I think the backline will be how you've got it based on Madge's comments re Cobbo on the wing.my team to start with is
Walsh
Cobbo
Staggs
Mariner
Arthurs
Hunt
Reynolds
Haas
B Walters (I know, but only for initial onslught)
Carrigan
Riki
Piakura
Hetherington (only because this seems the way the coach in leaning
Willison
Mozer
Te Kura
Jenson/Gosiewski (for 2nd row options)
once Mam is back things can change dramatically
Zane Bojack said on ABC radio that madge has pretty much already decided "most" positions. hooker and a couple of bench spots left to go.
anyway this will be our starting team according to Bojack:
1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Mariner
4. Staggs
5. Arthars
6. Hunt
7. Reynolds
8. Carrigan
9. Walters / Mozer / Smoothy / Paix (most contentious position)
10. Haas
11. Riki
12. Piakura
13. Hethrington
Yep I'm coming around to Kobe at 13... purely for the balance it brings the bench.It would be interesting to see what this means for Jensen. I like the idea of Patty at 8 and Kobe at 13, I think it is better balanced. I'd expect the bench to be something like:
14. Mozer / Paix
15. Willison
16. Taupau/Jensen/Te Kura
17. Gosiewski / Hunt / Perhaps a bolter like Bryce - he's heavily backed by the club.
16. Taupau/Jensen/Te Kura
If Jensen isn`t starting I think he struggles to make the team .
I don`t think he can lift the team as a replacement . Taupau is a better impact player and BTK may well be too .
I was singing Jensens praises a cpl of season back . He didn`t impress me last year .
Cobbo on the wing simply because we need the bigger body on first or second return after kick.
Rumour seems to be that Piakura isn't a lock for that edge spot (no comment on the accuracy of the rumour though).1.Walsh
2.Cobbo
3Staggs
4.Mariner
5.Arthurs
6.Hunt
7.Reynolds
8.Carrigan
9.Paix
10.Haas
11.Piakura
12.Ricki
13.Hethrington
14.Mozer
15.Willison
16.Jensen
17.Te Kura
Once Mam is back for his massive suspension and after a few weeks in Q cup most likely, drop Paix back to Q cup. I like this idea of Mozer staying as our beach utility as he'll be familiar to it, once Mam is back.
judging from media reports even if not credible:
1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Staggs
4. Mariner
5. Arthars
6. Hunt
7. Reynolds
8. Carrigan
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Hethrington
14. Mozer
15. Jensen
16. Willison
17. Te Kura
I'm not fully agreement with this but It's what I think will happen, if it was me I would put Cobbo back at Centre and keep Mariner at Wing, where I think both players have their most potential at, But I could agree it's a safe option.
I would also have Carrigan at Lock but I don't think that will matter much as I don't think his role will actually change much if at all, he will still be playing as a ball playing middle just with an 8 on his back as Kobe isn't a ball player at all, and Patty is literally the only ball playing middle we even have, though Haas has been slowly getting better at it over the last few years.
I think if Hethrington can bring his 23 form this works well for our team though as a Rotation of Jensen and Willison is a comp leading bench middle rotation imo.
Once Mam is back replace Walters with Hunt and keep Mozer on the bench and that's it.
Potentially though Willison Takes Kobe's spot if it doesn't work, also Willison is good edge cover as well, he is a big unit but he has speed and covers there well last year when he had to do it, he would easily be the bench edge option that I see.
If the Hunt/Reynolds combo is competition beating and we are top of the comp when Mam comes back bring Mam as a 17 roaming lock(I think he can handle that role well atleast for a period till be decide changes).
Patty is literally the only ball playing middle we even have, though Haas has been slowly getting better at it over the last few years.