Moedogg
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Best 17: Hasler’s magic touch
WHEN it comes to coaching young halves, few do it better than Des Hasler.
A fair playmaker in his day, the Canterbury coach has moulded some of the games biggest names into bona fide superstars. First a young fella by the name of Kieran Foran burst onto the scene, Trent Hodkinson came along a year later and then Daly Cherry-Evans. Hasler transformed all three players into representative stars. Foran is a New Zealand international, Hodkinson an Origin general and Cherry-Evans has starred at both Origin and Test level. All three are now household names and soon, if Hasler has anything to do with it, Moses Mbye will join them. It’s a pivotal season for Hasler and his Bulldogs who are without Hodkinson calling the shots in the halves.
Moses Mbye on the attack.
Instead, Josh Reynolds and Mbye will run the show in a year that will be monumental for both men.
Reynolds is now the senior playmaker and having represented NSW at Origin level, a lot of eyeballs will be on the no.6 and how he’ll handle the pressure.
An aggressive player, the Bulldogs will need Reynolds to temper his enthusiasm and not get carried away in the heat of the battle.
Then there’s the hottest prospect in the game — Mbye.
Off-contract this year, the 22-year-old has a target on his back this year following a breakout 2015 season.
Touted as a future Origin star, Mbye has all the gifts to make a great player, but for the club to be successful, Hasler must continue to develop his talents and transform him from whiz kid to match winner.
RISING STAR
Shaun Lane scores try.
Shaun Lane
The 21-year-old played 14 games in his rookie season and will join the biggest pack in the NRL permanently in 2016. Standing just shy of two metres tall, and weighing in at 110 kilograms, Lane is more than ready to make the step up to first grade. He will most likely join a bench consisting of big boppers David Klemmer, Sam Kasiano and Tim Browne.
THE BUBBLE
Craig Garvey on the attack.
Craig Garvey
Having struggled for game time at St George Illawarra, Garvey has jumped ship in the hope of cracking the Bulldogs’ top 17. His fate lies in the hands of Des Hasler and whatever the crafty coach has in mind for Michael Lichaa. If Hasler wants a second rake on the bench to give Lichaa a spell, Garvey is ripe for the picking. He should also be first man in if Lichaa happens to miss a game.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR ...
Will Hopoate
The Origin back was crowned one of the NRL’s next big things when he began his career at Manly five years ago. His post-Mormon mission form with Parramatta was far from outstanding last year, but Des Hasler is confident he can unlock the secret to his potential. If Hopoate can thrive under his former coach, Canterbury will reap all the rewards.
BULLDOGS’ BEST 17
1 Brett Morris
2 Curtis Rona
3 Josh Morris
4 Will Hopoate
5 Sam Perrett
6 Josh Reynolds
7 Moses Mbye
8 James Graham
9 Michael Lichaa
10 Aiden Tolman
11 Josh Jackson
12 Tony Williams
13 Greg Eastwood
14 David Klemmer
15 Sam Kasiano
16 Tim Browne
17 Shaun Lane
Source:http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...n/news-story/34edb9c71f9204ee62aad9afc199de79
That's pretty much what our 17 will look like this year...
WHEN it comes to coaching young halves, few do it better than Des Hasler.
A fair playmaker in his day, the Canterbury coach has moulded some of the games biggest names into bona fide superstars. First a young fella by the name of Kieran Foran burst onto the scene, Trent Hodkinson came along a year later and then Daly Cherry-Evans. Hasler transformed all three players into representative stars. Foran is a New Zealand international, Hodkinson an Origin general and Cherry-Evans has starred at both Origin and Test level. All three are now household names and soon, if Hasler has anything to do with it, Moses Mbye will join them. It’s a pivotal season for Hasler and his Bulldogs who are without Hodkinson calling the shots in the halves.
Moses Mbye on the attack.
Instead, Josh Reynolds and Mbye will run the show in a year that will be monumental for both men.
Reynolds is now the senior playmaker and having represented NSW at Origin level, a lot of eyeballs will be on the no.6 and how he’ll handle the pressure.
An aggressive player, the Bulldogs will need Reynolds to temper his enthusiasm and not get carried away in the heat of the battle.
Then there’s the hottest prospect in the game — Mbye.
Off-contract this year, the 22-year-old has a target on his back this year following a breakout 2015 season.
Touted as a future Origin star, Mbye has all the gifts to make a great player, but for the club to be successful, Hasler must continue to develop his talents and transform him from whiz kid to match winner.
RISING STAR
Shaun Lane scores try.
Shaun Lane
The 21-year-old played 14 games in his rookie season and will join the biggest pack in the NRL permanently in 2016. Standing just shy of two metres tall, and weighing in at 110 kilograms, Lane is more than ready to make the step up to first grade. He will most likely join a bench consisting of big boppers David Klemmer, Sam Kasiano and Tim Browne.
THE BUBBLE
Craig Garvey on the attack.
Craig Garvey
Having struggled for game time at St George Illawarra, Garvey has jumped ship in the hope of cracking the Bulldogs’ top 17. His fate lies in the hands of Des Hasler and whatever the crafty coach has in mind for Michael Lichaa. If Hasler wants a second rake on the bench to give Lichaa a spell, Garvey is ripe for the picking. He should also be first man in if Lichaa happens to miss a game.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR ...
Will Hopoate
The Origin back was crowned one of the NRL’s next big things when he began his career at Manly five years ago. His post-Mormon mission form with Parramatta was far from outstanding last year, but Des Hasler is confident he can unlock the secret to his potential. If Hopoate can thrive under his former coach, Canterbury will reap all the rewards.
BULLDOGS’ BEST 17
1 Brett Morris
2 Curtis Rona
3 Josh Morris
4 Will Hopoate
5 Sam Perrett
6 Josh Reynolds
7 Moses Mbye
8 James Graham
9 Michael Lichaa
10 Aiden Tolman
11 Josh Jackson
12 Tony Williams
13 Greg Eastwood
14 David Klemmer
15 Sam Kasiano
16 Tim Browne
17 Shaun Lane
Source:http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...n/news-story/34edb9c71f9204ee62aad9afc199de79
That's pretty much what our 17 will look like this year...
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