Trial Match v Cronulla Sharks *LIVE Thread

[Harvey]

From the NRL app

On Saturday, NRL.com will have journalists at every match involving two NRL teams and a rolling blog keeping you up to date with all action as it happens.

We will also be hosting livestreams from four Saturday matches – the Gold Coast Titans v Auckland Warriors (6pm AEDT kick-off), Penrith Panthers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6.30pm AEDT), Cronulla Sharks v Wests Tigers (7pm AEDT) and Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights (7pm AEDT)

Thanks mate. Looking forward to this one.

Also, who are the Auckland Warriors?

The New Zealand Warriors (NRL)..ISP feeder team..Auckland Warriors..

Are the Titans playing against the ISP Warriors? Would hazard a guess that it is just another oversite by the comically inept NRL HQ.
Manly Seagulls might be running around again this weekend. Ahh Johnny Grant, I wonder where that blubbering fool is these days?

Has he rejoined the flock up north

 

[Harvey]

It will be interesting to see how they go this weekend. On paper, that side is a wooden spoon contender. Limited attacking threats in the backs, with plenty of defensive frailties.

 

[tigerap]

Tui missing out has to be a discipline thing, he is the only one that comes close to having the X factor. I would also have Milne with Masters in the centre. As for only being a trial, except for a few injured players to come back, this will be our starting side come round 1…Scary

yeah, I agree…the run on side for the Sharks trial is nowhere near the Rd1 side I have in mind. If it is then we are going to have a boring side.

 

[Tigerdon]

From the NRL app

On Saturday, NRL.com will have journalists at every match involving two NRL teams and a rolling blog keeping you up to date with all action as it happens.

We will also be hosting livestreams from four Saturday matches – the Gold Coast Titans v Auckland Warriors (6pm AEDT kick-off), Penrith Panthers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6.30pm AEDT), Cronulla Sharks v Wests Tigers (7pm AEDT) and Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights (7pm AEDT)

Thanks mate. Looking forward to this one.

Also, who are the Auckland Warriors?

The New Zealand Warriors (NRL)..ISP feeder team..Auckland Warriors..

Are the Titans playing against the ISP Warriors? Would hazard a guess that it is just another oversite by the comically inept NRL HQ.
Manly Seagulls might be running around again this weekend. Ahh Johnny Grant, I wonder where that blubbering fool is these days?

John Grant is probably still trying to digest his 30K farewell dinner at the Modern Art Gallery.
While he said the NRL couldn’t afford to give 10k to struggling clubs in the bush.

 

[Tigerdon]

Whats Parking like at Cambo, only ever been once years ago.

the Kids are getting bigger now

You'd better get there early. The Sharks' fans will be out at Campbelltown in force in their MX5.

MX5’s to me are more your Eastern Suburb set. Jacked up dual cab utes with southern cross stickers are more the Sharks go.

 

[Geo]

If this is anything to go by the Round 1 team list Tuesday will be most anticipated in recent memory..

I can't find many that agree with Coach Cleary's selections…

 

[The_Patriot]

Difference between 2018 and 2017 is that this year we have a coach I trust to make the best decisions for the West's Tigers.

Interesting squad but that's why we hired him to shake this place up.

Looking forward to seeing who responds this week.

 

[Seantice]

Yeah in the end if the players that miss out arnt putting in like the rest then they should be dropped. Our forward pack will be good. Just have too see what happens with the backline.

 

[larrycorowa]

This may explain why tui has struggled to nail down a spot in the nrl. Not fit enough for fullback and not disciplined enough for a 6.

Looking at that backline, our game style may be significantly different to anything we have seen over the last 10yrs. Ball control, long kicking and attack with defence.

 

[king_sirro]

This may explain why tui has struggled to nail down a spot in the nrl. Not fit enough for fullback and not disciplined enough for a 6.

Looking at that backline, our game style may be significantly different to anything we have seen over the last 10yrs. Ball control, long kicking and attack with defence.

I think you will see our fullback play a different role to other teams. While others play out the back like a second 5/8, ours will mainly hunt around the middle looking for offloads and opportunity to capitalise on quick play the balls. He will play out the back sometimes but not nearly as much as other fullbacks. This will mean our centres will see more ball.

