The halves problem

[clontarfkid]

No chance Latu starts in the NRL next week against the Warriors … for what reason ? Are they winning that game …? Very unlikely I would think, and He hasn’t played in months …give him a chance to find his feet against some lesser opposition in NSW Cup first up

I’ve been one of his biggest supporters, …but the harsh reality is that he has managed to play only a handful of 80 minute games since he has been here… Im going to need to see him to do it for a few months first, because he hasn’t been able to so far .,

I’m actually a bit more upbeat about Maddens prospects based on his trial form and he seems a much better player with a stronger kicking game than when he was first with us

If Latu is fit ...he plays regardless of the opposition
Were paying him $500k ..he needs to step up if hes available as theres nobody else close to being ready
Good luck young man

 

[Tom Shines]

Obviously Jock Madden plays 7 which could be a positive and it will be either Latu Fainu or Javon Andrews at 6.
Even if Latu is fit to play, we will still need Javon on the bench in case he runs out of steam in his first game back in a long while.
Api is a disaster in the halves.

I can see obvious reasons why neither Latu or Javon play this game … Latu hasn’t played a game in 6 months and I’m not sure Javon is ready

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Obviously Jock Madden plays 7 which could be a positive and it will be either Latu Fainu or Javon Andrews at 6.
Even if Latu is fit to play, we will still need Javon on the bench in case he runs out of steam in his first game back in a long while.
Api is a disaster in the halves.

Isn’t Latu still out for another couple of weeks

 

[Tom Shines]

If Latu is fit ...he plays regardless of the opposition
Were paying him $500k ..he needs to step up if hes available as theres nobody else close to being ready
Good luck young man

I don’t think it happens ….not after zero games in the last 6 months and his history …I’ll buy you a beer next time I see you if you are correct

 

[wstigers11]

Isn’t Latu still out for another couple of weeks

Benji said might be good to go has been doing full contact at training

 

[clontarfkid]

I don’t think it happens ….not after zero games in the last 6 months and his history …I’ll buy you a beer next time I see you if you are correct

There are just no viable alternatives..so its him or....well..nobody actually
Dont move Api out of 9..hes close to our best player,and Hope under scrutiny is ordinary

 

[Vicious]

I can see obvious reasons why neither Latu or Javon play this game … Latu hasn’t played a game in 6 months and I’m not sure Javon is ready

We have no other choices.
Ideally Latu should be eased back into it by either playing NSW Cup or limited minutes off the bench and ideally Javon needs much more time playing NSW Cup, but regardless they are far better options than Api in the halves.
I can’t see this happening, but another option is getting an exemption to play someone outside of the top 30 due to injuries and playing Ben Stevanovic at 5/8.
He was very sharp and direct in our losing NSW Cup team yesterday.
You could see Javon’s class, but if you were purely selecting on who played the better game yesterday it would be Ben Stevanovic.
If this was to happen I’m highly confident he would be ready and up for the challenge.

 

[Suzie-Q]

There are just no viable alternatives..so its him or....well..nobody actually
Dont move Api out of 9..hes close to our best player,and Hope under scrutiny is ordinary

I really hope Benji does not move Api from 9. We've seen how that goes too many times.

 

[Tom Shines]

There are just no viable alternatives..so its him or....well..nobody actually
Dont move Api out of 9..hes close to our best player,and Hope under scrutiny is ordinary

Well,,there is Andrews..,but im not keen on him either …

Benji loves him some Mason doesn’t he?

 

[Tom Shines]

We have no other choices.
Ideally Latu should be eased back into it by either playing NSW Cup or limited minutes off the bench and ideally Javon needs much more time playing NSW Cup, but regardless they are far better options than Api in the halves.
This won’t happen but another option is getting an exemption tj play someone outside of the top 30 due to injuries and playing Ben Stevanovic at 5/8.
He was very sharp and direct in our losing NSW Cup team yesterday.
You could see Javon’s class, but if you were purely selecting on who played the better game yesterday it would be Ben Stevanovic.
If this was to happen I’m highly confident he would be ready and up for the challenge.

Mason… Benji’s proven go to

 

[Vicious]

Isn’t Latu still out for another couple of weeks

Benji said he’s been doing full contact training and is a realistic possibility to play next week.

