Maubs

[Guest]

Really looking forward to having Mitch Aubusson back in the first grade line up. Solid 80 minute player who will add some penetration out wide. Looks like we will be fielding a very young side next year so a calm head like Aubbo's will be invaluable.

Any news on Cherrington? Will he be right to go for the start of the season? I wish the guy all the best but I think it will be a miricle if he makes a real dent in first grade given the injuries he has had.

I am expecting a big year from BJ Leluia next year. I believe he will get first shot at the vacant centre position. He had some off field issues last year, but hopefully that is all behind him and he can kick on next year.

While I am not expecting a top four finish next year it will be interesting to see how some of the young players develop, particulary BJ, Moga, Evans, Tasi, Mosoe, Cordner and Kennedy.

[Guest]

Maubs = man crush.

I'd add SKD to that list too of big 2012 performers.

[Guest]

love MAubbs cant wait for him to return, one of the reasons we made the 2010 GF.

[Guest]

We really missed Maubs this year.

I don't share your optimism on BJ though. He may be a good player but he is way too slow to be playing out wide.

[Guest]

If Guerra, Taka or Leilua can emulate on the left fringe backrow what Aubusson brings to our right edge, we will be all the better for it.

For anyone who complains about Aubusson, sure the guy doesn't charge it up the middle the way a lot of forwards do. He is our Menzies. Our Darren Smith. The sort of player who brings the speed and skill of a centre, with the defensive toughness of a backrower, to our right fringe. Keep the metre-eating to our four giant boppers Hargreaves, Kennedy, Masoe and Tasi, and our locks Nuuausala and one of Arona/Bosden/Cordner. Let Aubusson run riot on the right fringe as always, injecting himself in attacking raids with his pace, hole-hitting and fend, and spend the season auditioning Guerra, Taka and Leilua on the left fringe to see who works most effectively outside Braith.

...however, if Mortimer is successful, we could very well see Braith out on that left fringe again. Easy to criticize, but it did work very well in 2010, although I was very impressed with Guerra, Cordner AND Taka in particular late in the season so it is a free-for-all as far as I'm concerned.

Losing Myles, Ryles, Graham, Linnett and Carney were significant losses. Even if some did have to happen, a fair few were still quality players regardless, and their replacements Bosden, Ailomai, Tagive, Henry and Mortimer are either untested or have big question marks hanging over them. I can't wait to see how next season pans out, but with Aubusson back I really think he could get us started by sparking our ultra-dangerous right edge of Aubusson/SKD/Perrett once more.

Believe.

[TheLoneRooster]

Great thread gentlemen and welcome Planetboy.

I too am looking forward to next year and particularly to seeing how the forwards shake out given the plethora of options in the back row. MAubs is going to have his work cut out for him and Cherrington will get injured early again (not that I wish that on him, it just seems a fait accompli). Some good players are going to be playing for the Jets this year.

[Guest]

Great thread gentlemen and welcome Planetboy.

I too am looking forward to next year and particularly to seeing how the forwards shake out given the plethora of options in the back row. MAubs is going to have his work cut out for him and Cherrington will get injured early again (not that I wish that on him, it just seems a fait accompli). Some good players are going to be playing for the Jets this year.

Great thread gentlemen and welcome Planetboy.

I too am looking forward to next year and particularly to seeing how the forwards shake out given the plethora of options in the back row. MAubs is going to have his work cut out for him and Cherrington will get injured early again (not that I wish that on him, it just seems a fait accompli). Some good players are going to be playing for the Jets this year.

I think our forwards have been one of our stronger points for sure over the past few seasons, definitely.

We fielded a great pack in 2008...

8. O'Meley (22 games), 9. Brown (21 games), 10. Shillington (23 games), 11. Mason (20 games), 12. Fitzgibbon (21 games), 13. Myles (17 games), BENCH: 14. J Aubusson (23 games), 15. Cherrington (14 games) / Nuuausala (11 games), 16. Paea (26 games), 17. Tupou (22 games)

2009's pack wasn't too bad either, even though the season was a failure...

