2018 NRL Side

[1910]

Plenty of spewing yesterday morning at training. Heat was a killer.

 

[FaithinHook]

Plenty of spewing yesterday morning at training. Heat was a killer.

So gross Lol

 

[WASSHHH]

I watched a fair bit of 20’s late last year and what still surprised me the most from last nights trial was Staggs.
Yes those who have wraps on them performed well, no doubting that. But they need to as well.
But Staggs seems to have flown completely under the radar regarding this year. Granted, he may still be a long way from making the NRL, but boy he plays hard and tough, well above his weight.
From his 20’s form, he’s so versatile and robust.
Still way too early to say, but he seems to have all the hallmarks of a Berrigan prototype.
If he can be half as good, that’ll be fantastic.

 

[Morepudding]

I don't think there are many props in history that compare to Webcke and Petero. Though I do also think Petero only really went up to legendary level after leaving us.



In the long term, I agree. Hopefully Ofa builds on his second half of last season.

I've never been impressed with Ofa... Seems average at best to me. Gets lazy in defence and doesn't seem to get quick play the balls.

 

[PerthBrissy987]

I've never been impressed with Ofa... Seems average at best to me. Gets lazy in defence and doesn't seem to get quick play the balls.

Wayne wont have a problem dropping him again

 

[Morepudding]

The unfulfilled potential XIII:

1. Hunt
2. Vidot
3. Copley
4. Folau
5. Yow Yeh
6. Moon
7. Barnes
8. Webb
9. Lacey
10. Taylor
11. Meyers
12. Timu
13. Te Reo

not sure if "unfulfilled Potential" is the right term when naming Hunt, Folau and Yowyeh... Hunt had won a comp, origin and 4 nations all before he was 20... He had achieved everything in the game (unlike hayne, when he said "i've achieved everything in NRL" when he never won a comp). Similar with Falou. He had won comps (albeit they were taking off him), won origin with qld and with australia before he left. Now it is sad that both those players left. I genuinely think if Karmichael Hunt stayed he would have been one of the all time great broncos players, and would have moved in to 5/8th like Locky but alas it didn't happen (Thanks Bruno Cullen you gronk). YowYeh also played for QLD and AUstralia and won with both teams before he had a career ending injury. The other players, yeah unfulfilled potential sure, but those 3 players don't fall in that category as all of them were at the peak of their powers when they left the NRL.

 

[Morepudding]

To me it's looking like our top 17 (injury free) will be as follows.

1. Boyd
2. Kahu
3. Roberts
4. Bird
5. Isaako
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Sims
9. McCullough
10. Lodge
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. McGuire
BENCH: Thaiday, TPJ, Oates, Ofa/Haas/S'ua

NOTE: I like the idea of swapping Roberts to the left to be next to Milford. I think Kahu struggles to keep up with roberts, but Isaako would have a better chance next to him. Similarly in defence I think having Bird (a big body) over next to Nikorima would tighten up that right edge which looked very weak at times last season. Thoughts?

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

To me it's looking like our top 17 (injury free) will be as follows.

1. Boyd
2. Kahu
3. Roberts
4. Bird
5. Isaako
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Sims
9. McCullough
10. Lodge
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. McGuire
BENCH: Thaiday, TPJ, Oates, Ofa/Haas/S'ua

NOTE: I like the idea of swapping Roberts to the left to be next to Milford. I think Kahu struggles to keep up with roberts, but Isaako would have a better chance next to him. Similarly in defence I think having Bird (a big body) over next to Nikorima would tighten up that right edge which looked very weak at times last season. Thoughts?

Yeah I'm down.
They won't switch. But I'm all for it.
Also think you nailed the bench. Who's your tip for that fourth spot? (Even though there'll be a rotation)

 

[Thelmus]

I wouldn't discount the likes of Pearson yet. He didn't play last night, but must be in with a shot. We'll see who performs in the second trial.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Defensively if we were leaking metres or giving away offside or slowing the play penalties and points it was actually on Milford's side, Hunt/Nikorima/Marshall's side of the field in general was the stronger of the two, I had much more faith in their side of the field then on the opposite. Opposition teams wanted points in 2017, they targeted that side.

 

[Sproj]

To me it's looking like our top 17 (injury free) will be as follows.

1. Boyd
2. Kahu
3. Roberts
4. Bird
5. Isaako
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Sims
9. McCullough
10. Lodge
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. McGuire
BENCH: Thaiday, TPJ, Oates, Ofa/Haas/S'ua

NOTE: I like the idea of swapping Roberts to the left to be next to Milford. I think Kahu struggles to keep up with roberts, but Isaako would have a better chance next to him. Similarly in defence I think having Bird (a big body) over next to Nikorima would tighten up that right edge which looked very weak at times last season. Thoughts?

