Team for 24

[Ray Stehr]

1 Tedesco
2 Tupou
3 Smith
4 Manu
5 Young
6 Keary
7 Walker
13 Radley
12 N Butcher
11 S Wong
10 Collins
9 Smith
8 May

14 SSmith
15 Lenui
16 JWH
17 Sitili Tupouniua

18 Suallii
19 Watson
20 E Butcher
21 A Crighton

The way I see it. I think Wong offers more than E. Butcher and Tupou's loyalty should get him in over Suallii. Is Crighton in the mix or is he going to rugby? At his best, he makes the top 13.

[Bates]

The $750,000 18th man won’t be too happy.

[Bates]

Not much has been said about Sammy Walker’s game against the Storm. We have a great looking roster next season that should go close to winning the comp. Is Sammy ready to steer us to another premiership?

[gragra]

Sammy's game was ordinary st best...many rungs below what cleary, Reynolds, Johnson bring to a team. Sandon Smith was a genuine spark when he came on....fingers crossed Sammy can become consistently good....

[Chook2]

1 Tedesco
2 Tupou
3 Smith
4 Manu
5 Young
6 Keary
7 Walker
13 Radley
12 N Butcher
11 S Wong
10 Collins
9 Smith
8 May

14 SSmith
15 Lenui
16 JWH
17 Sitili Tupouniua

18 Suallii
19 Watson
20 E Butcher
21 A Crighton

The way I see it. I think Wong offers more than E. Butcher and Tupou's loyalty should get him in over Suallii. Is Crighton in the mix or is he going to rugby? At his best, he makes the top 13.

Can’t argue to much about this
- I would round out rhe 22 with Whyte
- one of suaali or critchon needs to go if not both as not worth having $1.5m in 2 players in the res
- can’t see suaali making the backline with young well in front of him on wing and suaali can’t play centre so smith should lock up that
- I think Watson will get back in front of sandon smith for 14 but a good battle there
- may has all but locked up a 17 spot so that’s 4 front rowers and reduces another backrower so only allows the 17 to have 4 out of rhe 7 we have

the backrow battle will be titanic
- as you mentioned if he gets back to his best critchon will be in the 13. Or at least rhe 17. Radley has the 13 which leaves Wong, sitili and Nat for 12 ams 15! With one missing out and Egan and Whyte out of the 17

depth and competition for spots is what you need to keep players in form fighting for positions

[Sydney Sports Ground]

Rumour
d.young signed to play centre ONLY,otherwise he was heading to Souths?

So we may have a repeat of musical chairs again next year....

Hope coaches sort it out or we'll just make no.s up again!!!

[Thirteen]

Nice job Ray but I think Toops is first man chosen given what he does from our own end. He won’t be chosen for loyalty he will be chosen because of his ability.

[Thirteen]

Rumour
d.young signed to play centre ONLY,otherwise he was heading to Souths?

So we may have a repeat of musical chairs again next year....

Hope coaches sort it out or we'll just make no.s up again!!!

Yes it was reported at the time of his signing that he wanted to play centre. But…I highly doubt any guarantees were given.

[Steggles]

1 Tedesco
2 Tupou
3 Smith
4 Manu
5 Young
6 Keary
7 Walker
13 Radley
12 N Butcher
11 S Wong
10 Collins
9 Smith
8 May

14 SSmith
15 Lenui
16 JWH
17 Sitili Tupouniua

18 Suallii
19 Watson
20 E Butcher
21 A Crighton

The way I see it. I think Wong offers more than E. Butcher and Tupou's loyalty should get him in over Suallii. Is Crighton in the mix or is he going to rugby? At his best, he makes the top 13.

Now that’s a very strong team. Based on current form, I’d say the top 17 is about right. IF Angus Crichton can get back to his best, he should be straight back into the 12 jumper at the expense of Nat Butcher, but that’s a big IF.

[King Salvo]

Round 1 Possible 22

1. Tedesco (C)
2. Toops
3. Suaalii
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. Collins
9. Brandon Smith
10. Leniu
11. Wong
12. N Butcher (V/C)
13. Radley
14. Sandon Smith
15. JWH
16. May
17. Watson
18. Sitili
19. Crichton
20. E Butcher
21. Billy Smith
22. Whyte

Other Squad Members

Moriarty
Pauga
Momirovski
Murphy
Toia - ACL (Unavailable)

[HunchoRooster]

I would have it like this:

1. Ted
2. Toops
3. B. Smith
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. Leniu
9. Brandon Smith
10. Collins
11. Wong
12. N-Butch
13. Radley
14. S. Smith
15. JWH
16. May
17. Sitili

I like Suualii but he is leaving and is not a better winger than Young and Billy Smith deserves a crack given he is a long-term option at centre.

I find no room for Watson or Angus and wouldn't be upset if they seek pastures new. Egan Butcher isn't a bad option to have in reserve when the inevitable injury or suspension occurs.

[King Salvo]

Sammy's game was ordinary st best...many rungs below what cleary, Reynolds, Johnson bring to a team. Sandon Smith was a genuine spark when he came on....fingers crossed Sammy can become consistently good....

3 runs for 11 metres and a 9.33 pass to run ratio.

May have been limited in the above with knee and ankle issues but will need to address this in pre-season along with other aspects of his game - structure/game management/D and Kicking game.

They need to sort out the problems with the Keary and Walker halves combo and make this combo work from round 1 2024

[OMR]

Strong lineup whichever way we go if only we get the rub of the green with long time injuries which have plagued us since the B2B.

[Roosterfarian]

You guys clearly havent watched Newcastle games this year. Young's defence makes Paulo look like Adrian Morley. He has a lot to learn other than finding the tryline.

Suualii for me on the wing but if the last couple of years are anything to go by, we need significant depth in backline so it won't be too long before Young gets his chance.

[Mickie Lane]

I would have it like this:

1. Ted
2. Toops
3. B. Smith
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. Leniu
9. Brandon Smith
10. Collins
11. Wong
12. N-Butch
13. Radley
14. S. Smith
15. JWH
16. May
17. Sitili

I like Suualii but he is leaving and is not a better winger than Young and Billy Smith deserves a crack given he is a long-term option at centre.

I find no room for Watson or Angus and wouldn't be upset if they seek pastures new. Egan Butcher isn't a bad option to have in reserve when the inevitable injury or suspension occurs.

Suaalii will not be in the centres ahead of Billy Smith if Billy is fit.
Reason
Because Smith was very good at centre & Suaalii wasn’t.