PRE-GAME Round 1 - Roosters v Broncos

Im Back Zoolander 2 GIF by Paramount Pictures
 
For the contentious positions this is how they will start in round 1, IMO.

Paix has won the 9. I think these trial games that he has played, is the first time i've actually thought he could be a genuine option in the 9 jersey. he's always just sort of looked unsure of himself and second guessing what he should be doing.

Billy will be the bench utility. he also looked good in the trials, but played mainly in the 6 jersey. his versatility will see him get this position.

Mariner will start in the centres. His far superior attack will outweigh Shibasaki's marginally better defence IMO.

Jetski will start in the backrow, with Piakura on the bench. not really sure why, just a gut feeling.

The final bench spot is a toss of the coin proposition. Firstly, you've got the next BIG thing in Ben Te Kura ... Then you have the experienced veteran in Marty Taupau. finally, you have Piakura, one of our long term investments.

1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Staggs
4. Mariner
5. Arthars
6. Hunt
7. Reynolds
8. Haas
9. Paix
10. Carrigan
11. Gosiewski
12. Riki
13. Hethrington

14. Walters
15. Jensen
16. Willison
17. Piakura / Taupau / Te Kura
 
I’m happy with both shibasaki and goseiski starting over Mainer and piakura
They looked a lot better defensively with them in the first half of the trial today
I’m not concerned about scoring points with this team but what I am concerned with is conceding points in bunches which we did at an alarming rate last year so defence first approach is actually a step in the right direction
 
Based on trials I would go:

1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Staggs
4. Shibasaki
5. Arthars
6. B Hunt
7. Reynolds
8. Haas
9. Paix
10. Carrigan
11. Gosiewski
12. Riki
13. Hetherington

14. Walters
15. Willison
16. Piakura
17. Taupau


Shibasaki to sure up our defence while our attack gets used to playing with each other. Absorbs the early rounds to shorten Mariners season. Mariner, if/when form permits, comes in around round 8.

Gos for similar reasons. Piakura to bring impact off the bench., Plus gives us second row coverage.

Walters over Smoothy purely because he has utility. Poor form would see him dropped for Smoothy.

Marty rewarded for his trial dominance. BTK to maintain current form to get a spot.

Jensen next man up, if Willison needs a spell
 
theshed said:
Based on trials I would go:

1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Staggs
4. Shibasaki
5. Arthars
6. B Hunt
7. Reynolds
8. Haas
9. Paix
10. Carrigan
11. Gosiewski
12. Riki
13. Hetherington

14. Walters
15. Willison
16. Piakura
17. Taupau


Shibasaki to sure up our defence while our attack gets used to playing with each other. Absorbs the early rounds to shorten Mariners season. Mariner, if/when form permits, comes in around round 8.

Gos for similar reasons. Piakura to bring impact off the bench., Plus gives us second row coverage.

Walters over Smoothy purely because he has utility. Poor form would see him dropped for Smoothy.

Marty rewarded for his trial dominance. BTK to maintain current form to get a spot.

Jensen next man up, if Willison needs a spell
Click to expand...

Technically if you are basing on trials, Staggs can’t make it, he played like 2 mins.
 
Sproj said:
Technically if you are basing on trials, Staggs can’t make it, he played like 2 mins.
Click to expand...
I didn’t mean purely on trials, I meant now that we’ve seen the trials here are my thoughts…

If it was purely based on trials Mariner and BTK would be in my team :)
 
So with Perham out for the season, I imagine our fullback depth chart is:
1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Arthars
4. Willison
5. Siegwaldt

We might be in a bit of trouble through origin.
 
If it were me, I think I'd be going:

1. Walsh
2. Cobbo (switching sides with Arthars)
3. Staggs (Shibasaki if Staggs doesn't get up)
4. Mariner (Sorry Gehamat, you just aren't in the same league)
5. Arthars
6. Hunt
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Carrigan
9. Paix (wk)
10. Haas
11. Gosiewski
12. Riki (But given a rocket to step up offensively)
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy (I'm still tossing up Madden here to be honest)
15. Willison (Taupau if there is anything wrong with Xman)
16. Te Kura
17. Piakura

18. Hunt

Harsh on Taupau and Jensen but they will get their chances through injury, origin and giving Te Kura breaks because you aren't getting a full season out of him at this stage most likely. I just think this side would be frightening to face fired up in round 1.
 
After yesterday, I'd have Smoothy at 14 rather than Walters. Tyson is capable of resting both Paix and Hetherington (both of whom have questions over their ability to play big minutes), and can catch-and-pass at halfback if one of Hunt or Reynolds goes down mid-game.

Billy undoubtably provides better halves cover, but he's too erratic at hooker and it seems to mess with the team's rhythm.
 
Sproj said:
If it were me, I think I'd be going:

1. Walsh
2. Cobbo (switching sides with Arthars)
3. Staggs (Shibasaki if Staggs doesn't get up)
4. Mariner (Sorry Gehamat, you just aren't in the same league)
5. Arthars
6. Hunt
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Carrigan
9. Paix (wk)
10. Haas
11. Gosiewski
12. Riki (But given a rocket to step up offensively)
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy (I'm still tossing up Madden here to be honest)
15. Willison (Taupau if there is anything wrong with Xman)
16. Te Kura
17. Piakura

18. Hunt

Harsh on Taupau and Jensen but they will get their chances through injury, origin and giving Te Kura breaks because you aren't getting a full season out of him at this stage most likely. I just think this side would be frightening to face fired up in round 1.
Click to expand...
I'll be surprised if Madge doesn't name Billy at 14, but we're on exactly the same page here.

I think the most interesting revelation of this off season, is how Black doesn't seem to be anywhere near the mix. The unexpected arrival of Ben Hunt has delayed the looming halfback crisis giving him another year to mount his case. Which is a good thing, I think.

Another is Latrell, who hasn't lived up to hype. He's another who might've been groomed as a utility, given Paix can potentially play 80 and Walsh more often than not can't.
 
Dash said:
After yesterday, I'd have Smoothy at 14 rather than Walters. Tyson is capable of resting both Paix and Hetherington (both of whom have questions over their ability to play big minutes), and can catch-and-pass at halfback if one of Hunt or Reynolds goes down mid-game.

Billy undoubtably provides better halves cover, but he's too erratic at hooker and it seems to mess with the team's rhythm.
Click to expand...
Ye I think I've come around with this too. Hunt and reynolds are dominant halves anyway so they will just take control if the other goes down. Smoothys passes are much crisper (probably the best of our 9s) and 20 mins of that is perfect. Billy is better than what people say, but he also tries to out think the room sometimes at 9 and he isn't that, we don't need that with reynolds, walsh and hunt.

I actually think madge might be thinking of giving hunt 20 mins at hooker with Billy going to 5/8th if he puts Billy in at 14. It might depend on if our middles are dominating (take advantage with hunt at 9 with billy to 6) or getting dominated (keep hunt at 5/8th to help right the ship via direction and kicking with billy at 9 to shovel the ball and spell paix).
 
Paper:
​
"Haas (ankle), Walsh (knee) and Staggs (quad) have all been cleared of any serious injury and will be free to take on the Sydney Roosters in a round 1 blockbuster at Allianz Stadium on March 6."​
 
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