Forward Depth.

[eddie]

Front row depth is not there - Collins has promise but thats all, and Tetevano i'm not sold on. And thats putting aside the very real possibility that JWH's knee has compromised his effectiveness moving forward.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...30-gzbfrw.html

Yeah, fair enough, I don't totally disagree with your summation, but it is hard to cover all the bases.
A fair few clubs who don't have our backline talent wouldn't have our forward depth as well.
If we manage to lose Pearce and Nikorima we'd be laughing.

[eddie]

It falls into place if niko and Friend/Pearse move on

In a nutshell.
Despite all the kind words from Cronk.................I agree with JT. "Pearce and Cronk don't fit in the same team".

[The Brain]

Frizell , Nathan Brown ,Jake Trb ,Taukieho , the list goes on are same height.....its just that most elite forwards average around 6"3 or 6"4

Lindsay Collins is 6"4
Paul Gallen is marginally shorter than Butcher
Butcher should stop growing around 18-some at 21 some even at 25 its most likely that issue of size is put to bed.
He will have to get his body into gear for first grade thats all.

[Intercept]

That would be Geordie Brand, a 17 yo prop out of the Keebra Park system. He has dominated through the age ranks, but only time will tell if that is due to talent or simply advanced physical maturity.

On the strength of his performance in the schoolboy grand final, he looks a tough tackler with a high work rate. Had a very good game. Phillip Makatoa played prop for Westfield Sports High in the same game and looked a decent player too. One game at schoolboy level doesn't make a career but they both look to be reasonable prospects anyway.

[eddie]

Just a general thought...................But it kinda sux that anyone should be considered too small, tall , fat or anything else for league.
(not having a go at 13 here)

Rugby League used to pride itself on being a game that catered to all body types.
It was a game of endurance. The only quality you needed to make it was being tough, on field.
VFL and others forms of winter sport couldn't boast that fact.
Seems these days the "athelete" has confined the "footy player" to history.

If It was up to me I'd be doing something about the interchange rule that would knock the "17 man game" philosophy on the head, and bringing back specific skills.
This whole belief that a quicker game is better is very floored.

[Intercept]

This whole belief that a quicker game is better is very floored.

So true.

[ism22]

Ain't as bad as some are making out.
A lot comes down to form I suppose.

But consider, JWH, Napa, Tetevano, Lui , SST and Collins, all can be used in a front fow rotation..........(hate myself for using the term rotation)

Backrowers? A couple of the above, plus Cords, Aubbo, Matterson, Radley and Smith.

Young blokes like Porter could always surprise as well.
I had high hopes for Farmer Silly as a bench prop, but he seems to be stuck under an over-turned tractor.
Naturally if Pearce buggers off we could possilbly add to the list, but as it stands, it ain't too bad at all.

So to visualise it...
1. Teddy
2. Toops
3. Latrell
4. Fergo
5. Gordon
6.Keary
7. Cronk
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. Napa
11. Cords
12. Pearce
13. SST

14. Liu (some size... he's bulking up ay!)
15. Tetevano (more size)
16. Aubbo
17. Matto

18. Collins
19. Butcher
20. Vunakece
21. Frei
22. Smith
23.Tupouniua
---

Is that a lot of depth? Man andI'm putting Pearce in the back row (which is complete balls BTW). Is there a secret hope that he'll leave and we'll trade him for Jake Trbojevic or Angus Crichton or something? A very mobile team but lacking impact players. Am I just making it up that Liu is now SERIOUSLY huge? Like 10-15kg heavier?

[King Salvo]

Front row depth is poor especially if the original poster included Collins in the mix as well as centre - Don`t know why people have fixations on Collins as some hope when he is at best a replacement for injuries not a regular NRL type player - better prospects in the lower grades

[eddie]

So to visualise it...
1. Teddy
2. Toops
3. Latrell
4. Fergo
5. Gordon
6.Keary
7. Cronk
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. Napa
11. Cords
12. Pearce
13. SST

14. Liu (some size... he's bulking up ay!)
15. Tetevano (more size)
16. Aubbo
17. Matto

18. Collins
19. Butcher
20. Vunakece
21. Frei
22. Smith
23.Tupouniua
---

Is that a lot of depth? Man andI'm putting Pearce in the back row (which is complete balls BTW). Is there a secret hope that he'll leave and we'll trade him for Jake Trbojevic or Angus Crichton or something? A very mobile team but lacking impact players. Am I just making it up that Liu is now SERIOUSLY huge? Like 10-15kg heavier?

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[King Salvo]

Frizell , Nathan Brown ,Jake Trb ,Taukieho , the list goes on are same height.....its just that most elite forwards average around 6"3 or 6"4

Lindsay Collins is 6"4
Paul Gallen is marginally shorter than Butcher
Butcher should stop growing around 18-some at 21 some even at 25 its most likely that issue of size is put to bed.
He will have to get his body into gear for first grade thats all.

Collins is not NRL standard though - second year at the Chooks and played only 2 games as a interchange because of injuries - maybe one of those players who don't make it as a regular NRL player I suggest.

[eddie]

Collins is not NRL standard though - second year at the Chooks and played only 2 games as a interchange because of injuries - maybe one of those players who don't make it as a regular NRL player I suggest.

You judge a young forward on one or two first grade appearances, yet you're open to the idea of giving Pearce another 200 games to prove his critics wrong?

[ism22]

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Self explanatory I think. If you'd like to discuss any of the specifics then please feel free...

[eddie]

Self explanatory I think. If you'd like to discuss any of the specifics then please feel free...

You posted your 2018 team as a response ?

[eddie]

And you see Pearce as another forward option??

[King Salvo]

You judge a young forward on one or two first grade appearances, yet you're open to the idea of giving Pearce another 200 games to prove his critics wrong?

Cannot see Collins being a regular NRL player- we have had similar players such as him that many on here would not rate at all as NRL standard - Dallas Hood/ Scott Logan/ Marty Kennedy for an example - all three better players than Collins though at the same time.