Foundations of a Team

[Guest]

I look at the team that got us to the 2010 grand final...

1. Minichiello
2. Graham
3. Linnett
4. SKD
5. Perrett
6. Carney
7. Pearce
8. Ryles
9. Friend
10. FPN
11. Myles
12. Aubusson
13. Anasta

14. JWH
15. Kennedy
16. Conn
17. Kouparitsas

we had this team for a large portion of the year. we had wingers on the wing, centres playing the centres etc. what id like to highlight is the bench. we ran with a prop, prop, second rower, utility. i think that was a part of our 2010 success that goes largely unnoticed. one of the problems that a lot of people on here have is why smith keeps chopping and changing his squad.
if it aint broken, why fix it? why did we stop using this formula. by 2014, some of our up and comers will have matured, and will hopefully be regulars in the fg side. by 2014, our side could look like this:

1. RTS
2. (i hope mini plays on the wing for most of 2013, allowing the youngsters to mature. and if anyone is going to play on this wing, it should be out of carney, tagive, henry, tupou or rokolati.
3. Moga
4. SKD
5. Oldfield
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. (something we lack, a hard working big bopper that will complement the aggression of JWH, personally, i think tamou, because he racks up 20-30 tackles and 100+ metres. and were 'interested' in him as well)
11. Guerra
12. Cordner
13. SBW (provided he stays. if he doesnt, we need someone in a similar mould to replace him. Takairangi. He is our sbw. he will learn from playing alongside him and relish the oppurtunity)

14. Evans (prop)
15. Napa (prop)
16, Aubusson (second rower)
17. Seluini/Mortimer (utility)

THAT side will go a long way.
thank you

[Guest]

kennedy and tasi should definitely be there ahead of evans and napa on the bench. I then think that we need to try and have Evans, Napa or Masoe become that prop you describe as being our 10 which I completely agree with as well. No Leilua as well - this guy is a superstar in the making and must be in the side. Id have leilua ahead of Seluini/Mortimer and probably even ahead of old field tbh

[BarnstormingBlockbustin']

2014

1. Tuivasa-Schek
2. Leilua
3. Kenny-Dowall
4. Moga
5. Henry
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
8. Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Mortimer
10. Evans
11. Guerra
12. Williams
13. Cordner

14. Kennedy
15. Tasi
16. Takairangi
17. Friend

If we still have the players we have today plus jimmy + sonny

[Guest]

2014

1. Tuivasa-Schek
2. Oldfield
3. Kenny-Dowall
4. Moga
5. Henry
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
8. Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Mortimer
10. Evans
11. Guerra
12. Williams
13. Cordner

14. Kennedy
15. Tasi
16. Takairangi
17. Friend

If we still have the players we have today plus jimmy + sonny

B.B., barring the change I made, I like the hell out of that team. I admit freely that Morty is a toiler in the halves but he would make a great rake as there is less pressure to be creative there. He can pitch in with the occasional kick and sub in the halves if needed.

That and if it keeps him in the side, as he is a favourite, is an added bonus.

[BarnstormingBlockbustin']

I agree John. Having an extra ball player/kicking option is the way to go. I believe Bj should be there though. As soon as he rubs out the silliness in his game he could be one of our best players.

[roosterproud]

2014

1. Tuivasa-Schek
2. Leilua
3. Kenny-Dowall
4. Moga
5. Henry
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
8. Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Mortimer
10. Evans
11. Guerra
12. Williams
13. Cordner

14. Kennedy
15. Tasi
16. Takairangi
17. Friend

If we still have the players we have today plus jimmy + sonny

you have left out seluini for some reason

[BarnstormingBlockbustin']

Feel free to slot him in RP.

[ism22]

Takairangi impresses actually!!!
Not always but a couple of times this season (e.g. Manly when he offloaded to Mortimer out of nowhere and was wrongly penalised + his offload to Pearce against the Dragons) few other times... he's shown that he has decent ball skills.

He's still a flawed player, but is young and promising IMO.

