2020 Round 1 Line up

[Foordy]

According to that, we now only have 3 2RF in our top 30

And with Arthars and Kahu (apparently) we have 17 backs even before we try and buy Croft or another halfback. We might let Kennar go but that’s still a lot of backs. Maybe we will give Oates a shot at second row.

it also has TPJ and Carrigan listed as props, but the are likely to play backrow for the foreseeable future

 

[Sirlee oldman]

it also has TPJ and Carrigan listed as props, but the are likely to play backrow for the foreseeable future

Yes TPJ adds a fair bit of flexibility. I just hope we don’t get many injuries in the forwards especially around State of Origin time or we really might have to play Boyd in the middle.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Gillett's obviously retiring so that's one fairly hefty piece of the puzzle now resolved.

Pack for next year is starting to take shape:

8. Lodge
9. Turpin
10. Haas
11. Glenn
12. Fifita
13. TPJ

14. Utility
15. Ofahengaue
16. Carrigan
17. Flegler

I think the only spots really left to resolve are whether TPJ is an edge or middle Forward.

His attack on an edge is really damaging, but his defence is obviously very poor.

I'm just wondering whether it would be practical to play him on an edge in attack and let him defend in the middle, interchanging with Alex Glenn? Is this something a team can accomodate mid game between sets of six or is it just too much chopping and changing and too difficult to execute?

I do think it's important that he starts for us one way or another. So many times we've been on the back foot early and never recovered and TPJ being the type of player he is can definitely get us on the front foot early like he did against Taumalolo if we can just work out how to use him most effectively.

Nothing to say he can't play in the middle but run up at the 6s or 7s on 3rd if we're over the 50.

Him running at the smaller men for an offload to Milford or Bird on the left of field, or Fifita or staggs on the right...

Far out that's damaging!

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

I'm thinking TPJ to replace Gillo. Don't rate him at lock like I do in the back row.

Ya basic

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

TPJ surely is the Gillo Replacement after what we saw last season, he has such a size advantage over the other teams on the edge he can easily bulldoze his way through and get those elite offloads out.

The one thing our team needs more then anything is attack and he is one of the most creative Forwards in the game for Attack, might need to lose a little weight just to be a bit more mobile though, he is one of the biggest players in the comp as it is.

The biggest thing we need is Defence.

And to figure out a structure and team cohesion that works.

Croft will be great for this.

 

[Morepudding]

Now that Gillo has retired and Croft joining is pretty much inevitable, this will be the side I think Seibold will run out with come Round 1:

1. Isaako/Arthars
2. Oates
3. Bird
4. Staggs
5. Arthars/Isaako
6. Milford
7. Croft
8. Lodge
9. Turpin
10. Haas
11. Fifita
12. Glenn (c)
13. Carrigan (vc)

Glenn will be the primary captain and will be responsible for barking orders and communicating with the refs, but I really think Carrigan will be getting a lot of leadership responsibility of his own this coming season just with no C next to his name. I reckon there is a huge likelihood he is being fast tracked to the captaincy and is absolutely Glenn's heir in waiting, and I doubt he'll have to wait longer than a year or two.

14. Paix/Perese/Farnworth
15. Flegler
16. TPJ
17. Joe O

Even if I give Boyd and McC fictional half decent form (let's say a 5/10 season instead of the 2/10 they both actually had), I honestly cannot find a place for them anywhere in the 17. McC in the 14 maybe if he was actually doing anything productive out of dummy half. Boyd on the other hand just fits nowhere. Too old and slow to play fullback anymore, easily not the best choice for either centre positions and absolutely not anywhere near the best choice in the halves, so even if it wasn't obvious he's completely cooked, he still wouldn't have a place in this side. He can't even make it on the wing because that would render signing Arthars meaningless. He didn't come up here to be injury coverage for Boyd while he stinks it up, he came here to own a starting spot.

The only part I'm not confident about is the 14. We still don't know if Paix will even kick on in first grade, let alone as a makeshift utility. Judging by Seibold's habits last season, he could easily pick a spare outside back there like Perese or Farnworth. I see that as a waste of a bench spot personally but he's the coach I guess.

Assuming I'm right, I'm pretty happy with that side. It's certainly not perfect, and it has plenty of unknowns with fresh faces and a tonne of gelling to do, but **** me if it doesn't look better than some of the best case scenarios we were seeing this time last year. The last of the horrendously underwhelming Griffin era will soon be swept away, finally.

I wouldn't be surprised if they actually give the VC to Fifita. He was the captain of the youth squad and I think for the youth Qld teams as well. Having him as the VC and lure of captain would help in his retention also.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

it also has TPJ and Carrigan listed as props, but the are likely to play backrow for the foreseeable future

Seibold sees Locks as 3RD props.

