2017.... Strongest squad since 2002

[roosterproud]

1. Luke Phillips	FB	1. GORDON
2. Brett Mullins	WG	2. 2POO
3. Shannon Hegarty	CE	3. FERGO
4. Justin Hodges	CE	4. SKD
5. Anthony Minichiello	WG	5. LATRELL
6. Brad Fittler (C)	FE	6. KEARY
7. Craig Wing	HB	7. PEARCE
8. Jason Cayless	PR	8. JWH
9. Simon Bonetti	HK	9. FRIEND
10. Peter Cusack	PR	10. NAPA
14. Adrian Morley	SR	11. CORDNER
12. Craig Fitzgibbon	SR	12. MAUBS
13. Luke Ricketson	LK	13. SST
11. Bryan Fletcher	Bench	14. WATSON
15. Andrew Lomu	Bench	15. MATTERSON
16. Chris Flannery	Bench	16. LIU
17. Michael Crocker	Bench	17. ZANE
Ricky Stuart

[Waylander]

1. Luke Phillips	FB	1. GORDON
2. Brett Mullins	WG	2. 2POO
3. Shannon Hegarty	CE	3. FERGO
4. Justin Hodges	CE	4. SKD
5. Anthony Minichiello	WG	5. LATRELL
6. Brad Fittler (C)	FE	6. KEARY
7. Craig Wing	HB	7. PEARCE
8. Jason Cayless	PR	8. JWH
9. Simon Bonetti	HK	9. FRIEND
10. Peter Cusack	PR	10. NAPA
14. Adrian Morley	SR	11. CORDNER
12. Craig Fitzgibbon	SR	12. MAUBS
13. Luke Ricketson	LK	13. SST
11. Bryan Fletcher	Bench	14. WATSON
15. Andrew Lomu	Bench	15. MATTERSON
16. Chris Flannery	Bench	16. LIU
17. Michael Crocker	Bench	17. ZANE
Ricky Stuart

Wow. No contest, is it? Not many of the current squad would get a look in, but I think a few of our better players could look like superstars alongside that pack and Freddy.
How about this team:

1. Phillips
2. Mullins
3. Fergo
4. SKD
5. Mini
6. Freddy
7. Pearce/Wing (I wasn't a huge Wing fan at 7, but I reckon Pearce would look like a superstar in this team.)
8. JWH
9. Bonetti
10. Cayless
11. Morley
12. Cordner
13. Fitzy

14. Crocker
15. Yak
16. Napa
17. Fletch

Coach: Robbo


Can't believe I couldn't find a spot for Ricko. That pack, at their best, would destroy anyone.

Edit: There's probably a good argument for starting with Yak, and use Cayless/JWH and Yak/Napa rotations. Either way that's an awesome pack.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Just because we have more to spend I wouldn't be putting it in his pockets. I wouldn't be putting him on more than 700. If Pearce and keary are our halves they will be very solid, but if we are to win premierships we will need star power elsewhere.

That's the problem with their being so little decent halfback depth in the NRL. Above average but not superstar halves could be earning upwards of $1m, this prevents you from spending money on a superstar that the club probably needs. We either scrimp on the halfback or let go above average paid players in non critical positions such as Fergo, SKD (maybe only average paid), Guerra (a given) one of Napa, Cordner and JWH (risky I will admit). I mentioned in an earlier post that Pearce needs a top draw 5/8 alongside him to play at his best. The problem is the money he is on prevents us from signing a top draw 5/8.

[milanja]

Wow. No contest, is it? Not many of the current squad would get a look in, but I think a few of our better players could look like superstars alongside that pack and Freddy.
How about this team:

1. Phillips
2. Mullins
3. Fergo
4. SKD
5. Mini
6. Freddy
7. Pearce/Wing (I wasn't a huge Wing fan at 7, but I reckon Pearce would look like a superstar in this team.)
8. JWH
9. Bonetti
10. Cayless
11. Morley
12. Cordner
13. Fitzy

14. Crocker
15. Yak
16. Napa
17. Fletch

Coach: Robbo


Can't believe I couldn't find a spot for Ricko. That pack, at their best, would destroy anyone.

Edit: There's probably a good argument for starting with Yak, and use Cayless/JWH and Yak/Napa rotations. Either way that's an awesome pack.

Also hodges over fergo or skd every time.

