1. Hayze Perham
Interested to see where he is at post ACL injury. We desperately need a fullback backup. Hoping he puts in a good performance and puts some of those stresses around Reece's backup to bed
2. Antonio Verhoeven
Would rather him at centre but he is a gun. Will be fun to watch anywhere.
3. Kane Bradley
Interesting one. Not a bad player to have in your cup systems and come to training but I think he is at his heights. Don't see any value in the top grade.
4. Delouise Hoeter
Love Della. Always has a rip, great player. One of my favourites at the club, puts in every time he gets a crack and is just happy to be there. Will do well as always.
5. Phillip Coates
I don't buy the hype. He had a good game in the u19's origin and his last name gets him attention. Personally I thought he was the worst of the Bears backs last year. I can't see first grade in his future personally, or at least at Brisbane. Happy to be proven wrong however. He has the athleticism and attributes and thats what Brisbane are taking a punt on imo.
6. Bailey McConnell
Interesting one. I rate Bailey, smart operator, its clear they rate him. I want to know what his ceiling is, and this will be a good chance to understand. This fortnight for Bailey will be make or break for him regarding future opportunities at this club you'd have to think. I am backing him in. Hopefully goes good.
7. Tom Duffy
The connections and chemistry with his players might not be there yet but he has to stand out in this game. BIG TIME. He is a class above this level and needs to demonstrate it if he wants to get time in the halves this year and compete with Pezet heading into 27'.
8. VJ Semu
Potential is there but I have never been wowed by VJ. Hopefully he shows us something. Not expecting a whole lot now or in the future.
10. Cameron Bukowski
Hope to see some more growth. Everyone knows of his talent, just want to see that its still progressing. Sort of player already that you know what you are going to get as the bare minimum and I love that about him. Still rate Blake in another echelon above Cameron for hooker talents, that finals series last year doesn't change that for mine yet. Super blessed as a club to have the both of them, and both working under Smithy as well.
11. Ben Te Kura
Who the **** knows what we are going to get. Someone I rate very highly on his day and frustrating every other day. Need more growth and consistency shown this season. If he can do that he is in my 17. The fact that 4 second rowers went to UK before him worries me. He is at that stage where he should be knocking the door down for NRL and on that tour.
12. Jett Bryce
Thought he had exited stage left... Will do the job. Curious to see if he will try to prove a point. To little to late imo. Nothin remarkable about him.
13. Luke Gale
Good experience. Know what you will get. Nothing to look to deeply at here.
14. Tupou Francis
I am freaking excited. Starting spot and all. GUN. Like
@1910 said he has stepped up at every level so far. I say keep throwing him under the bus until he doesn't. Not concerned about his age one bit. Him, Antonio and Duffy are my ones to watch.
15. Beni Allen
I have no idea what to expect. One of the weirder prospects we have had. One week he could play NRL and the next he could be running the waters for the BRL. Interesting watch this one.
16. Jared Horne
Will be intriguing to see where he is at. Good prospect but not quite the Francis level of prospect. He has been one I've been keen to get up to seniors for a while. Will be good to see where he is at and his near term/long term prospects are looking like.
17. Brady Turner
Did well in NRLQ last year. Will just be interesting to see where he is at. Has a lot of comparitvely aged competition. Lets see how he goes. Dirhys Sefo is a weird non-inclusion should Turner be playing. Dirhys personally was my pick of the NRLQ forwards last year. Whenever he rolled his sleeves up we won games and scored points. Haven't seen his name pop up on other teams trial lists so hopefully is just injured or not selected rather than left.
18. Mason Teague
I think Mason has all the potential in the world. The fact that Tupou is starting over him tells me everything I need to know though. Not holding my breath.
19. Toni Tupouniua
Can't see a performance that will wow anyone coming. Haven't taken to much notice of him previously.
20. Josh Coric
I like Josh. I like that he is getting a shot. Will be good to see where he is at.
21. Siosaia Poese
I haven't seen to much of Poese and Tupuse but when I have my concerns have been that they seem like underage football freaks and that's all they are. You get plenty of them, not a knock on these two. Very skilled and athletic operators but when it comes to the NRL defences are good enough to handle your skills. Has to be a point of difference beyond silky and athletic that pushes further. Will be interesting to see if they have it.
22. Preston Cassidy
Don't rate he is just filling numbers.
23. Ben Farr
Do rate but at that point in his career if he was going to break through he would have broken through by now, good player to boost your cup sides and come to training every now and then but that seems to be it for Ben. Wonder if the UK would be worth a shot for him to try to kickstart something. Presumably with Gundry there he will play halves but I would have thought he started over Mcconnell imo, but maybe they are looking to test Bailey.
24. Joseph Tupuse
See Poese point above. Same applies.
25. Seth Gundry
He has got something about him doesn't he. Will be a good tell of whether that something is good enough for q-cup and nrl going forward.