That's why the list looks how it does.

He's had a hand in defining these roles, nowhere is there a "lock" on that list.

 

[Unbreakable]

Seibold sees Locks as 3RD props.

That's why the list looks how it does.

He's had a hand in defining these roles, nowhere is there a "lock" on that list.

I can guarantee Seibold didn't have a hand in it lol, the player positions on the official websites is genuinely random. Nikorima was listed as a Hooker for us during his entire tenure, despite being our starting Halfback for 2 years. If you went through all of the teams official rosters you'd find 3-4 mistakes on each website.

Here's the Raiders official listings, as an example -

Jack Wighton listed as Fullback
Nicoll-Klokstad listed as Winger
Corey Hosburgh listed as Lock
Josh Papalii listed as Lock

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

I can guarantee Seibold didn't have a hand in it lol, the player positions on the official websites is genuinely random. Nikorima was listed as a Hooker for us during his entire tenure, despite being our starting Halfback for 2 years. If you went through all of the teams official rosters you'd find 3-4 mistakes on each website.

Here's the Raiders official listings, as an example -

Jack Wighton listed as Fullback
Nicoll-Klokstad listed as Winger
Corey Hosburgh listed as Lock
Josh Papalii listed as Lock

Yeah, but that's through a time where Bennett was coach.

Seibold is a perfectionist and pays attention to the fine details.

Could be since KIA is the new sponsor, that page has been given a cleanup.

I dunno?!

But point remains, that page USED TO say "lock" if they were considered so... Now they don't, and that's Seibold's philosophy of having 3 middles.

I've read into that. Up to you if you choose not to.

You cannot GUARANTEE that at all

 

[Unbreakable]

that's Seibold's philosophy of having 3 middles.

Uh... what?

Can you back this up with anything? I've seen nothing of the sort, he occasionally started a Flegler or Ofahengaue type at Lock to start the game if we were up against a big forward pack, but for the most part he seems to play the usual 2 props + 1 lock, from what I've seen. Whether that be Carrigan or TPJ in the middle this year, or Murray at Souths last year, I don't know where you got this idea from.

 

[Morepudding]

Brodie Croft just got a new car from Subaru in Melbourne. He's not coming to us in 2020.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Uh... what?

Can you back this up with anything? I've seen nothing of the sort, he occasionally started a Flegler or Ofahengaue type at Lock to start the game if we were up against a big forward pack, but for the most part he seems to play the usual 2 props + 1 lock, from what I've seen. Whether that be Carrigan or TPJ in the middle this year, or Murray at Souths last year, I don't know where you got this idea from.

Seibold reveals how he will use Pangai jnr

Anthony Seibold will resist the temptation to use Broncos powerhouse Tevita Pangai jnr as an edge back-rower this year and will play him as a middle forward.

www.nrl.com

"There are three middles in my teams and there is no difference in their role description. The eight, 10 and the 13 all have the same job," he said.

Tea

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Brodie Croft just got a new car from Subaru in Melbourne. He's not coming to us in 2020.

Seriously....
Where are you getting that from?

 

[Morepudding]

Seriously....
Where are you getting that from?

His Instagram. Got a new Subaru Outback. Previously had a WRX. Appears to be a TPA.

 

[Kimlo]

His Instagram. Got a new Subaru Outback. Previously had a WRX. Appears to be a TPA.

He's been sponsored by them for ages, probably just part of his contract or a TPA. Don't think it means much in regards to him leaving but I hope you're wrong that's for sure.

 

[Morepudding]

Seems weird he would accept a deal and swap over cars for just a couple of weeks. With the Kahu news, I don't think we have any money for him anyway.

 

[Unbreakable]

Seibold reveals how he will use Pangai jnr

Anthony Seibold will resist the temptation to use Broncos powerhouse Tevita Pangai jnr as an edge back-rower this year and will play him as a middle forward.

www.nrl.com

"There are three middles in my teams and there is no difference in their role description. The eight, 10 and the 13 all have the same job," he said.

Tea

Fair enough, had never seen that before.

It does seem strange that there was a discernible difference between when someone like Carrigan started at Lock and when someone like Flegler started at Lock, the former played a more classical Lock role, 3rd hit-up, more ball playing & offloads, longer stints, etc. Whereas Flegler played exactly like a prop when he started at Lock. I think there's still a very distinct difference between the two roles on our team, whether Seibold wants to classify it that way or not is up to him.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

If Subaru have a good relationship with Croft, there's zero reason why they can't sponsor him up here just as well. This probably means nothing, we're just reading more into it than needed because of todays events.

If the opposite is true, and this snuck up on the club just as much as it did us, then you may as well burn the whole place to the ground because they don't care anymore.