2023 Predicted Line-Ups

I know this is a broncos thread so I don't want to keep it too off topic but Warriors have to have TMM at fullback, he is a stable head that they badly need in the position and could do wonders for them, their halves are weak though so they will probably be too tempted to put him in 6 with SJ, I think that would be a mistake.

from all the reports i've seen, his pretty much locked in as their 6
 
I know this is a broncos thread so I don't want to keep it too off topic
Not at all, if anything I hope this thread doesn't get too bogged down in Broncos discussion.

but Warriors have to have TMM at fullback, he is a stable head that they badly need in the position and could do wonders for them, their halves are weak though so they will probably be too tempted to put him in 6 with SJ, I think that would be a mistake.
I can see them chopping and changing throughout. It really depends on whether Nicoll-Klokstad is done and whether TMM has another gear in him. He was good for the Broncos when they needed a replacement, but as he showed towards the end of his stint he is limited in the role. They also have Luke Metcalf as an option and Tuaupiki who was the best fullback in QCup if they upgrade him from a T&T deal.

The only thing Webster has confirmed so far is that Barnett & Niukore will be in the backrow. Walker will also be the 14 and will likely shift to the centres as a back-up option.

Also no word on Curran's status as he faces another hearing on February 1st after he was charged with assault.
 
Not at all, if anything I hope this thread doesn't get too bogged down in Broncos discussion.


I can see them chopping and changing throughout. It really depends on whether Nicoll-Klokstad is done and whether TMM has another gear in him. He was good for the Broncos when they needed a replacement, but as he showed towards the end of his stint he is limited in the role. They also have Luke Metcalf as an option and Tuaupiki who was the best fullback in QCup if they upgrade him from a T&T deal.

The only thing Webster has confirmed so far is that Barnett & Niukore will be in the backrow. Walker will also be the 14 and will likely shift to the centres as a back-up option.

Also no word on Curran's status as he faces another hearing on February 1st after he was charged with assault.
I think TMMs effect at the end was limited alot by Staggs drop off which he was one of the best players to take advantage of using Cobbo, given his lack of actual playing time there I see a proper player that could be a genuine late bloomer.

It takes a proper strong mentality of a person to come back from the hand he was dealt with, and anything I have learned watching professional sports it's that type of player that just keeps getting better.
 
If I were the Warriors, I’d be trying to get the Fijian kid from Penrith, I can’t believe no one has snapped him up. He’d then allow TMM to play 6.
 
If I were the Warriors, I’d be trying to get the Fijian kid from Penrith, I can’t believe no one has snapped him up. He’d then allow TMM to play 6.
I don't think it's the best idea, Warriors have a huge problem with signing Aussie based players that will inevitably leave, I said it when they signed Walsh I knew 100% at the time that he wouldn't stay long because no Aussie ever does.

Covid really ruined the clubs chances of Gus rebuilding their youth model to make a proper system.
 
I don't think it's the best idea, Warriors have a huge problem with signing Aussie based players that will inevitably leave, I said it when they signed Walsh I knew 100% at the time that he wouldn't stay long because no Aussie ever does.

Covid really ruined the clubs chances of Gus rebuilding their youth model to make a proper system.

could be a bit different if that player is of Polynesian heritage
 
could be a bit different if that player is of Polynesian heritage
Only if they have Family in the country, Fiji isn't Polynesian though but he might have close family in the country no idea, that said Walsh is half Māori on his mums side and that didn't change his situation.

We are talking about kids here though that are starting their careers it's a huge ask.
 
Only if they have Family in the country, Fiji isn't Polynesian though but he might have close family in the country no idea, that said Walsh is half Māori on his mums side and that didn't change his situation.

We are talking about kids here though that are starting their careers it's a huge ask.

Walsh is a little bit different because his child was living in Australia.
 
Walsh is a little bit different because his child was living in Australia.
That was probably a by product of the fact he was living in QLD because of Warriors not going back to NZ in covid times, but I don't recall many Aussie players staying there long term anyway, It's a pretty huge commitment.

The nature of a first grade player is someone tight with their family as they are usually the ones that drives their career, you take it away and they can feel lost especially at a young age.
 
Before Sproj took the mantle, I was something of a team list fiend myself. All my notebooks used to be filled with predicted team line-ups so in afterglow of the grand final I'm feeling nostalgic and want to give you all 17 teams by memory.

Feel free to share your own and if I forget somebody call me out! I'm going old school and doing this all from memory...

