Trial #3 vs. Warriors Pre-Match Discussion

[Donald]

Well I'm hoping it's not straddle or barba at 6, but seeing kodi is playing in rocky I guess it is

Im with you. I think Kodi deserves first crack at the 6 spot and he needs time there not just two or three games.

I would have thought that this trial being the last game before the start of the season we would have named a full strength side.

1. Barba
2. Hoffman
3. Reed
4. Copley
5. Vidot / Mills
6. Kodi
7. Hunt
8. Hannant
9. Maca
10. McGuire
11. Glen
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. Gillet
15. Kennedy
16.
17.

 

[Cult]

IMO after Copley suffered his injury last year Hook saw an opportunity to reshuffle the team and find a position for everyone, prior to that at least one person was going to miss out and it was most likely going to be either Hunt or Prince (or perhaps even Wallace). Now I understand why Hook made that decision, to keep all the players happy, but what he should've been more concerned with was fielding the best possible team (which I believe he'll do this year). As we all know however the decision to move Norman to fullback ultimately lead to his decision to sign with Parramatta which may actually be Griffin's finest act as Brisbane's coach. It also meant we went looking for a new spine and sacked/released/retired Wallace and Prince and signed Barba, Milford and possibly even Smith.

EDIT: The decision also meant that we found Hoffman's best position is clearly as an outside back, not as a fullback.

Griffin is a genius!

 

[Fighting Irish]

IMO Griffen has no idea about a game plan or how to prepare a team for round 1
I always thought trial were to do 2 things - figure out who are you best players for PARTICULAR positions and play them in those positions and combinations - never ever should we play a player out of his own specialist position for the sake of covering up a weaker player in his preferred position.
It was not Hook who last year with about 7 games to go decided that Norman should not be picked again and to get rid of Wallace from half back and all those other positional changes - putting players back to their correct positions - it came as a DIRECT directive from the powers above Hook and he was apparently told in no uncertain manner that if he did not do it the door was over there.
I can tell you Hook is on a very very short lead and has been since about July last year and has 5 games to sort the team out and win - otherwise he is gone.
But it seems that old habits die hard and he is a very stubborn bugger and will not pick players in the trial that will be playing with each other in combinations in round 1 because he thinks all will be good on the day and then in the press conference after the game will starch his head and will say " gee we can only get better"
Lets see if he has learnt how to manage his interchange which by any measure was an absolute disgrace last year - lets see if he has improved his decision making ideas when it comes to picking players in the correct positions or are we going to get a new coach after round 5 when we are not performing

 

[Splinter]

Only one problem with this and that is the fact he does not have an NRL 5/8 in the squad

 

[Splinter]

IMO Griffen has no idea about a game plan or how to prepare a team for round 1
I always thought trial were to do 2 things - figure out who are you best players for PARTICULAR positions and play them in those positions and combinations - never ever should we play a player out of his own specialist position for the sake of covering up a weaker player in his preferred position.
It was not Hook who last year with about 7 games to go decided that Norman should not be picked again and to get rid of Wallace from half back and all those other positional changes - putting players back to their correct positions - it came as a DIRECT directive from the powers above Hook and he was apparently told in no uncertain manner that if he did not do it the door was over there.
I can tell you Hook is on a very very short lead and has been since about July last year and has 5 games to sort the team out and win - otherwise he is gone.
But it seems that old habits die hard and he is a very stubborn bugger and will not pick players in the trial that will be playing with each other in combinations in round 1 because he thinks all will be good on the day and then in the press conference after the game will starch his head and will say " gee we can only get better"
Lets see if he has learnt how to manage his interchange which by any measure was an absolute disgrace last year - lets see if he has improved his decision making ideas when it comes to picking players in the correct positions or are we going to get a new coach after round 5 when we are not performing

I don't have a problem with this but who will take over

 

[Fighting Irish]

IMO I would think that if you gave a call to Kevin Walters next week and said mate do you want to be coach of the Broncos starting next week as we have just sacked Hook - He would go and tell Benny and Benny would say get you bum up their now as I will be joining you as coaching director and recruitment officer next year anyway - or maybe they just ring Benny and tell him to tell Kevie that he has a full time gig at the broncos starting immediately

 

[Fighting Irish]

and if Bennett had not bitten the bullet and called up a young kid who showed RAW talent called Alfie we may never has know who he was and how good he was - KODI fair dinkum reminds me of Alfie - he looks like 5/8th or half back material to me

 

[noisetheory]

#griffinisms

 

[Cult]

If Griffin is on a short leash then why would he be getting away with the decisions you guys are already predicting? Also is it 10 games, 4 games or 5 games he has before he's getting sacked? Lots of guessing going on here guys

 

[Splinter]

and if Bennett had not bitten the bullet and called up a young kid who showed RAW talent called Alfie we may never has know who he was and how good he was - KODI fair dinkum reminds me of Alfie - he looks like 5/8th or half back material to me

Are you going on what you have seen in the nines or what you have watched through the 20s? I have watched him for two years now and am not convinced he is the player for there. Mind you i cannot see anyone better that is ready at present

As far as i know Kevvie is living in Brisbane and only travels to Newcastle for a couple of days a week so is a possibility

 

[Donald]

When's the side being named....? I thought it was today.

 

[Socnorb]

1910 says tomorrow

 

[Splinter]

I read on one of the news websites last night it would be named Thursday

 

[Super Freak]

It's being named tomorrow, which was confirmed by the Broncos.

 

[Mt Smart]

My stab at the Warriors 22

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Glenn Fisiahii
3. Konrad Hurrell
4. Jerome Ropati
5. David Fusitua
6. Chad Townsend
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Sam Rapira
9. Nathan Friend
10. Ben Matulino
11. Jayson Bukuya
12. Simon Mannering (c)
13. Feleti Mateo

14. Charlie Gubb
15. Solomone Kata
16. Jacob Lillyman
17. Tuimoala Lolohea
18. Sione Lousi
19. Suaia Matagi
20. John Palavi
21. Dominique Peyroux
22. Carlos Tuimavave

No Henry, Ikahihifo, Laumape, Leuluai, Locke, Sam Lousi, Nielsen or Vatuvei. Bit surprised by the lack of Vete but the Warriors fans didn't seem to think he was ready despite being a stand out against Wigan.

Pretty accurate picks there.
Suia Matangi is a first pick Prop after his break out season last year. He will be in the 17 if fit come round one.

 

[Rabbir]

I just like saying Ika-he-he-fo.

 

[Donald]

Pretty accurate picks there.
Suia Matangi is a first pick Prop after his break out season last year. He will be in the 17 if fit come round one.

Thats a strong side. Thats why I'm hoping the Broncos name a strong side also otherwise it wont be worth playing.

 

[noisetheory]

i'm pretty sure we'll be very much full strength.

hoping no weird 'out-of-position' situations.

guessing barba wont play so hoffy will be named fullback and the media will be all "HOFFMAN HAS CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF AT FB~~~"