. Pole

Pretty much what you would expect and i'd have Tupou just over CS.

The only unknown is if Api is out, Simpkin to start and need a rotation for hooker. That's when I think we will see some Sheenius:

Laurie to 7 Staines to 1 brooks to 9 while simpkins is rested. Pole to drop off the bench for CS. Perfect.
 
Pretty much what you would expect and i'd have Tupou just over CS.

The only unknown is if Api is out, Simpkin to start and need a rotation for hooker. That's when I think we will see some Sheenius:

Laurie to 7 Staines to 1 brooks to 9 while simpkins is rested. Pole to drop off the bench for CS. Perfect.
Sheens said he's pretty sure Api will play, but if he is out I think we'll see Simpkin starting and Staines come onto the bench (with Staines there as a precaution to possibly do the reshuffle you mentioned if Simpkin can't push out the 80 minutes).
 
Pretty much what you would expect and i'd have Tupou just over CS.

The only unknown is if Api is out, Simpkin to start and need a rotation for hooker. That's when I think we will see some Sheenius:

Laurie to 7 Staines to 1 brooks to 9 while simpkins is rested. Pole to drop off the bench for CS. Perfect.
NOOOOOOOOO! Brooks is F'ing hopeless at 9. Hooker is a specialist position and if you think Brooks can't guide us around the park at 7 you now want him to make critical decisions at 9.

Maybe - just maybe if he trained all off season at 9 would that make any sense.

May as well throw Daino in for Klem - similar result!
 
Round 1
1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Naden
4. Talau
5. Staines/Tupou (genuinely not sure which way they go here)
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau (c)
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue

14. Simpkin
15. Twal
16. Bateman
17. Pole
This is the most likely and strongest side we can put in front of the Titans. Will be a close game I think.
 
NOOOOOOOOO! Brooks is F'ing hopeless at 9. Hooker is a specialist position and if you think Brooks can't guide us around the park at 7 you now want him to make critical decisions at 9.

Maybe - just maybe if he trained all off season at 9 would that make any sense.

May as well throw Daino in for Klem - similar result!


I'm just guessing at what we could see. Hopefully Api is fine.
 
If Laurie is fullback and Stained the L wing, the smart kickers would keep kicking out behind Nofoaluma since he has the turning circle of a truck. Then you back it up with Stained/Laurie who both get dominated easily when they don't have space. Id be using Staines at a backup fullback and backup winger. Hope Maumalo is fit.
 
1. Laurie
2. Stains
3. Naden
4. Talau
5. Nofoaluma
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Klemmer
9. Koroisau (c)
10. Utoikamanu
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue

14. Simpkin
15.Twal
16. Bateman
17.pole
If we play like today I could see us going 4-1 to start the season with the loss being against the Storm.
After seeing the Titans go around I wouldn't be all that confident about round 1.
 
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