Canberra Raiders
1. Xavier Savage 2. Nic Cotric 3. Matt Timoko 4. Seb Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joe Tapine 11. Elliott Whitehead 12. Hudson Young 13. Corey Harawira-Naera

14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Trey Mooney

Rookie - Ata Mariota

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Luke Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Josh Jackson

14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Tevita Pangai Jr 17. Chris Patolo

Rookie - Paul Alamoti

Cronulla Sharks
1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane

14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInness 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Trindall

Rookie - Kade Dykes

Gold Coast Titans
1. Jayden Campbell 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phil Sami 5. Greg Marzhew 6. AJ Brimson 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Issac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

14. Erin Clark 15. Joe Stimson 16. Jaimin Joliffe 17. Klese Haas

Rookie - Tony Francis

Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Reuben Garrick 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Morgan Harper 5. Christian Tuipolotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Haumole Ola'kauatu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Karl Lawton 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Tofofoa Sipley 17. Ben Trbojevic

Rookie - Alec Tui'itavake

Melbourne Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Xavier Coates 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Nick Meaney 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Christian Welch 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Tariq Sims 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Alec MacDonald 17. Jack Howarth

Rookie - Will Warbrick

Newcastle Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jake Clifford 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon Brodie Jones 13. Adam Elliott

14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mat Croker

Rookie - Chris Vailea

North Queensland Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Peta Hiku 4. Val Holmes 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean* 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Griffin Neame 17. Heilum Luki

Rookie - Riley Price

Parramatta Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Waqa Blake 4. Will Penisini 5. Haze Dunster 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitch Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown

14. Makeheshi Makatoa 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Wiremu Greig 17. J'maine Hopgood

Rookie - Elie El Zakhem

Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Iszac Tago 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Issah Yeo

14. Soni Luke 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Jaeman Salmon

Rookie - Mavrik Geyer

South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Tom Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cam Murray

14. Blake Taafe 15. Siliva Havili 16. Davy Moale 17. Hame Sele

Rookie - Terrell Kalo Kalo

St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mat Feagai 3. Zac Lomax 4. Moses Suli 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Francis Molo 11. Jack Bird 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Jack de Belin

14. Jayden Sullivan 15. George Burgess 15. Aaron Woods 16. Michael Molo 17. Jack Gosiewski 17. Tyrell Fuiamaono 17. Billy Burns

Rookie - Josh Coric

Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joey Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Brandon Smith 10. Jared Warea-Hargreaves 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley

14. Connor Watson 15. Matt Lodge* 16. Nat Butcher 17. Egan Butcher

Rookie - Robert To'a

The Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jack Bostock 3. Brenko Lee 4. Valynce Te Whare Euan Aitken 5. Edrick Lee 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Tom Gilbert

14. Harrison Graham 15. Ray Stone 16. Herman Ese'ese 17. Jarrod Wallace Connelly Lemuelu

Rookie - Isaya Katoa

Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Marcelo Montoya 5. Edward Kosi 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnston 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Jackson Ford 11. Mitchell Barnett 12. Josh Curran 13. Jazz Tevaga 13. Marata Niukore

14. Dylan Walker 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Aaron Pene 16. Ben Murdoch Masila 17. Bailey Sironen 17. Jazz Tevaga

Rookie - Otu Kepu

Wests Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. AJ Kepoaoa 4. Starford To'a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Api Koroisau 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Shawn Blore 12. Isaiah Papali'i 13. Jackson Hastings

14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Justin Matuma 16. Fonua Pole 17. Zane Musgrove

Rookie - Rua Ngatura

I'm having a shocker with these names.

Finally...

Brisbane Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Pat Carrigan

14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Corey Jensen 17. Xavier Willison

Rookie - Deine Mariner
I think there are a number of updates you may want to consider:

Titans: Marzhew has signed with the nights
Knights: by all reports Ponga will start the season at 6. Miller likely at 1
Dragons: Amone must be no chance of playing

Dolphins: in my personal opinion Isaako will get first crack at a wing (probably in place of Bostock who is only on a dev deal).Wayne will know this Dolphins team will struggle for points and Isaako’s goal kicking will be valuable.

Tigers: Klemmer and Stains

Broncos: obviously Martin once official
 
I think there are a number of updates you may want to consider:

Titans: Marzhew has signed with the nights
Knights: by all reports Ponga will start the season at 6. Miller likely at 1
Dragons: Amone must be no chance of playing

Dolphins: in my personal opinion Isaako will get first crack at a wing (probably in place of Bostock who is only on a dev deal).Wayne will know this Dolphins team will struggle for points and Isaako’s goal kicking will be valuable.

Tigers: Klemmer and Stains

Broncos: obviously Martin once official
I think you're right about the Dolphins, I know the Bostock selection was influenced by my belief that the Dolphins need to blood as many players as possible to get that mixture right. I wasn't necessarily basing the lists on what I expected to see Round 1, in fact, the only gimmick is that I couldn't use external sources.

It was self-indulgent but it was also to encourage others to chime in with suggestions.

With the Titans, Knights, Dragons, Tigers, Dolphins - what positions do you have locked in come 1?