The way Joffa went last season, particularly the back end, he should be one of the first picked on the bench.

If we are getting serious, the last two bench spots should be Thaiday and Oates in a battle with Haas, Fifita, Flegler, Mago, Tuaeli, etc. TPJ and Joffa will be there.

 

[Sproj]

Defensively if we were leaking metres or giving away offside penalties and points it was actually on Milford's side, Hunt/Nikorima/Marshall's side of the field in general was the stronger of the two, I had much more faith in their side of the field then on the opposite. Opposition teams wanted points in 2017, they targeted that side.

Thank goodness Newcastle did the right thing and made Moga an offer he can’t refuse.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Thank goodness Newcastle did the right thing and made Moga an offer he can’t refuse.

And with Milford's bung shoulder(who even at full strength isn't the best defender) Anyone with a good step and speed worked them over very well. I don't mind the idea of having Roberts on Milford's side, I think the argument for him there more appealing from an attacking prospect has merit. But if someone is going to make a defensive argument, I would say Bird should be next to Milford if anything, not because Roberts is a poor defender, but because his current side of the field isn't the issue. Still either of those two centres would still shit on Moga.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

The way Joffa went last season, particularly the back end, he should be one of the first picked on the bench.

If we are getting serious, the last two bench spots should be Thaiday and Oates in a battle with Haas, Fifita, Flegler, Mago, Tuaeli, etc. TPJ and Joffa will be there.

Tagatese and carrigan are getting forgotten about (by everyone including myself, not just you there). Competition will bring out the best in players or they'll be forgetter about pretty quickly due to the insane depth in the pack we have...

 

[talanoa]

The way Joffa went last season, particularly the back end, he should be one of the first picked on the bench.

If we are getting serious, the last two bench spots should be Thaiday and Oates in a battle with Haas, Fifita, Flegler, Mago, Tuaeli, etc. TPJ and Joffa will be there.

tueali is the forgotten man here, he has a bit of x factor about him and is a very big body.
positive for him too is he has a season of cup under his belt so we know he can handle the big boys. he is a real smokey for mine. i dont know how his off season has gone though to get a guide.

 

[BroncsFan]

The way Joffa went last season, particularly the back end, he should be one of the first picked on the bench.

If we are getting serious, the last two bench spots should be Thaiday and Oates in a battle with Haas, Fifita, Flegler, Mago, Tuaeli, etc. TPJ and Joffa will be there.

Have to agree TPJ and offa were our go forward last year. We started with Blair and Sims who made half of **** all between them.

Sammy's spot should not be a given... he can't provide 40mins in the middle as a prop so it should be either him or Oates to provide that 20-30 mins at second row.

 

[Huge]

Tagatese and carrigan are getting forgotten about (by everyone including myself, not just you there). Competition will bring out the best in players or they'll be forgetter about pretty quickly due to the insane depth in the pack we have...

I haven't forgotten Tagatese at all, consistently naming him as one of two who I think will make the starting 17. My guess is the bench will be Taga, Joffa, TPJ and a utility provided that they come through the trials ok. I won't be surprised if Oates and Thaiday miss the 17 frequently. I don't see why Oates is a certainty to start in a somewhat unfamiliar role. Perhaps Oates may be used as a utility. No matter, I'm an unreliable judge and I'm really looking forward to seeing the first game team.

 

[Thelmus]

I haven't forgotten Tagatese at all, consistently naming him as one of two who I think will make the starting 17. My guess is the bench will be Taga, Joffa, TPJ and a utility provided that they come through the trials ok. I won't be surprised if Oates and Thaiday miss the 17 frequently. I don't see why Oates is a certainty to start in a somewhat unfamiliar role. Perhaps Oates may be used as a utility. No matter, I'm an unreliable judge and I'm really looking forward to seeing the first game team.

I think Oates will get a spot, simply for his versatility (provided he can show enough in training and in the trials (I expect him to be a starting 2nd row come the titans trial. If he handles it, he's on the bench. If not, qcup until he can.
Thaiday only missed out if he is in terrible form. He should get a run too in the second trial, to see where he is at with his body. Offa and tpj to fill other two bench spots. Performance of all, will be under scrutiny come round 2. The way haas played, he'll definitely get an extended run somewhere, just not round 1. But only wb knows.