[roosterproud]

2014

1. Tuivasa-Schek
2. Leilua
3. Kenny-Dowall
4. Moga
5. Henry
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
8. Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Mortimer/friend
10. Evans
11. Guerra
12. Williams
13. Cordner

14. Kennedy
15. Tasi
16. Takairangi
17. seluini

If we still have the players we have today plus jimmy + sonny

............................

[Guest]

kennedy and tasi should definitely be there ahead of evans and napa on the bench. I then think that we need to try and have Evans, Napa or Masoe become that prop you describe as being our 10 which I completely agree with as well. No Leilua as well - this guy is a superstar in the making and must be in the side. Id have leilua ahead of Seluini/Mortimer and probably even ahead of old field tbh

Your kidding about kennedy he bloke made 25m as a starting prop against manly

[Guest]

2010 strongest team v 2013 strongest team

1. Minichiello >>> Minichiello
2. Perrett >>> Tuivasa-Sheck (right winger, supporting SKD out wide, won't see much ball via SKD but if Pearce cuts out Aubusson/SKD then Sheck offers more pace than Sammy)
3. Kenny-Dowall >>> Kenny-Dowall
4. Linnett >>> Leilua (left centre, Linnett relied on his pace more while Leilua uses his sizeable frame and physical presence, Leilua lacks Linnett's consistency however)
5. Graham >>> Moga (left winger, Graham was a slick and classy finisher while Moga is more of a power player, both prone to the odd shocker but attacking dynamos on their day)
6. Carney >>> Maloney
7. Pearce >>> Pearce
8. Nuuausala >>> Nuuausala
9. Friend >>> Friend
10. Hargreaves >>> Hargreaves
11. Anasta >>> Guerra (left fringe attacking backrower, Anasta operated as a ball player setting up Linnett but Guerra prefers to hit the line at pace, spin and then offload to support)
12. M Aubusson >>> M Aubusson
13. Myles >>> Cordner (hard-working lock up the middle, Myles was a bit more of a grafter and '3rd prop' than the more dynamic Cordner, but both have massive tickers and are tough)

14. Kouparitsas/J Aubusson >>> Seluini/Mortimer (utility role, covering a multitude of positions and adding some mobility on the field, I feel that Seluini's potential is untapped as yet)
15. Conn >>> Arona (solid working forward off the bench, operates in the same way as Chad Robinson did circa-2003/4, keeps it tight around the ruck, works hard, error-free and solid)
16. Kennedy >>> Kennedy
17. Paea/Masoe >>> Tasi/Masoe/Takairangi (impact prop, Tasi has been the preferred option most of the season, all three are viable and have enough potential to make a significant impact)

If, and I maintain IF, in fact SBW does come, then most likely we will drop our bench utility or Arona, bench one of our starting backrowers (most likely Aubusson, as he plays on SBW's preferred right hand fringe) and bring in SBW to the starting second row. I am not convinced he will be a worthwhile investment though, especially if he does only sign for the reported one season on a ridiculous $850K.

[Guest]

Why does everyone insist on calling homosexuals normal...

No, wrong thread, why does everyone leave out Michael Oldfield

The left wing will be taken up by Oldfield, the right by Sheck.

Moga will go in one to partner Sheck, BJ will either go to the second row or the bench.

[Bansai Pipeline]

Why would you omit Leilua?

[Guest]

For 2013 I'd have the following team barring injuries.

1 - RTS
2 - Henry
3 - BJ
4 - SKD
5 - Moga
6 - Maloney
7 - Pearce
8 - JWH
9 - Friend
10 - Kennedy
11 - Geurra
12 - SBW
13 - Cordner

14 - Taka
15 - FPN
16 - Morts/Selluini/Maubs
17 - Arona/Mose/Bosden/Evans

Chook.

[Guest]

For 2013 I'd have the following team barring injuries.

1 - RTS
2 - Henry
3 - BJ
4 - SKD
5 - Moga
6 - Maloney
7 - Pearce
8 - JWH
9 - Friend
10 - Kennedy
11 - Geurra
12 - SBW
13 - Maubs

14 - Taka
15 - FPN
16 - Morts/Selluini
17 - Arona/Mose/Bosden/Evans

Chook.

This. Only with Cordner instead of Maubs ( I'm assuming that was a mistake)