Your Round 1 Team?

[Kempsey Dog]

Deadset Tracey despite not playing 6 for years would be our best option there. He's also our best fullback until Papalii is ready.

My backline is really difficult to pick, given our middle third issues I really think we have to double down on players like Skelton, even if that means Kiraz at FB to accommodate. Just a shit situation until we get better middles for King and Hughes to play with.

 

[hackenbush]

Wings & half back are the most contentious issues.
Crichton looked like he was not 100% fit in his 20 minutes.
Taafe did not have his best game but is our best option. Those comparing him to Perham will need take off their welding glasses. Although dropped a couple of high balls, he was in correct position. He was in the correct position to defuse grubber kicks & tried linking into the backline. All things that Perham could not do. Hopefully a better game then in round 1.
Salmon has been impressive & so was Curran, hard choice for starting position. Faumausilli was impressive also. Not wanting to be controversial, not overall sold on Hughes yet. Lots of expectations, not at his best last year & had a good game against a reserve grade Storm pack. Hopefully a breakout year in 2024.

 

[GoTheDoggies]

Bitchell will be excited for round 1, he is going to pepper Taaffe.

 

[alic]

My team round 1 if Tracey is fit

Tracey
Kiraz
Crichton
Xerri
Jac
Burton
I don’t care they all suck . ( not rushing our juniors)
King
Mahoney ( he’s on thin ice also )
Hughes
Kiks
Preston’s
Mann

Salmon
Poasa
Curran
Katouga if that’s how you spell it.

Salmon goes okay as a ball playing but we need some leg speed and Mann I thought did well . Mahoney if doesn’t improve then Turpin gets the nod for me and we sell Mahoney . Only positive from last night is the line speed .
53 missed tackles and 17 errors is atrocious and very worrying . Also we made 30 extra metres than them with like an extra 30 hitups .
One thing that is confusing me is where Xerri is going to be our starting centre if he is then I don’t understand why he switched him back to the left if that’s where Crichton will play .

 

[CMP]

1. Taaffe (not great last night but Tracey clearly isn’t ready. Crichton only playing 20m to me says he isn’t ready for fullback either.)
2. Wilson (get Kiraz 100% fit first)
3. Xerri
4. Crichton
5. Fix
6. Burton (still not convinced he has it. But nobody else is really jumping out)
7. Sexton
8. King
9. Reed
10. Hughes
11. Kikau
12. Preston
13. Curran

14. BBO (been thinking Mann all the way along but he doesn’t offer enough for me from the two trials)
15. Salmon
16. Faamausili
17. Kautoga

 

[Crashdog]

1 Wilson - his natural position
2 JAC
3 Crichton
4 Burton
5 Xerri
6 Hutch
7 Sexton
8 King
9 Mahoney
10 Farmersilly
11 Kiks
12 Preston
13 Salmon
14 Mann
15 Curran
16 Hughes
17 Kautoga
Mann and Salmon can help cover the backs, back row and hooker.
8, 10, 11 and 13 - 17 can all help cover the middle forwards.

 

[boggie23]

1 Wilson - his natural position
2 JAC
3 Crichton
4 Burton
5 Xerri
6 Hutch
7 Sexton
8 King
9 Mahoney
10 Farmersilly
11 Kiks
12 Preston
13 Salmon
14 Mann
15 Curran
16 Hughes
17 Kautoga
Mann and Salmon can help cover the backs, back row and hooker.
8, 10, 11 and 13 - 17 can all help cover the middle forwards.

Wilson has dicks for hands. Playing him at fullback would be a disaster on all sorts of levels. Imagine sweeping backline movements where he is the link man. I can see him dropping it cold and the opposition running 100m to score

Wilson in my opinion is behind Tracey, taaffe, Skelton and papalii in the pecking order. But I know Gould and ciro rate him. He is another Casey, just a lot better. But still a handy back up. No where near a starter let alone fullback.

 

[Crashdog]

Did not consider Tracey or Kiraz. Pretty sure they won’t be brought in for R1 with no prior game time.
And, if C is consistent and dropped Knight completely from his Trial 2 team for his poor handling and performance in Trial 1 then Taffe must also be dropped for his equally poor performance last night.