8. O'Meley (11 games) / Waqa (9 games), 9. Friend (21 games), 10. Shackleton (22 games), 11. Mason (20 games), 12. Fitzgibbon (22 games), 13. Myles (17 games), BENCH: 14. J Aubusson (9 games) / (assortment of average reggies), 15. Nuuausala (24 games), 16. Paea (21 games), 17. (assortment of average reggies)

But 2010, we really came strongly with a great engine room that drove us into the finals:

8. Ryles (26 games), 9. Friend (19 games), 10. Kennedy (15 games), 11. Anasta (27 games), 12. M Aubusson (26 games), 13. Myles (24 games), BENCH: 14. J Aubusson (10 games) / Leilua (17 games), 15. Nuuausala (28 games), 16. Hargreaves (19 games), 17. Masoe (12 games) / Paea (12 games)

...with Conn racking up 23 games himself filling in every vacancy in the pack that came up.

What made our 2010 pack so incisive was the shift in the backrow. Mason/Fitzgibbon/Myles was sizeable but sluggish. Anasta and Aubusson shifting into the backrow from the halves and centres respectively really gave the forward pack an attacking spark that we need to find again next year.

[Guest]

by sparking our ultra-dangerous right edge of Aubusson/SKD/Perrett once more.

Believe.

This is really key Mack. I can't remember a single game where we had this combination in place this year. I think it is easy to forget how critical injuries were to our issues this year.

[Guest]

I think our forwards have been one of our stronger points for sure over the past few seasons, definitely.

We fielded a great pack in 2008...

8. O'Meley (22 games), 9. Brown (21 games), 10. Shillington (23 games), 11. Mason (20 games), 12. Fitzgibbon (21 games), 13. Myles (17 games), BENCH: 14. J Aubusson (23 games), 15. Cherrington (14 games) / Nuuausala (11 games), 16. Paea (26 games), 17. Tupou (22 games)

2009's pack wasn't too bad either, even though the season was a failure...

8. O'Meley (11 games) / Waqa (9 games), 9. Friend (21 games), 10. Shackleton (22 games), 11. Mason (20 games), 12. Fitzgibbon (22 games), 13. Myles (17 games), BENCH: 14. J Aubusson (9 games) / (assortment of average reggies), 15. Nuuausala (24 games), 16. Paea (21 games), 17. (assortment of average reggies)

But 2010, we really came strongly with a great engine room that drove us into the finals:

8. Ryles (26 games), 9. Friend (19 games), 10. Kennedy (15 games), 11. Anasta (27 games), 12. M Aubusson (26 games), 13. Myles (24 games), BENCH: 14. J Aubusson (10 games) / Leilua (17 games), 15. Nuuausala (28 games), 16. Hargreaves (19 games), 17. Masoe (12 games) / Paea (12 games)

...with Conn racking up 23 games himself filling in every vacancy in the pack that came up.

What made our 2010 pack so incisive was the shift in the backrow. Mason/Fitzgibbon/Myles was sizeable but sluggish. Anasta and Aubusson shifting into the backrow from the halves and centres respectively really gave the forward pack an attacking spark that we need to find again next year.

that said, i think that we can only afford to accomodate 1 out of maubs and anasta in our backrow otherwise it puts too much pressure on the remaining 3 tight forwards and friend to shoulder basically the entire workload. Add to this our lack of experience in the pack and it would be a recipe for disaster.

On the topic of the thread, i too cant wait for maubs to return - he is massively important to our team. I do however think that he may well best serve us this year at left centre. we dont really have as yet a ready-made left centre aside from leilua but i think leilua on the bench and maubs in the centres would mean that we can play both guerra and cordner in 11 and 12 at least for the first few rounds of the season. Then if the likes of moga in particular begin to impress, maubs can easily be shifted back into the backrow at the expense of 1 of the backrowers but at least this way it will allow us to audition our best young backrowers for the first few rounds before we settle on the perfect pack and combinations.

I do remain concerned about our depth particularly in the frontrow having now lost ryles as well as our packs general experience and the lack of a noted consistent worker. I know this year is all about developing a core group of players but a couple of older heads to hold everything together would not have gone astray imo.

