The Returns of Gibbs, Tuqiri and Ellis

[TheDen]

Expect strong performances from the likes of Mitch Brown and Aaron Woods this week as troops in their positions start to return. Apologies if this thread has been done to death somewhere else.

With Gibbs expected back this week looks like Al Schirnack or Ben Murdoch-Masila may make way. I expect it to be Murdoch-Masila to get some match fitness by playing more game time in the 20's

Ellis will be a straight swap for Shirnack with Dwyer, Heighington and despite the arguments from plenty on here Fulton no chance of being dropped.

Lote walks straight back on to his wing which means Brown, Moltzen and Ryan are locked in a battle for a centre spot and a place on the bench. I don't see Moltzen being dropped and expect Sheens to leave him at centre which means Brown or Ryan on the bench. I'd definitely go Brown but I think Sheens will stick with Ryan.

So imo I think Sheens will pick the following side in the coming weeks (Payten and Lawrence were not considered)
1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Moltzen
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Dwyer
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Ryan
15.Fifita
16.Fulton
17.Woods

Like most people I would have Brown in the centres and Moltzen on the bench with Ryan back to State Cup

Anyway my point is that the side is starting to strengthen and competition for spots will only be a good thing for the side. Of course depending on what Sheens does. Definitely very keen to see how Murdoch-Masila progresses over the next few weeks.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

 

[851]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

I would too,but Sheens is no chance of picking a strong side like that.

 

[underdog]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

brilliant side CB,

Sheens always has a back on the bench, since the tuaiaki/ryan double injury against parra in 2009 - however with Fulton and possibly dwyer having all the makings of an emergency centre, and both wingers can be replaced by the current centres, I fully believe that team could work.

 

[Spartan117]

Either way we should be delivering better results than what we as fans have been forced to endure so far in 2011.

This is a better than average roster

 

[Centaur]

Sheens will always carry one back on the bench - this he has made quite clear.

 

[everett]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

Could not agree more with your side. Moltzen and Ryan should be no where near the NRL side once everyone is back.

love to see 4 forwards on the bench and given decent game time.

We must have some of the best young forwards in our current roster.

Fulton and Dwyer could play centre during a game if injuries occur.

I will never understand the back on the bench policy but that is why Sheen's is paid the big money.

 

[Tigerdave]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

Great looking side CB

 

[westTAHger]

do not expect too much from Lote when he returns.
gonna be a few games to regain match fitness, and maybe a bit of confidence.

 

[Deano1]

:slight_smile: Wasn't too sure about that run on forward pack to start with, but I see what you've done there and think it's a great squad. The only person I'm not sold on is Brown in the centres, believing his best spot is fullback, but McKinnons playing well enough to hold his spot easily. I also can't think of anybody better to take Browns spot either.

 

[magpie_mania]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

Could not agree more with your side. Moltzen and Ryan should be no where near the NRL side once everyone is back.

love to see 4 forwards on the bench and given decent game time.

We must have some of the best young forwards in our current roster.

Fulton and Dwyer could play centre during a game if injuries occur.

I will never understand the back on the bench policy but that is why Sheen's is paid the big money.

I would think ellis could comfortably handle centre aswell throw in even benji to play centre and fulton for 5/8 in a worse case scenario for mid match injuries.This clearly shows there is no need for a back on the bench.We clearly play our best football when we have good go forward instead of an east west game in order to maximise this we need four forwards on the bench.When fulton and heighnington are on the field together our go forward drops a little bit.Its just a combination thing i know rhino has good go forward but we lack size and impact in our pack when fulton and rhino are on the field together.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I would like to see this:

1.McKinnon
2.Tuqiri
3.Ayshford
4.Brown
5.Utai
6.Marshall
7.Lui
8.Gibbs
9.Farah
10.Galloway
11.Fulton
12.Ellis
13.Heighington

14.Fifita
15.Dwyer
16.Murdoch-Masila
17.Woods

Beau knows NSW cup, same for Moltzen. Schirnack unlucky not to see FG when the whole squad is back. As you said though, much like he did with Woods I think we will see Sheens pushing BMM back into NYC and dipping him into FG as he sees fit and keeping Ryan/Moltzen/Brown on the bench.

Could not agree more with your side. Moltzen and Ryan should be no where near the NRL side once everyone is back.

love to see 4 forwards on the bench and given decent game time.

We must have some of the best young forwards in our current roster.

Fulton and Dwyer could play centre during a game if injuries occur.

