PRE-GAME Round 16 - Bulldogs vs Broncos

[lionred]

I would think TPJ stays in the middle, off bench again, Joffa at 13 and Sua would be there if back from injury.

 

[mitch222]

Im thinking Parker & Moose play this game due to all the injuries. They will most likely get their rest game after game 3 against the bunnies when there is more cover

1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Roberts
4. Opacic
5. Maranta
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. Blair
9. Waddell
10. McGuire
11. Thaiday
12. Gillett
13. Parker

14. Nikorima
15. Ofaengahue
16. TPJ
17. Wallace

 

[lionred]

Actually i agree. Soo players will all back up and maranta will be there

 

[Rally Towel]

I doubt we risk Oates. He's looking pretty banged up of late and I'm sure Game 2 will be a hard slog.

I know he's a unit but I was a bit worried for him in Game 1. Hopefully we get on the front foot this time and the Blues can't put him under as much pressure.

 

[Big Pete]

Should Wayne Bennett pull a Craig Bellamy and rest all his Origin players (and anyone else who requires it) in preparation for the Round 17 clash against Melbourne?

If so, what would the 17 look like?

 

[Foordy]

Should Wayne Bennett pull a Craig Bellamy and rest all his Origin players (and anyone else who requires it) in preparation for the Round 17 clash against Melbourne?

If so, what would the 17 look like?

with no origin players (or injured players)

1. Maranta
2. Eden
3. Opacic
4. Roberts
5, Seve
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. Blair
9. Waddell
10. Wallace
11. TPJ
12. Thaiday
13. Arrow

14. Nikorima
15. Su'A
16. Ese'ese
17. Offahengue

 

[Unbreakable]

The team would look a little rough with no origin players, so many injuries right now..

1. Isaako
2. Seve
3. Opacic
4. Roberts
5. Maranta
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. Wallace
9. Waddell
10. Blair
11. Ofahengaue
12. Pangai Jr
13. Arrow

14. Ese'ese
15. Funaki
16. Molo
17. Nikorima

 

[Sproj]

Thaiday out (origin player), Su'a to second row and probably Molo/Fai on to the bench.

 

[Unbreakable]

with no origin players (or injured players)

1. Maranta
2. Eden
3. Opacic
4. Roberts
5, Seve
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. Blair
9. Waddell
10. Wallace
11. TPJ
12. Thaiday
13. Arrow

14. Nikorima
15. Su'A
16. Ese'ese
17. Offahengue

Thaiday is an origin player, Su'a still hasn't returned from shoulder surgery.

 

[Foordy]

Thaiday out (origin player), Su'a to second row and probably Molo/Fai on to the bench.

true ... maybe i just forgot about it because he isn't playing like an origin player

 

[Big Pete]

I don't expect Wayne to take such a drastic action, especially since momentum means so much in the NRL. Still, there's definitely some food for thought there. It's a long-ish season and we're in the middle of the State of Origin period, taking advantage of it and testing our depth in order to keep our starting 17 fresh is a smart investment.

I like the 17s being suggested so far, if I could weigh in on a couple of picks:

FULLBACK - It would have to Eden wouldn't it? Not only is he a fullback masqerading as a winger, think of the potential Four Nations story? Wayne always likes tying things together, how cool would it be for the Broncos to have the Australian, Kiwi and English Fullback? Sure, the chances of that happening is like OJ appearing in a Naked Gun sequal (How good is that 30 for 30 special by the way?) but you never know, maybe there's an opportunity to sneak it in.

BACKROW: It's imperative to play a natural backrow there. Pangai Jr and Ofahengaue are both middle forwards, Thaiday is an Origin player (as difficult as that is to imagine) so that leaves us with Su'A and Funaki. Unfortunately Su'A is recovering from his shoulder (AC?) injury and I don't think he'll be right for the game and Funaki has been pretty bog average from what I understand. However, under this scenario, Funaki would find his way into the squad somehow and joining him would be former Under 20s mainstay Alex Barr. Barr isn't the flashiest player in history, but he's been picked ahead of Funaki and can be relied onto do his job on the fringes. So I'd bring him in and have him play on the right side with Boyce to cover the other fringe (Funaki bench).

Also wouldn't be against resting Milford, giving Kodi a shot at five-eighth and drafting Nichols onto the bench.

 

[Unbreakable]

For reference Pangai played almost exclusively on the edge in his time in the ISC, he'd probably be selected on an edge in this hypothetical scenario, ahead of Barr & Funaki.

Wayne doesn't care so much about sticking to positions during the origin period from memory, I believe he opts for the "Origin mentality" and starts his best 13 available players, regardless of positions, thus I'd assume Ofahengaue would slot in there somewhere, despite his recent lapse in form.

Also, I never want to see Eden in a Broncos jersey again, I don't care how desperate we are. If we're looking for another option I wouldn't mind seeing how Jimmy goes with 80 minutes at Fullback.

 

[Super Freak]

It likely wouldn't happen, but I would definitely like the idea of Blair being moved to the second row for this game.. It's not like he can't play that position. He played in the second row for the Storm and killed it there.

Put him on the left with Milford, Opacic and Oates. That could be a real danger side.

The only players I think will be rested are Parker and Thaiday. Perhaps just one of them.

 

[winslow_wong]

with no origin players (or injured players)

1. Maranta
2. Eden
3. Opacic
4. Roberts
5, Seve
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. Blair
9. Waddell
10. Wallace
11. TPJ
12. Thaiday
13. Arrow

14. Nikorima
15. Su'A
16. Ese'ese
17. Offahengue

Jesus help us.

 

[Big Pete]

Pangai Jr may have been named at 12 for Souths Logan, but that doesn't mean he was playing on an edge.

Boyce doesn't play there often either, but he's a defence oriented player who is the type of player Wayne likes to have. As he showed with the Su'A selection, Wayne doesn't just name his strongest pack and go from there. His selections have a specific role, and in Su'A's case he needed his best edge forward available. Jaydn at 18 just happened to be that pick.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Thaiday is an origin player, Su'a still hasn't returned from shoulder surgery.

He is returning after the buy.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Apparently Fai is playing really well for Souths Logan, so he might grab a bench spot.

 

[Sproj]

I'd love to see that, I really rate Fai.