CROSS FORUM NRL 2022 Round 18 Discussion

Big Pete · Jul 13, 2022

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Friday 15 July 2022
Kick Off: 6:00pm

NORTH QLD COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Peta Hiku 5. Brendan Elliot 16. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Tom Gilbert 15. Luciano Leilua 13. Jason Taumalolo

12. Connelly Lemuelu 14. Jake Granville 17. Griffin Neame 18. Tomas Chester

6. Tom Dearden 19. Emry Pere 20. Kane Bradley 21. Ben Condon 22. Riley Price

CRONULLA SHARKS

1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Teig Wilton 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane

15. Cameron McInnes 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Andrew Fifita 19. Jesse Colquhoun

14. Aiden Tolman 18. Braydon Trindall 20. Kade Dykes 21. Siosifa Talakai 22. Lachlan Miller

Parramatta Eels vs. Warriors
CommBank Stadium, Friday 15 July 2022
Kick Off: 7:55pm

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali'i 13. Marata Niukore

14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Ky Rodwell

18. Tom Opacic 19. Elie El Zakhem 20. Nathan Brown 21. Ofahiki Ogden 22. Hayze Perham

NZ WARRIORS

1. Reece Walsh 2. Marcelo Montoya 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 16. Aaron Pene 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Josh Curran 13. Jazz Tevaga

8. Addin Fonua-Blake 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Bunty Afoa 17. Jack Murchie

18. Eliesa Katoa 20. Rocco Berry 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Pride Petterson-Robati 23. Jackson Frei

Sydney Roosters vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Central Coast Stadium, Saturday 16 July 2022
Kick Off: 3:00pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Paul Momirovski 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Joseph Manu 7. Sam Walker 16. Nat Butcher 9. Sam Verrills 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley

14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Matthew Lodge

8. Lindsay Collins 17. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 20. Lachlan Lam 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Kevin Naiqama 23. Adam Keighran 24. Terrell May

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 13. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 21. Billy Burns 12. Jaydn Su'A 11. Jack Bird

8. Francis Molo 14. Moses Mbye 16. Aaron Woods 22. Josh McGuire

15. Josh Kerr 17. Jaiyden Hunt 18. Michael Molo 19. Jayden Sullivan 20. Tyrell Sloan

Manly Sea Eagles vs. Newcastle Knights
4 Pines Park, Saturday 16 July 2022
Kick Off: 5:30pm

MANLY SEA EAGLES

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Sean Keppie 9. Lachlan Croker 18. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic

10. Toafofoa Sipley 14. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau

17. Taniela Paseka 19. Ben Trbojevic 20. Ethan Bullemor 21. Kurt De Luis 22. Kaeo Weekes

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 20. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitchell Barnett

14. Simi Sasagi 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 18. Leo Thompson

13. Kurt Mann 17. Brodie Jones 19. Chris Randall 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Jake Clifford

Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos
Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday 16 July 2022
Kick Off: 7:30pm

GOLD COAST TITANS

1. AJ Brimson 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Phillip Sami 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Aaron Booth 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 14. Erin Clark

13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Herman Ese'ese 17. Paul Turner

18. Sam McIntyre 19. Jamayne Isaako 20. Greg Marzhew 21. Brian Kelly 22. Kevin Proctor

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Tesi Niu 2. Delouise Hoeter 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 16. Thomas Flegler 11. Zac Hosking 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

10. Ryan James 14. Jake Turpin 15. Rhys Kennedy 17. Tyson Gamble

18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Corey Jensen 21. Tyrone Roberts 22. Logan Bayliss-Brow 23. Corey Oates 24. Patrick Carrigan

Wests Tigers vs. Penrith Panthers
CommBank Stadium, Sunday 17 July 2022
Kick Off: 2:00pm

WESTS TIGERS

1. Daine Laurie 20. Junior Tupou 21. Asu Kepaoa 3. Starford To'a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Fa'amanu Brown 10. Zane Musgrove 16. Luke Garner 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jackson Hastings

11. Justin Matamua 14. Fonua Pole 15. James Tamou 17. Jake Simpkin

2. David Nofoaluma 4. James Roberts 18. Austin Dias 19. Jock Madden 22. Alex Seyfarth

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Robert Jennings 5. Charlie Staines 6. Kurt Falls 7. Sean O'Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Chris Smith 13. Matt Eisenhuth

14. Soni Luke 15. Scott Sorensen 17. Jaeman Salmon 20. Lindsay Smith

16. Spencer Leniu 18. Sunia Turuva 19. J'maine Hopgood 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Christian Crichton

Melbourne Storm vs. Canberra Raiders
AAMI Park, Sunday 17 July 2022
Kick Off: 4:05pm

MELBOURNE STORM

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Nick Meaney 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Dean Ieremia 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King

14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Alec MacDonald 17. Jordan Grant

18. Jayden Nikorima 19. Chris Lewis 20. Tom Eisenhuth 21. Young Tonumaipea 22. Bronson Garlick

CANBERRA RAIDERS

1. Xavier Savage 15. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 16. Adam Elliott 20. Corey Harawira-Naera

13. Ryan Sutton 14. Tom Starling 21. Emre Guler 22. Albert Hopoate

2. Nick Cotric 12. Elliott Whitehead 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Brad Schneider 19. Ata Mariota

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Accor Stadium, Sunday 17 July 2022
Kick Off: 6:15pm

CANTEBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 20. Declan Casey 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Waddell 13. Tevita Pangai Junior

14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Joe Stimson 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

3. Aaron Schoupp 19. Matt Dufty 21. Bailey Biondi-Odo 22. Jackson Topine 23. Chris Patolo

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 16. Siliva Havili 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 20. Davvy Moale

14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Jed Cartwright 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

9. Damien Cook 13. Cameron Murray 19. Richard Kennar 21. Shaq Mitchell 22. Blake Taaffe 23. Ben Lovett

Super Freak · Jul 13, 2022

Interesting move from the Tigers moving Hastings to 13, Brooks to 7 and Doueihi to 6. What is it going to take for Brooks to get dropped? I would be keeping Hastings at 7, move Doueihi to 6 and Brooks out of the side or playing as the bench utility.

Hastings to 13 also means Offa is moved to prop despite performing better at 13.

Panthers resting all of their Origin players, Tigers will still lose by 13+.

Renegade · Jul 13, 2022

Super Freak said:
Interesting move from the Tigers moving Hastings to 13, Brooks to 7 and Doueihi to 6. What is it going to take for Brooks to get dropped? I would be keeping Hastings at 7, move Doueihi to 6 and Brooks out of the side or playing as the bench utility.

Hastings to 13 also means Offa is moved to prop despite performing better at 13.

Panthers resting all of their Origin players, Tigers will still lose by 13+.

Maybe it's like us moving Boyd all over the shop instead of just dropping him. Perhaps the board doesn't want such an expensive player running around in the reggies.

Big Pete · Jul 13, 2022

Reportedly this was the idea they had in mind when they signed Hastings. Who knows how they'll go but with nothing to lose it's worth a shot before they make a decision on Brooks.

The Boyd/Milford comparison is fair. I'd lean towards Milford because the Tigers did have the opportunity to release Brooks but held on for stability and FOMO.

The Broncos should actually be a positive case study for struggling teams. Walters had to make some tough decisions but he didn't shy away from them and the team was able to move forward in a positive direction.

Whether that means a Doueihi/Hastings combination or a Doueihi/Madden/Hastings combo remains to be seen. It seems like Madden is on the outer with the club but I don't think he was ever given the opportunities he should have to succeed.

Either way, I'm glad they're looking at that 13 position as well. As much as Brooks is struggling, the Tigers are in the stone ages playing Ofahengaue back there. I still think Joe can be a handy in that prop rotation but they need somebody with more skill and stamina at 13.

Granted, the Tigers are a blind spot for me. I haven't really paid close attention to them and the only thing I notice is how out of rhythm they tend to be.

Sproj · Jul 13, 2022

If you were rebuilding that roster, who would you be keeping?

For me, I'd be keeping Papali'i to his contract, they need to put their foot down. They need to let Milf, sorry Brooks go. He may go well elsewhere but they need to cut the cord. Koraisau coming in is huge for them, he could be there Reynolds, albeit in a different position. What do they with their other two 9s? I'd be interested in Simpkin massively if he wants to come back but I digress.

I look at that Tigers team and the only ones I would keep are Douiehi, Hastings, Koraisau, Papali'i, Nofoaluma and Joffa. That's it and two of them aren't even there yet. They need to blow it up and look for some Brenko Lees, Ryan Jameses and Corey Jensens to fill in around their young kids coming through. I do not know who these players should be though, particularly as they are competing with Redcliffe now for these types of players. If I were them, I'd look at Kerr, Hoeter, Kennedy (I cannot believe they didn't go for him), Turpin (purely for squad depth and professionalism at training), Hymel Hunt, Tom Opacic (not sure if he is already signed to SL or just spoken about) and Lachlan Lam as a start.

Big Pete · Jul 14, 2022

Well when I look back on the Tigers premiership it was built on junior talent and savvy recruitment. Players like Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Dene Halatau, Bryce Gibbs, Liam Fulton etc. were all blooded early before Sheens brought in the likes of Hodgson, Richards, Whatuira, Prince, Payten, Elford etc.

So I'd be looking at players like Matamua, Dotoi, Hill, Delle, Tumeth, O'Kane, Pole etc. I'd be looking at players like Charlie Staines, Tyrell Sloan, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Eliesa Katoa etc. who have something to offer but aren't getting opportunities.

I think it's important to space this out over three years but players I'd want to keep moving forward are Nofoaluma, Doueihi, Hastings, Utoikamanu, Twal, Blore, Talau etc. I don't know if the starting 13 would look dramatically different, it'd be something like...

1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Junior Tupou 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Ken Maumalo
6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jackson Hastings
8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Api Koroisau 10. Alex Twal 11. Isaiah Papalii 12. Shawn Blore 13. Tommy Talau

Then I'm rewarding my best junior prospects with bench spots and if they relish the opportunity starting spots. The hope is that they take over and I can foster an environment of players that came up with the fundamentals I'd consider valuable for success.

NZWarriors.com · Jul 15, 2022