Round 1 against the Vermin

[eddie]

I think the coach's thoughts here would be to play him at Wyong in general, with a few inevitable 17-man inclusions for FG throughout the year as injuries occur. By the time he is called into grade in a more critical capacity (should that happen), being a seasoned pro he should be able to follow a game plan and stick to it, which is probably as good as it would get with someone like him.

I don't even see how he'd fit into Wyong's side.
If we had our own reserve grade team I could fathom his signing a bit, but we know Wyong won't play him at hooker.

[Cockadoodledoo]

I don't even see how he'd fit into Wyong's side.
If we had our own reserve grade team I could fathom his signing a bit, but we know Wyong won't play him at hooker.

I would expect him to play as a utility there. Mitch Williams usually played around 50-60 minutes there from the games I watched last year. I would expect Hendo would play the balance and another 20 or so minutes at lock. I am sure Robbo holds enough sway to get him on the Wyong roster when he isn't picked in first grade.

[eddie]

I would expect him to play as a utility there. Mitch Williams usually played around 50-60 minutes there from the games I watched last year. I would expect Hendo would play the balance and another 20 or so minutes at lock. I am sure Robbo holds enough sway to get him on the Wyong roster when he isn't picked in first grade.

Fair enough I guess.
Hope we don't need him but.

[Insider]

Yeah but that wasn't his first game back. It was the round 26 match against Souths and he was outstanding that night just as he was in the final against the Bulldogs. I am not sure that pass had anything to do with anything else going on.

We all know skidsy has these amazing moments at times where he just manages to pull a clanger out of the hat,he's been doing it well b4 perks came along. He just happened to even outdo himself that night.

[Game Fowl]

I'm tipping for Guerra and Nikorima to have a nice little combination at the start of the season. This will be a close game. Really close.

Gc6 it looked like they gelled in Pommyland , more to come I hope.

Che best get ready to do heaps of D cause the Poms really targeted Nickers , expect Souths to send heaps of traffic at Nickers too !!

[LeCoq]

HOME & AWAY - A VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER | By Steve Mascord

Each week Steve Mascord will bring you an update on how the English players are going in the NRL.

ENGLAND star James Graham is in doubt for the opening round of the NRL premiership after suffering a leg injury in a pre-season friendly.

Graham’s Canterbury Bulldogs went back to their old home ground of Belmore Sports Ground at the weekend and beat Melbourne 20-0.

But the ex-St Helens stalwart came off second best in a 12th-minute tackle and played no part in the second half.

Graham was man of the match in this year’s NRL All Stars fixture but is now racing the clock to be fit for the March 4 trip to Manly’s Brookvale Oval.

had a new halves partner at St George Illawarra this year, with Cronulla’s outstanding rookie Jack Bird close to signing with his home town club.

The signing would have left former Golden Boot winner Benji Marshall on the outer.

However, Bird told Sporting News he was concerned about signing a long-term deal with the joint venture and instead opted to stay with the Sharks.

Brisbane Broncos English signing Greg Eden has responded to comments made by his coach, Wayne Bennett, after the 42-12 win against Wigan on Saturday.

Bennett said Eden, who joined the club a year ago, had to earn his “trust and respect” and he was surprised the former Huddersfield fullback didn’t give up and return home this year.

“No, that was never my intention,’’ Eden told the Courier-Mail.

‘‘I had a goal in my mind and I wanted to stick to it and prove I could do it.

“It was a tough season for me. I went over expecting to do well but unfortunately I didn’t get a game.

“Sometimes it felt like a step backwards but sometimes that step backwards can help you move forward.’’

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has explained the late omission of winger Joe Burgess from the side that beat St Helens 38-12 on Friday night.

Robinson says Burgess is “a very good player who will play a lot of NRL

“But he’s only been with us five or six months. He’s probably a little bit short but Latrell (Mitchell, centre) developed well over the off-season.”

Catalans-to-Canberra back rower Elliott Whitehead is already impressing critics, with the Canberra Times’ John Tuxworth writing: “It just took half an hour of trial football to decipher Whitehead and reborn centre Joey Leilua's right-edge partnership could be as destructive as Josh Papalii and Blake Ferguson's.”

The Raiders beat Newcastle 34-28 at Orange in central western New South Wales at the weekend.

Source: http://www.rugby-league.com/superlea...rom-down-under

According the Masscord, it looks like Burgess will be spending a fair bit of time at Wyong to start off the year. Robbo has pretty much confirmed that Latrell is ahead of him and will start in Rd 1.

[crikey chris]

After such a crap off-season, less than 24 hours till Showtime..... Stifatho time 😃