Where do you rate our forward pack ??

[happy_tiger]

Most notoriously bad defenders have minders to degree

Even reasonably good defenders have minders

Look at Lockyer and Toni Carroll You need a bloke who is going to make his 35-40 tackles a game with a 95% completion rate

If we go out without Fulton , who will end up making the extra tackles , Farah more than likely

Farah is our most dangerous weapon , and people want to force him to make extra tackles because we don't want minders :unamused:

 

[Guest]

In all honesty if Benji still can't look after himself by next year then Potter hasn't done enough on defense. We should be basing our attack on combinations not our defense.
I think the addition of Fotuaika (sp?), Sironen, Gavet, Pettybourne, Thompson, Seumanufagai and possibly Naiyaravaro we have a versatile back row/prop rotation depending on the strategy we want to play. Add to that BMM and we have the potential for a very big pack should the players mentioned be prepared for first grade.
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With Benji's previous shoulder issues he will never be a top line defender because he doesn't put his shoulder into the tackle. That's a fact we have to deal with, along with the fact the side is better off by Benji having a defensive partner to help him out. Either Fulton or Blair IMO. I can't see Blair dishing up the same rubbish in 2013.

As you also point out we do have some size among the backrow and front row, but with that size there is also inexperience. This is where Potter's bench selection and rotation policy will be vital.

 

[magpiecol]

Potter shouldn't have favourites, and nor should previous service count considering he will need results ASAP.

Fulton and Anasta shouldn't be in the starting pack, so we have some options.

Depending on Trial form, I'd prefer a pack like this:

8\. Woods; 9\. Farah; 10\. Pettybourne; 11\. Blair; 12\. Murdoch-Masila; 13\. Anasta with a bench of Galloway, Fotuaku, Fulton, Thompson/Gavet. I don't think we need a Back on the Bench with Anasta & Thompson in the 17.

We will get destroyed on the edges with that side Watto

Someone defensively has to look after Marshall and it has to be Fulton He is the only player of that style that plays backrow Our problem is we have issues with attack (or more to the point go forward) and more importantly defence No use picking a side we hope can win 38-36 every week

Have to be careful with having "minders" on the park. I know where you're coming from Happy but minders can be our downfall. Remember a lot of people on here want young Miller playing half back (I am 50/50 atm) so there is another minder job for someone. With players being rested / injured etc the plan goes out the window. Most teams have weak defensive players and they get moved around or whatever. Marshall and Miller may go extremely well in the halves but will be seriously tested in defence every game.

Also, like you, I don't know where Anasta will play. My thoughts are that the coach will trial Miller at half but if he does not do well enough Potter may play Anasta and Benji in the halves. He may use them like Sheens did when Hodgo was playing…taking turns at first or second receiver throughout a game. As has been said many times, 6 and 7, they are just numbers on their backs.

Well whoever said that " 6 and 7 are just numbers on their backs ", has not got a clue about how to win football games, let alone a Premiership.

 

[LaT]

Potter shouldn't have favourites, and nor should previous service count considering he will need results ASAP.

Fulton and Anasta shouldn't be in the starting pack, so we have some options.

Depending on Trial form, I'd prefer a pack like this:

8\. Woods; 9\. Farah; 10\. Pettybourne; 11\. Blair; 12\. Murdoch-Masila; 13\. Anasta with a bench of Galloway, Fotuaku, Fulton, Thompson/Gavet. I don't think we need a Back on the Bench with Anasta & Thompson in the 17.

We will get destroyed on the edges with that side Watto

Someone defensively has to look after Marshall and it has to be Fulton He is the only player of that style that plays backrow Our problem is we have issues with attack (or more to the point go forward) and more importantly defence No use picking a side we hope can win 38-36 every week

Have to be careful with having "minders" on the park. I know where you're coming from Happy but minders can be our downfall. Remember a lot of people on here want young Miller playing half back (I am 50/50 atm) so there is another minder job for someone. With players being rested / injured etc the plan goes out the window. Most teams have weak defensive players and they get moved around or whatever. Marshall and Miller may go extremely well in the halves but will be seriously tested in defence every game.

Also, like you, I don't know where Anasta will play. My thoughts are that the coach will trial Miller at half but if he does not do well enough Potter may play Anasta and Benji in the halves. He may use them like Sheens did when Hodgo was playing…taking turns at first or second receiver throughout a game. As has been said many times, 6 and 7, they are just numbers on their backs.

Well whoever said that " 6 and 7 are just numbers on their backs ", has not got a clue about how to win football games, let alone a Premiership.

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"It's funny you say that," Marshall said when asked about adjusting to the halfback role.
>
"There will be no adjustment, just the number on my back. It's taken the coach three years to change the number. I wasn't really happy about it at first.
>
"At the same time, my role is not going to change. I have been playing like a halfback for the past three years, just wearing a No 6."

How many NRL games/premierships have you won Col?

 

[Fraze23]

I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Blair don the 13 and play a similar role to Gallen at the Sharks, as an extra prop up the middle. I'd then go for Anasta in the 12 wreaking havoc down the left hand edge with Lawrence. In the 11 I'd go for more of a left field selection and go with Matty Bell. Never let us down once last season and is rock solid in defence. I doubt we'll see Anasta and Fulton start together. Logically the make up of our back row will include Blair and Anasta with the last member the hardest trainer out of Bell, Pettybourne, BMM and even Thompson. My only concern is our prop rotation.

