WT v Knights round 1 ‘25 predictions

Gotta be Da Silva in the nine to open the season for mine. Whether or not he then has a regular spot on the bench is another matter, but Koroisau certainly needs to be playing less than 65 minutes for WT to get near his peak contribution, with 55 being about it nowadays before his defence starts to fall off, and somewhat rapidly.

Hopefully all of our other options are available and we get to see a fit Latu giving Tallyn a break against the Knights, to get a good evaluation of how both are progressing going into 25.
Hope has outplayed him in both trials. If Benji is serious about players buying in, then on form Hope gets the nod for mine.
 
What would the team look like ? Of course trial form will come into play, maybe something like this.

Bula
Luke
Sunia
Olam
Skelton
Galvin
Luai
Bird
Samuela
Seyfarth
May
TDS
Klemmer

Latu
Pole
Hunt
Twal
Kit or Dione to replace klemmer
 
That'll be it except maybe Kit for Sione.
Agreed re Kit for Sione.

I also think the below changes will occur:

Faataape will replace Toa.

Mason will play because Bula is injured.

Twal to the bench and Bird to lock.

Not a bad looking team actually.

Exciting times with some good guys on T&T deals eligible to play later this year plus the debut of Mak:
 
Agreed re Kit for Sione.

I also think the below changes will occur:

Faataape will replace Toa.

Mason will play because Bula is injured.

Twal to the bench and Bird to lock.

Not a bad looking team actually.

Exciting times with some good guys on T&T deals eligible to play later this year plus the debut of Mak:
Kit ahead of Sione ?
I must have been at the wrong game on Friday night.
 
I reckon Benji will face some difficulty this year in selecting his 5/8th.
Not saying for round 1, as the incumbent will get first shot and rightly so…but at some stage in the next 3 months I’m predicting Latu’s performances will demand the 6 more-so than Galvin’s will.
Therein will lay the dilemma for Marshal. Either way it’ll be a political decision. Pressure from Richo to keep Lachy and entourage happy until contracts are signed v’s pressure from the Fainu brothers to treat selections fairly.
agreed. I thought the Fainu/Galvin conundrum would come to a head at the end of this year at the absolute earliest.

but the speed and straightness in which Latu plays his footy is going to bring this debate to the fore within the first six weeks of the season.

the more I see of Galvin, who tends to drift sideways at a slow pace and utilises his elite ballplaying, the more I think he’s suited to the back row. I just hope the club is prepared for an almighty tantrum if Marshall opts to move him to the edge.
 
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I reckon Benji will face some difficulty this year in selecting his 5/8th.
Not saying for round 1, as the incumbent will get first shot and rightly so…but at some stage in the next 3 months I’m predicting Latu’s performances will demand the 6 more-so than Galvin’s will.
Therein will lay the dilemma for Marshal. Either way it’ll be a political decision. Pressure from Richo to keep Lachy and entourage happy until contracts are signed v’s pressure from the Fainu brothers to treat selections fairly.
It's a big challenge for richo/Benji to keep both players happy.... Couple of things could happen.... Turn Galvin into a ball playing lock/second rower and chuck latu into halves with luai.... Or turn latu into a centre and keep Galvin in the halves with luai..

I think latu could work at centre, he's a solid build albeit not very tall, has a strong running game, knows how to pass so his winger won't be left out, and is defensively strong...
 
Agreed re Kit for Sione.

I also think the below changes will occur:

Faataape will replace Toa.

Mason will play because Bula is injured.

Twal to the bench and Bird to lock.

Not a bad looking team actually.

Exciting times with some good guys on T&T deals eligible to play later this year plus the debut of Mak:
would think no chance Faatape. Was an attacking weapon v bulldogs but average in defence. Average all round v Eels. A handy back up. Toa did nothing wrong in attack and defence and in fact showed some classy glimpses in the second half. I think it will be Douehi & Toa.
 
agreed. I thought the Fainu/Galvin conundrum would come to a head at the end of this year at the absolute earliest.

but the speed and straightness that Latu plays footy is going to bring this debate to the fore within the first six weeks of the season.

the more I see of Galvin, who tends to drift sideways at a slow pace and utilises his elite ballplaying, the more I think he’s suited to the back row. I just hope the club is prepared for an almighty tantrum if Marshall opts to move him to the edge.
Good post jrtiger. In the highlights, it is obvious Latu has the pace to skip to the outside or that great step and so create an overlap. It is a nice position for the club to be in especially when we also have Mason at WTs.
 
It's a big challenge for richo/Benji to keep both players happy.... Couple of things could happen.... Turn Galvin into a ball playing lock/second rower and chuck latu into halves with luai.... Or turn latu into a centre and keep Galvin in the halves with luai..

I think latu could work at centre, he's a solid build albeit not very tall, has a strong running game, knows how to pass so his winger won't be left out, and is defensively strong...
his very good defence for his age and size, gives a lot of options.
 
Good post jrtiger. In the highlights, it is obvious Latu has the pace to skip to the outside or that great step and so create an overlap. It is a nice position for the club to be in especially when we also have Mason at WTs.
it’s important your halves and fullback have the speed and running game to put their opposites in two minds. unfortunately for Galvin he only has one of those, and it isn’t speed. he doesn’t play straight enough either.
 
do you think its all round or under fatigue. I think its fatigue, will improve greatly with match fitness and game management (dont leave him out there too long).
Fatigue and inexperience for sure, but the tackle he fell off for the first try was a concern .. realistically he should have made that cover tackle.

He did do some good things, but still plenty to work on
 
Fatigue and inexperience for sure, but thlie tackle he fell off for the first try was a concern .. realistically he should have made that cover tackle.

He did do some good things, but still plenty to work on
It is about learning from his mistakes. He will do that and come back a greatly improved player. I listened to him being interviewed with the opening of the Sports High in Campbelltown and he appeared well grounded and an intelligent young man.
 
It is about learning from his mistakes. He will do that and come back a greatly improved player. I listened to him being interviewed with the opening of the Sports High in Campbelltown and he appeared well grounded and an intelligent young man.
I don’t know if we have the time to wait. Api is suspended so he’ll get his chance again, but we cannot afford another year of blooding youngsters with terrible results
 
I don’t know if we have the time to wait. Api is suspended so he’ll get his chance again, but we cannot afford another year of blooding youngsters with terrible results
Tallyn imo will be one of the young players together with Mason who will carry the banner for WTs juniors from the Macarthur and Campbelltown districts. Tedesco was not prepared to do it but I hope these two, together with a few other talented youngsters, will do so. He has to learn and I am sure there are any number of NRL clubs who would like to have Tallyn at their club.
 
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