I will never understand the back on the bench policy but that is why Sheen's is paid the big money.

I would think ellis could comfortably handle centre aswell throw in even benji to play centre and fulton for 5/8 in a worse case scenario for mid match injuries.This clearly shows there is no need for a back on the bench.We clearly play our best football when we have good go forward instead of an east west game in order to maximise this we need four forwards on the bench.**When fulton and heighnington are on the field together our go forward drops a little bit**.Its just a combination thing i know rhino has good go forward but we lack size and impact in our pack when fulton and rhino are on the field together.

I agree with this, but I think Dwyer lacks punch when he's playing 80 minutes. Alternatively, Fulton and Rhino are interchangeable at lock and Fifita could fill in as a wide running second rower.

With the size of centres these days, the roles of centre and second rower are starting to become a little less distinct. I don't think Ellis or Dwyer would be fish out of water in the centres, although I wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary, for which Fulton is available anyway which kind of makes the point moot anyway.

FTR, Moltzen wouldn't be left in NSW Cup to languish or get snapped up by a rival club, I'd have him learning the trade in the #1 jersey for BRET if Sheens is keen to have him step up as the full term fullback. I still think Brown should be the long term replacement for McKinnon though, although I'm sure this will not be the case.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

:slight_smile: Wasn't too sure about that run on forward pack to start with, but I see what you've done there and think it's a great squad. The only person I'm not sold on is Brown in the centres, believing his best spot is fullback, but McKinnons playing well enough to hold his spot easily. I also can't think of anybody better to take Browns spot either.

Mitch will thrive in the centres with a quality flyer like Lote outside of him. You have to remember he's been moved about the backline nearly as much as Moltzen has. He's played left wing, left centre and right centre. He was ordinary in the game against Brisbane at right centre (that game Sheens effectively weakened our entire three quarter line by moving Brown to the right and Ayshford/Utai to the right,) but been relatively solid at left centre and wing. It's important to remember he has got very little service outside Moltzen as well.

 

[russelldp]

I think Brown is the best option at left centre when Lote returns. I also think Tigers fans are a bit hard on Tim Moltzen. Just about every player returning from an ACL struggles to regain top form. (Campese will show this in a week or two). If not for injuries this year, Moltz would only have played minor bench roles (like he did in the early rounds before injuries) and worked his way back in. He can't play fullback because he would have to cover too many miles. He has been thrown in at the deep end at centre, which is more suited to big hole runners rather and he is trying hard and filling gaps. But remember, confidence is difficult to restore when your knee "explodes" like his did. Stick with him, guys; the kid can play and when fully fit, he will be a major contributor, like he was before his injury.
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[Cultured_Bogan]

I think Brown is the best option at left centre when Lote returns. I also think Tigers fans are a bit hard on Tim Moltzen. Just about every player returning from an ACL struggles to regain top form. (Campese will show this in a week or two). If not for injuries this year, Moltz would only have played minor bench roles (like he did in the early rounds before injuries) and worked his way back in. He can't play fullback because he would have to cover too many miles. He has been thrown in at the deep end at centre, which is more suited to big hole runners rather and he is trying hard and filling gaps. But remember, confidence is difficult to restore when your knee "explodes" like his did. Stick with him, guys; the kid can play and when fully fit, he will be a major contributor, like he was before his injury.
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Russell, my frustration is with Sheens when it comes to Moltzen. The way he's been thrown about in the backline and playing with next to no confidence suggests to me that he's well on track to becoming the next Blake Lazarus. Rather than playing him full time at half or even learn the ropes at FB in NSW Cup Sheens has thrown him to the wolves by playing him underdone and low on confidence in positions he is not suited to. The NRL isn't a Mickey Mouse competition and his weakness will be exploited.

 

[russelldp]

Some great points there, Bogan and it is hard to argue with your logic. I suppose Moltz is a victim of his own versatility in many ways. I now fully accept he needs a permanent position, and if he is not a 1 or 3/4, does his presence tie up too much $ in halves? The fact Farah is an 80 minute player and Moltzen can not fill the back row prevents him being the ideal bench man, like Halatou. Which leads me to think that perhaps another right centre (reddy?) could be useful, with Ayshford to play the Beau Scott role covering centre/back row. This could be a succession plan to Ellis?
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[tig_prmz]

Feel comfortable with Moltzen at left centre when Tuqiri is on the wing.
Don't know why, but I wouldn't mind it.
Maybe even Fitzy would look good with Tuqiri? IDK