@1974semifinal said:
Whatever team you want or whatever Teflon selects..what we neeed is
1…speed in the backs..look at Koro, fantastic speed. So Ayshford MUST go. Push Benji out from half to at least 5/8\. Get Lawrence fit...Moltzen MUST go. get those backline moves working again with Benji at 5/8/.
2\. pick a half back and give him more that 1/2 games...whatever
3\. Remember whoever you pick in your forwards you have to cover for someone who does ahh..not much , Mr Blair.
We need a consistent 1, 6, 7 and 9\. Realistically at full strength, that equates to:
1\. Tedesco
6\. Marshall
7\. Anasta
9\. Farah
Some may argue the merits of playing Anasta at 7, but he's level headed, has good organising skills and isn't prone to brain melts, plus he has a decent kicking game including a very good bomb, and he's defensively solid.
Young Sirro will probably force his way into the side by mid-season once he returns from his shoulder reco, and in that instance I see merit in playing him at 6 and Benji at 7, as that seemed to be effective this season until injury struck.
The backline needs some additional speed and dynamism. Tedesco and Koroibete provide that, and Nofoaluma may be in with a shot if he is offered the chance to train with the top squad and grabs the opportunity with both hands this time. Lawrence to stay in the centres, with the other centre position up for grabs IMO. Same applies with the right wing. Ryan has had a very good season and deserves to have first crack, but Utai and Nofoaluma will keep him honest.
We are well covered at 6 with either Benji, Sirro or Anasta all more than capable. Halfback will be the position most of us scrutinise…Anasta, Marshall and Miller look to be the options. Maybe not ideal, but that's the hand we've been dealt and whoever gets the gig needs to stay there.
Farah picks himself at hooker. Backup hooker, well there's Iosefa who is decent in attack, but can really be good value if he improves his defence. Politoni and Humble are the other options.
Front row could be a better position as far as depth is concerned for next year if the Brent Kite signing works out. If Kite ends up in Tigers colours, I'd still start Woods and Galloway with Kite coming off the bench to replace Galloway. The 4th ranked prop is a toss up between Fotuaika who is rated by the club, there's Ava Setumanufagai who is a solid unit and has played well for Balmain this year. Matt Groat will be keen to improve on a wretched 2012 which saw him spend most of the season injured and lose all confidence after being hammered by Ben Teo. We have the new signing from the Dragons in Jack Buchanan who sounds like he could be another Aaron Woods in the making if his workrate in the NYC is anything to go by, and Junior Moors may still be around.
Backrow shapes up to be interesting with Pettybourne and Thompson joining the ranks. I like the signing of both players and BMM will be looking to pick up a starting spot after impressing off the bench this season. So how does this bode for Heighno, Fulton, Blair and Bell? Personally I'd be handing BMM the starting spot on the left edge, and I'd give Fulton the right edge. I would give Heighno the opportunity to start at 13\. Pettybourne plays on the left edge for Souths at the moment, and I'd have him on the bench to give BMM a breather. Blair who was nothing short of disappointing this year, is also on the bench and gives Heighno a breather with Fulton shifting to 13\. Bell is also thereabouts and I'd be tempted to have him coming off the bench too. I have not seen enough of Thompson to start him, plus he's coming off a shoulder injury, so trial form will be important for him, but physically he ticks the right boxes.
My round 1 side would be different from my ultimate side because Sirro won't be right for round 1, but if I had to name a team for round 1, it would look something like this:
1\. Tedesco
2\. Koroibete
3\. Nofoaluma
4\. Lawrence
5\. Ryan
6\. Marshall
7\. Anasta
8\. Woods
9\. Farah
10\. Galloway
11\. BMM
12\. Fulton
13\. Heighno
14\. Kite
15\. Pettybourne
16\. Blair
17\. Moltzen
I can't find a starting spot for Moltzen based on what he showed this year. He does offer utility value though and can slot in almost anywhere in the backline in the event of injury, which will undoubtedly happen.
If young Sirro bounces back well next year, I'd consider putting him at 6 and moving Anasta to 13, but this is subject to form of course. Players like Bell, Thompson, Humble, Utai, Ayshford...all depth players who will no doubt be used at various stages. I'd like to see Ayshford regain his 2011 form, but he needs to work very hard on his game, particularly defence.
Players who I think may be surprise packets are Fotuaika and Buchanan, possibly Thompson too.