I'd be curious to see some 17s, especially with trials only two weeks away to see what positions are up for grabs.
 
I think you're right about the Dolphins, I know the Bostock selection was influenced by my belief that the Dolphins need to blood as many players as possible to get that mixture right. I wasn't necessarily basing the lists on what I expected to see Round 1, in fact, the only gimmick is that I couldn't use external sources.

It was self-indulgent but it was also to encourage others to chime in with suggestions.

With the Titans, Knights, Dragons, Tigers, Dolphins - what positions do you have locked in come 1?

I'd be curious to see some 17s, especially with trials only two weeks away to see what positions are up for grabs.
The most interesting to me is the Dolphins. There are a few players locked in but the majority of the squad are journeymen or young players. I won’t question Wayne’s ability to make the pieces fit for one season while they blood young guys and finally score a marquee or two in time for 2024.

That being said, outside of the guys who are locked in the rest of the squad is entirely up for grabs and it will depend on what Wayne thinks is best. I personally think Wane is fairly risk adverse and will try to squeeze as much out of the journeymen as he can rather than rely too heavily on youth. They have picked up quite a few handy young players (though truth be told I’m not super familiar with all of them) but as I said I think the Isaakos and Lees of the squad will get first look in.


Locked in:
JMK, the Bromwichs, Kafusi, Aitkin, Gilbert, Hamiso, Nicholls

likely:
Milford, Nikorima, Sos, Edrick Lee, Brenko Lee, , Wallace,

Your line up is pretty spot I would say but I’ll make the following prediction:


1. Tabuai-Fidow 2. E Lee 3. B Lee 4. Aitken 5. Isaako 6. Milford 7. O’Sullivan 8. J Bromwich 9. Marshall-King 10. Nicholls 11. Kaufusi 12. K Bromwich 13. Gilbert

14. Nikorima 15. Wallace 16. Ese Ese 17. Lemuelu

It’s not a bad team now I look at it, considering they had 1 year to throw it together. There are less inspiring rosters in the comp, that’s for sure
 
In terms of first 17s, it would be interesting to do a power ranking purely on paper. I'd imagine it is something like:

Top Tier
1. Penrith
2. Sydney
3. North Queensland

Much of a Muchness
4. Cronulla
5. Melbourne
6. South Sydney
7. Parramatta
8. Brisbane
9. Canterbury
10. Wests
11. Canberra
12. St George

Also Rans
13. Newcastle
14. Gold Coast
15. The
16. Manly
17. New Zealand
 
I think I'm most interested in Wests and Canterbury this season, they've bought well. I also wonder what Bankstown will do with their fullback position. Now Crichton is confirmed for '24 and there is no way Penrith will let him go early and rightly so, what do they do. Will their current fullback hang around? Likely so I guess as who else will want him but I'm going to plug Turuva again, I'd love him at the Broncs but that won't happen, so if I were the Dogs, I'd be asking for a one year loan deal and give him his shot.
 
I'd comfortably rank the Dolphins as the worst roster, if Bennett gets them into the top 8 he's a genius. Anything above bottom 4 will be impressive actually
 
In terms of first 17s, it would be interesting to do a power ranking purely on paper. I'd imagine it is something like:

Much of a Muchness
5. Melbourne
8. Brisbane
Not wanting to piss on your optimism - and I'm sure we're capable of pulling one out of the hat - but purely on paper?

Melbourne v Brisbane spines:

1. Papenhuyzen v Walsh
6. Munster v Mam
7. Hughes v Reynolds
9. Grant v Walters

In fairness, we can match or challenge them everywhere else.
 
That being said, outside of the guys who are locked in the rest of the squad is entirely up for grabs and it will depend on what Wayne thinks is best. I personally think Wane is fairly risk adverse and will try to squeeze as much out of the journeymen as he can rather than rely too heavily on youth. They have picked up quite a few handy young players (though truth be told I’m not super familiar with all of them) but as I said I think the Isaakos and Lees of the squad will get first look in.
See, I'm not so sure about that. Yes, once Bennett has settled on a 17 he loathes to change it and he's very deliberate about when and how he'll blood his younger players. However when it comes to that Round 1 team, he's not afraid to go left field, especially on the wing. I mean how many Broncos seasons began with a Steve Irwin, Leon Bott, Darius Boyd, Reece Robinson, Greg Eden, Tautau Moga etc. coming from virtually nowhere to grab a spot in the backline?

Then of course there was Karmichael Hunt and Kerrod Walters who were two of his most surprising selections.

So I'm curious to see who that bolter will be. Whether it's Te Whare or if they upgrade one of their development players early. It's not like they don't have the space in the top squad, they still have 3 spots that need to be filled. My guess is that one of those 3 players will be in the Round 1 team.
 

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