 

[cktiger]

No use bringing up that quote by Marshall , LaT.
He's been quoted plenty of times since as saying he prefers playing 5/8 and will be glad to be back playing there.
Magpiecol and I don't agree on too much but we do here - we need a dedicated halfback and we need to give them time in the position.
As mentioned previously we need a minder for Marshall and if Miller gets the nod and can't handle the defence in firsts I don't think we can afford to dedicate two forwards to shadow them.
In 2010 and 2011 we had guys like Fulton and Ellis looking after both Lui and Marshall and in the end we fell short because you simply can't be everywhere on a footy field.
Will be a difficult call for Potter but will be do or die for Miller if he gets the gig.
And like Fraze I think Blair might get a run at lock - I think we will end up with a good rotation in the forwards this year.

 

[LaT]

I don't particularly disagree with the sentiment, just the tone in which he was using. Talking down to another person when Benji has direct quotes about the topic seemed appropriate.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

As other mentioned, our problem ATM are back rowers, and we have a problem finding position for Anasta.
Because of their size, I would not play Anasta and Fulton at the same time, so my back rowers are Pettybourne
and BMM/Blair, and Anasta at lock. This combination offers plenty in attack, however, we could have problems in defence.
Re: halves, they are the the main target of any NRL team (e.g. Pearce, Thurston, Cronk, DCE, Soward even A Johns earlier) so all teams have to find a way to 'hide' them in defence, so IMHO this is not our unique problem.
IMHO, our problems were: we gave too many penalties, made too many unforced errors (ball possession in general) , and allowed opposition to start their sets from 40 m. IMHO this was mostly because of our ineffective back rowers, poor last tackle option and kick chase.

 

[FARANGALANG]

Anyone who thought having Fulton and Heighno in the starting lineup, let alone the same 17 due to their lack of size, will be having seizures if Fulton and Anasta both start
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Totally this and to add if they both start in the forwards it just shows the ridiculous decisions our recruitment dept. make.Anasta 7 ok but 13 with Fulton in 12 and we are going to get smashed.Imagine the kgs difference between us and the dogs if this is the lineup.I just hope to hell that Potter has cottoned on to the fact that the HEIGHNO/FULTON COMBO meant we were forever getting dominated.I really want to see a lot of our young props given a go this year and for BMM to really make the next step up.

 

[Fraze23]

To put things into perspective.

Anasta: 98kg
Blair: 104kg
Fulton 94kg
BMM: 112kg
Pettybourne: 101kg
Sironen: 95kg
Thompson: 106kg
Galloway: 107kg
Woods: 105kg
Ellis: 107kg

 

[innsaneink]

Looks like nothins changed

 

[happy_tiger]

Looks like nothins changed

One way or the other I guess we will all get our answer Round 1 Ink (Or the Tuesday beforehand)

 

[Shooshmeister]

What do you think of this, Woods, Farah, Galloway, Anasta, Blair, Bell and on the bench have Pettybourne, BMM, Thompson( Can cover backs) and Fulton. Or maybe start fulton and then bring on Anasta once it has calmed down and he can cut loose and get us going forward. You guys are right, we have some good players, but they don't fit together just right. Some too small, some not enough mongrel and other are good players, but are dominated constantly? We'll just keep trying.

 

[happy_tiger]

What do you think of this, Woods, Farah, Galloway, Anasta, Blair, Bell and on the bench have Pettybourne, BMM, Thompson( Can cover backs) and Fulton. Or maybe start fulton and then bring on Anasta once it has calmed down and he can cut loose and get us going forward. You guys are right, we have some good players, but they don't fit together just right. Some too small, some not enough mongrel and other are good players, but are dominated constantly? We'll just keep trying.

Thats was the second thought I had

Bring Anasta on with our first prop change at the 20-25 minute mark and he can play the game out and shove Bell or Blair up into the prop role

 

[alex]

Who knows, potter could opt for Fulton and Anasta in the starting lineup and revert back to our free flowing structure from 05 rather than try to turn us into a bash and thrash team
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[Roysta59]

It's not really a matter of each players kgs (Look at Jeremy Smith, he is only 100kg and Wade Graham is 94kg where Ryan James is 121kg).

I think Bell will be in the team butr not sure where as he is not small, can tackle all day and runs hard.
The other point is injuries - at least one of these guys will sit out half the year - either small injuires, suspention, rotation, form, long term injuires.
8 - woods
9 - farah
10 - Galloway
11 - Blair
12 - Bell
13 - Anasta

14- Fulton
15 - Pettybourne
16 - BMM
17 - ????

 

[cktiger]

We still have a few young guys coming through who might prove first grade material through the year.
Also ,hopefully ,Groat will come on this year (forced in too early in my opinion) and we also have the 2 young guys we bought in Gavet and Buchanan.
It's good to have the big boppers but guys like Gallen and Jeremy Smith prove you don't necessarily need to weigh 120kg to get by.

 

[cusschops]

I reckon barring injuries, if Blair comes good we will be right. Someone posted we need to buy a gun forward in 14\. He is the gun we bought last year and had a total misfire. On last years form we have a fair to good pack and on their day will beat any other pack in the comp.
As I said injuries will play there part and it will be up to Mr Potter to work with the likes of Pettybourne, BMM, Thompson and the other fringe players.
Just my opinion.
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[Newtown]

We still have a few young guys coming through who might prove first grade material through the year.
Also ,hopefully ,Groat will come on this year (forced in too early in my opinion) and we also have the 2 young guys we bought in Gavet and Buchanan.
It's good to have the big boppers but guys like Gallen and Jeremy Smith prove you don't necessarily need to weigh 120kg to get by.

If it wasn't for the four reserves rule very few of these 120kg forwards would get a run in 1st grade.

 

[Fraze23]

Where does Thompson fit into puzzle? I honestly see him as a smokey to claim a backrow spot. He would add some much needed size to our starting pack and allow Bell to join the front row rotation.