 

[happy_tiger]

Thompson at fullback and Brooks at halfback doesn't that just fill you with a HUGE amount of confidence. Everyone is on the bus with you now Cleary let's not be getting stupid now.

Basing what we have seen on one trial doesn't make sense

Cleary has been watching them for 3 months now , I back his judgement on this one , he has obviously seen something he likes

Just a trial remember , 2 points doesn't ride on this one

 

[JD Tiger]

We have a really tough first month or so when the comp starts, and I got a feeling that coach Cleary doesn't want to give anything away to our rivals. I think he does not want to give them a good look at our side as a whole until we take the field in Round 1.

I think he's using the trials to check out a few little things here and there, but mixing up the team to make it hard for our rivals to get anything much out of watching us in the trials.

Here's hoping anyway.

 

[happy_tiger]

And the next question then lays unanswered is Thompson gets chosen Rd 1 at Fullback , Tui becomes the smart pick off the bench , not Marshall

 

[Harvey]

$5 tix online

 

[The_Patriot]

I'll be looking for naiqama to play the second half at fullback if I'm reading it right.

Thompson 40
Naiqama 40
Tubby 80

Then make a decision.

 

[Seantice]

Mate if this is the side for round 1 il be loving Latrell Mitchell palming off Naiqama with impunity. Itl be a massacre.

Any news on Twal? We need him for round 1\. Him and Felise. He showef me enough last week to get the other proo bench spot

 

[TigerSJ]

Just a thought on Tui - We certainly haven't seen him tested as a fullback. However, Ivan and the other coaches will have, and I can imagine there are some areas of his game at No.1 that aren't quite there yet. His passing game, his own defence and his ability to read the opposition attack and direct our defence, his kicking game also. Perhaps Thomson is a safer option at the moment and Ivan is letting Tui know that he has more work to do. Who knows maybe the talk about Barba and RTS has thrown him off as well.
As for Twal, ET, Liddle and Sue - these guys are simply not ready yet. McQueen is just having a lighter start and building confidence and match fitness - slowly, slowly with him. Benji may still be expecting a bub. Milne will share the centre spot with Kev in the trial - this spot is genuinely up for grabs. Fonua is getting the rocket treatment.
When you look at the selected team with all this in mind, it is probably exactly right. I have faith that Ivan has thought about it carefully and come up with the best strategy.

 

[fergiefurr]

Mate if this is the side for round 1 il be loving Latrell Mitchell palming off Naiqama with impunity. Itl be a massacre.

Any news on Twal? We need him for round 1\. Him and Felise. He showef me enough last week to get the other proo bench spot

latrell will be on marsters, thank god

read somewhere (may have even been on here) that twal was noticably limping at the cairns trial

 

[Seantice]

Mate if this is the side for round 1 il be loving Latrell Mitchell palming off Naiqama with impunity. Itl be a massacre.

Any news on Twal? We need him for round 1\. Him and Felise. He showef me enough last week to get the other proo bench spot

latrell will be on marsters, thank god

read somewhere (may have even been on here) that twal was noticably limping at the cairns trial

Thank god for that. Assuming Marsters is picked in the centres haha

 

[tiger05premier]

Just a thought on Tui - We certainly haven't seen him tested as a fullback. However, Ivan and the other coaches will have, and I can imagine there are some areas of his game at No.1 that aren't quite there yet. His passing game, his own defence and his ability to read the opposition attack and direct our defence, his kicking game also. Perhaps Thomson is a safer option at the moment and Ivan is letting Tui know that he has more work to do. Who knows maybe the talk about Barba and RTS has thrown him off as well.
As for Twal, ET, Liddle and Sue - these guys are simply not ready yet. McQueen is just having a lighter start and building confidence and match fitness - slowly, slowly with him. Benji may still be expecting a bub. Milne will share the centre spot with Kev in the trial - this spot is genuinely up for grabs. Fonua is getting the rocket treatment.
When you look at the selected team with all this in mind, it is probably exactly right. I have faith that Ivan has thought about it carefully and come up with the best strategy.

Good post

I don't think Thompson will let anyone down if he does play fullback Rd 1\. Looked quite sharp and very keen.

In regards to centre i would probably like to see Milne and Marsters as the pairing but let's face it Naiqama deserves a good crack at it and may even surprise with the extra depth pushing him a bit harder