Lets use the Dogs as an example
You want Frank Pritchard, Tony Williams, Josh Jackson and Greg Eastwood running at Ben Barba ? Let alone their big props. That is pure insanity.
Barba is fullback or not playing at all.
I think the Dogs will miss the 8 this year unless Des can perfect some crazy forward oriented gameplan. Which Des possibly could, and Hook couldn't.
While I agree with much of what you said, the prospect of Frank Pritchard, Tony Williams, Josh Jackson and Greg Eastwood running at Nikorima fills me with dread. In fact, I am still puzzled why suddenly, from nowhere, he is playing in the top grade.
Since we signed Barba, I have always argued he must be our FB but after the trials, which are NOT a joke,
we have absolutely no viable 6 and for that reason only, I would play Barba at 6 and Hoffman at FB.
At least Barba has experience and skills Nikorima does not have at this level, and he also has ... genuine speed which, as Johnson showed today, is rather useful in the halves.
Hoffman may not be the ideal FB we need, but at least he has enough experience and skills to hold his own at the back.
As for the rest of the side, based on the trials performance, I really don't care much. So far, I have seen nothing that makes this year any different to last year or the year before, so it makes little difference to me at this point in time.
It's the halves which are absolutely crucial and for mine, at this point in time, ours are woeful, and our play making, support play and defence are equally, singularly appalling.
The only other thing which for mine is blatantly obvious is that Griffin is just out of his depth as a 1st grade coach.
I pray for a miraculous turnaround on today's dreadful performance, but based on it, Bulldogs by 20