[roosterproud]

hudges is shit. always has been , always will be. grub grub grub

[4 the all in brawl]

hudges is shit. always has been , always will be. grub grub grub

He may have been a grub but Justin Hodges was light years ahead as a centre than either Fergo or SKD thus far into their careers perhaps already by 2002.

[Waylander]

Also hodges over fergo or skd every time.

Might be my aging memory, but apart from maybe 2 or 3 games, I reckon Hodgo was pretty ordinary for us.

[Insider]

Might be my aging memory, but apart from maybe 2 or 3 games, I reckon Hodgo was pretty ordinary for us.

Yeh we never saw the best of Hodges by a long way. I remember he got dropped by Stuart at one stage, probably the only time he ever got dropped in his career. His attitude, particularly 2004 was terrible. Was a few times he never even bothered showing up to training. The club couldn't get rid of him quick enough in the end.

[Rooster_6]

Just because we have more to spend I wouldn't be putting it in his pockets. I wouldn't be putting him on more than 700. If Pearce and keary are our halves they will be very solid, but if we are to win premierships we will need star power elsewhere.

Getting rid of your only organiser and a world class one at that isn't the option though. There just isn't that many options out there.

[Maxy Walker]

Yeh we never saw the best of Hodges by a long way. I remember he got dropped by Stuart at one stage, probably the only time he ever got dropped in his career. His attitude, particularly 2004 was terrible. Was a few times he never even bothered showing up to training. The club couldn't get rid of him quick enough in the end.

Memories are fading but I seem to remember late 2002 Hodgo was on fire, like next picked after Freddie. Then he was mostly injured in 2003 and by 2004 wanted to go back to a Brisbane and couldn't give a shit

[Tommy Smith]

Yes, from the Broncos game at Suncorp onwards - with his white boots - Hodgo was awesome during our Premiership run in 2002.

He was just as good in 2003 until he tore his ACL at Sandcorp which probably cost us another Premiership.

Although he became a more rounded player as he matured I felt he was at his most dynamic during that period. He was average in 2004 though as he set his sights on returning to Brissy.

And Waylander, sacrilege indeed over omitting Ricko! He was a defensive machine. Add him to that pack and it's lights out for the opposition.

[Tommy Smith]

My combined team would be:

1. Phillips
2. Mullins
3. SKD
4. Hodgo
5. Minichiello
6. Fittler (c)
7. Pearce
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. Morley
11. Cordner
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Ricketson

14. Napa
15. Cayless
16. Crocker
17. Wing

That forward pack would be scary. Cayless was a beast back then, too. Sonewhat forgotten but he was a real force for us.

[Bigchook]

Getting rid of your only organiser and a world class one at that isn't the option though. There just isn't that many options out there.

Pearce is a good club player. He's definitely not world class though. Agree there isn't many options. It's up to the club to get the team balance right to win premierships though. Like I said, Pearce and keary are good halves but in the absence of a sbw, a smith, jt or even younger guys like Munster, Holmes or jack bird, we lack the strike to win comps. Robbos been here a while now but I think the end of this season is his first opportunity to really make some hard decisions about the team he thinks is capable of winning premierships. A few senior players will have to be moved on. Whether it's Pearce or Guerra, skd, tupou etc.

[Waylander]

And Waylander, sacrilege indeed over omitting Ricko! He was a defensive machine. Add him to that pack and it's lights out for the opposition.

I know Tommy, it was a tough call. But add him at whose expense? He could only really play lock, and I think the back rowers I've chosen would each have more overall impact than Ricko.

Anyway, I don't consider Moz or Fitzy any less of a legend than Ricko, and Cords is well on his way to that status too.

I could easily have gone with Wing at 9 over Bonnets as well. Very different players, and with that pack to run off Wing would have ripped a few sides apart.

[Rooster_6]

Pearce is a good club player. He's definitely not world class though. Agree there isn't many options. It's up to the club to get the team balance right to win premierships though. Like I said, Pearce and keary are good halves but in the absence of a sbw, a smith, jt or even younger guys like Munster, Holmes or jack bird, we lack the strike to win comps. Robbos been here a while now but I think the end of this season is his first opportunity to really make some hard decisions about the team he thinks is capable of winning premierships. A few senior players will have to be moved on. Whether it's Pearce or Guerra, skd, tupou etc.

I never said he was a world class player I said he was a world class organiser.

I agree whole heartedly about getting the balance right that's why I think it'd be suicide to not pay one of the best organisers in the game his market price. There just isn't that many going around.