 

[Tom Shines]

Benji said he’s been doing full contact training and is a realistic possibility to play next week.

Likely on the bench it at all

 

[Vicious]

Mason… Benji’s proven go to

I’m s fan of Heath Mason and his future potential, but he looked like a fish out of water playing in the halves last season.
Api also looks like a fish out of water whenever he plays in the halves.
The more I think about it I would be more than happy and confident in playing Jock Madden at 7 and Ben Stevanovic at 6, then have Latu Fainu if fit to play, otherwise Javon Andrews on the bench.

 

[Tom Shines]

I’m s fan of Heath Mason and his future potential, but he looked like a fish out of water playing in the halves last season.
The more I think about it I would be more than happy and confident in playing Jock Madden at 7 and Ben Stevanovic at 6, then have Latu Fainu if fit to play, otherwise Javon Andrews on the bench.

Mate …Mason has looked like a fish out of water wherever he has played … I am not a fan…but Benji seems to love the bloke and has used him a number of time in the past

 

[Vicious]

Mate …Mason has looked like a fish out of water wherever he has played … I am not a fan…but Benji seems to love the bloke and has used him a number of time in the past

He at least hits top speed quickly, breaks tackles because of it and is some attacking threat with ball in hand, but he is no good in the halves.

 

[clontarfkid]

Mason… Benji’s proven go to

Cld u imagine Mason and Madden together in the halves..coupled with a rookie centres pairing?
Think thw Warriors wld have to declare once they reach triple figures!
Seperatey.Herrbet needs to come in as a specialist centre..this is exactly the situation which we bought him for..if we dont play him there was no point buying him,and the others have failed
Wld persevere with Makisini in the centres as we know he will grow with experience
Skelton on the bench...wish I cld put Bula with him tbh

 

[innsaneink]

Do NOT, under any circumstances, move Api from hooker to replace with Hope. That would be an abject failure. His service is a definitional handbrake. He's needed in the 19 until Haywood can deputise, but small minutes only as required.

Bring Latu straight back in at 6, Jock starts at 7 and hand Andrews a squad debut at no. 14 to play Jock's role of the past two weeks.

Everything else stays pretty much the same.

Tested early in the season.

Might be the making of them...

Im not saying my OP is what I want its what I think Benji may go with....he didnt sound really confident last night when asked about Latu Fainu, maybe keeping his cards close or more than likely just being non commital until they know more on the injuries

 

[Tom Shines]

Cld u imagine Mason and Madden together in the halves..coupled with a rookie centres pairing?
Think thw Warriors wld have to declare once they reach triple figures!
Seperatey.Herrbet needs to come in as a specialist centre..this is exactly the situation which we bought him for..if we dont play him there was no point buying him,and the others have failed
Wld persevere with Makisini in the centres as we know he will grow with experience
Skelton on the bench...wish I cld put Bula with him tbh

I can’t imagine them winning this game regardless of who they put in to be completely honest …

Herbert is a good idea and someone I had forgotten about ,,. You have to use him this week..otherwise why would you even bother to sign him…things don’t come much more desperate … I wouldnt mind another look at Maka on the wing … but that might not be possible

 

[innsaneink]

No chance Latu starts in the NRL next week against the Warriors … for what reason ? Are they winning that game …? Very unlikely I would think, and He hasn’t played in months …give him a chance to find his feet against some lesser opposition in NSW Cup first up

I’ve been one of his biggest supporters, …but the harsh reality is that he has managed to play only a handful of 80 minute games since he has been here… Im going to need to see him to do it for a few months first, because he hasn’t been able to so far .,

I’m actually a bit more upbeat about Maddens prospects based on his trial form and he seems a much better player with a stronger kicking game than when he was first with us

Agree...itd really be throwing him to the wolves

 

[Tom Shines]

Im not saying my OP is what I want its what I think Benji may go with....he didnt sound really confident last night when asked about Latu Fainu, maybe keeping his cards close or more than likely just being non commital until they know more on the injuries

But Latu is full contact at training apparently …😂…. I mean how would you even be picked otherwise ….its like saying he has two legs…

The question for me is whether they want to risk him starting this game first up after a six month absence … given his history i would prefer to bring him back via NSW Cup, although perhaps the bench could be on the cards