[Guest]

that said, i think that we can only afford to accomodate 1 out of maubs and anasta in our backrow otherwise it puts too much pressure on the remaining 3 tight forwards and friend to shoulder basically the entire workload. Add to this our lack of experience in the pack and it would be a recipe for disaster.

On the topic of the thread, i too cant wait for maubs to return - he is massively important to our team. I do however think that he may well best serve us this year at left centre. we dont really have as yet a ready-made left centre aside from leilua but i think leilua on the bench and maubs in the centres would mean that we can play both guerra and cordner in 11 and 12 at least for the first few rounds of the season. Then if the likes of moga in particular begin to impress, maubs can easily be shifted back into the backrow at the expense of 1 of the backrowers but at least this way it will allow us to audition our best young backrowers for the first few rounds before we settle on the perfect pack and combinations.

I do remain concerned about our depth particularly in the frontrow having now lost ryles as well as our packs general experience and the lack of a noted consistent worker. I know this year is all about developing a core group of players but a couple of older heads to hold everything together would not have gone astray imo.

Our depth is still there, it is the experience loss that is an issue though. We replaced Conn and Ryles, two experienced first graders, with Roosters NYC prop Kane Evans, and Knights NYC prop Josh Ailomai. Tasi, Hargreaves, Masoe and Kennedy are still a great set of props.

[Guest]

Really looking forward to having Mitch Aubusson back in the first grade line up. Solid 80 minute player who will add some penetration out wide. Looks like we will be fielding a very young side next year so a calm head like Aubbo's will be invaluable.

Any news on Cherrington? Will he be right to go for the start of the season? I wish the guy all the best but I think it will be a miricle if he makes a real dent in first grade given the injuries he has had.

I am expecting a big year from BJ Leluia next year. I believe he will get first shot at the vacant centre position. He had some off field issues last year, but hopefully that is all behind him and he can kick on next year.

While I am not expecting a top four finish next year it will be interesting to see how some of the young players develop, particulary BJ, Moga, Evans, Tasi, Mosoe, Cordner and Kennedy.

Welcome to the forum Planetboy. You mentioned that BJ had some off-field issues. I was wondering if you may be able to elbaborate? I also think he should move to the centres. That is where I see his immediate future.

[Guest]

I expect nothing but disappointment from Maubs and SKD without Carney.

He made them all look good.

Anyone that thinks otherwise has no idea.

[Guest]

I expect nothing but disappointment from Maubs and SKD without Carney.

He made them all look good.

Anyone that thinks otherwise has no idea.

Maubs was always quality.

[Guest]

I always thought Maubs was a lock in the Ashley Harrison mold before Brian Smith came and put him in the second row.

[Guest]

If Guerra, Taka or Leilua can emulate on the left fringe backrow what Aubusson brings to our right edge, we will be all the better for it.

For anyone who complains about Aubusson, sure the guy doesn't charge it up the middle the way a lot of forwards do. He is our Menzies. Our Darren Smith. The sort of player who brings the speed and skill of a centre, with the defensive toughness of a backrower, to our right fringe. Keep the metre-eating to our four giant boppers Hargreaves, Kennedy, Masoe and Tasi, and our locks Nuuausala and one of Arona/Bosden/Cordner. Let Aubusson run riot on the right fringe as always, injecting himself in attacking raids with his pace, hole-hitting and fend, and spend the season auditioning Guerra, Taka and Leilua on the left fringe to see who works most effectively outside Braith.

...however, if Mortimer is successful, we could very well see Braith out on that left fringe again. Easy to criticize, but it did work very well in 2010, although I was very impressed with Guerra, Cordner AND Taka in particular late in the season so it is a free-for-all as far as I'm concerned.

Losing Myles, Ryles, Graham, Linnett and Carney were significant losses. Even if some did have to happen, a fair few were still quality players regardless, and their replacements Bosden, Ailomai, Tagive, Henry and Mortimer are either untested or have big question marks hanging over them. I can't wait to see how next season pans out, but with Aubusson back I really think he could get us started by sparking our ultra-dangerous right edge of Aubusson/SKD/Perrett once more.

Believe.

I too am looking forward to 2012, a bit of an unknown entity. I feel confident we will be top 8! Definatley Bj centers.