 

[Rocket64]

Taafe until Tracey is ready
Kiraz
Xerri
Crichton
Fox
Burton more running than kicking
Sexton
Preston
Kikau needs to pull his finger out
Salmon
Hughes
Mahoney don’t run just pass
King
Mann
Curran could easily start
Faamasili until we find a prop
Morrin

 

[diddly]

Did not consider Tracey or Kiraz. Pretty sure they won’t be brought in for R1 with no prior game time.
And, if C is consistent and dropped Knight completely from his Trial 2 team for his poor handling and performance in Trial 1 then Taffe must also be dropped for his equally poor performance last night.

re Knight - i think he was behind King Poasa Morrin Curran n Hughes before the trials had been training with reggies at times

 

[piggy]

Deadset Tracey despite not playing 6 for years would be our best option there. He's also our best fullback until Papalii is ready.

My backline is really difficult to pick, given our middle third issues I really think we have to double down on players like Skelton, even if that means Kiraz at FB to accommodate. Just a shit situation until we get better middles for King and Hughes to play with.

lol Kiraz at fullback

 

[Mr Shhh]

1: Critta
2: JAC
3: Tracey
4: Xerri
5: Kiraz
6: Burton
7: Sexton
8: Maximus
9: Reed (Sigh)
10: Hughes
11: Kikau
12: Preston
13: Weak Gutted Dog

14: Curran
15: Mann
16: The ex Dolphin
17: Anyone but Knight

 

[LordSidious66]

1. Tracy
2. Kiraz
3. Xerri
4. Critta
5. Fox
6. Burton
7. Tram Engine
8. Maxwell's silver hammer
9. Mahoney
10. Hughes
11. Kikau
12. Preston Pig
13. A Curran affair

Bench

14. Salmon
15. Morrin
16. Mann/Turpin
17. Kautoga

 

[DogsOfWar1704]

1. Critta
2. Fox
3. Xerri
4. Kiraz
5. Wilson
6. Burton
7. Sexton
8. King
9. Mahoney
10. Hughes
11. Kiks
12. Presto
13. Salmon

14. Mann
15. Curran
16. Poasa
17. Tetevano

Could have Tracey in the side at fullback with Wilson dropping out aswell but I like Wilson

 

[ILiveForDib]

Tracey will bolster the team let’s hope his fit for atleast half the season. Taafe had dick fingers last night but we should be fine with him this season.

 

[Wearnze]

My team after watching the two trials:

1. Blake Taafe (1 of 3 I'd have on notice though)
2. Blake Wilson (unless Kiraz is 100%)
3. Bronson Xerri
4. Cristian Crichton (C)
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Drew Hutchison (1 of 3 I'd have on notice though)
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney (1 of 3 I'd have on notice though)
10. Poasa Faamausili
11. Villiame Kikau
12. Jacob Preston
13. Jaeman Salmon (covers halves)

14. Kurt Mann (lock/hooker cover)
15. Josh Curran (needed on bench for size and versatility) (cover all forwards)
16. Samuel Hughes (prop)
17. Kitione Kautoga (prop)

18. Kurtis Morrin

19. Jeral Skelton (somewhat hard done by but sadly no room for him - we need him to support forwards making metres).
20. Connor Tracey
21. Toby Sexton
22. Harrison Edwards

I hope there is room for Karl Oloapu and Chris Patolo if fit and firing later in the season...

I hope CC surprise us all with some unexpected selections...

 

[dawso047]

1. Papali'i
2. JAC
3. Crighton
4. Xerri
5. Kiraz
6. Burton
7. ?
8. King
9. Mahoney
10. Hughes
11. Kikau
12. Preston
13. Salmon
14. Mann
15. Morrin
16. Curran
17. Faamausili

18. Tracey
19. Edwards
20. Patolo
21. Wilson
22. Taffe
The rest arn't in the discussion yet.

 

[dawso047]

1. Papali'i
2. JAC
3. Crighton
4. Xerri
5. Kiraz
6. Burton
7. ?
8. King
9. Mahoney
10. Hughes
11. Kikau
12. Preston
13. Salmon
14. Mann
15. Morrin
16. Curran
17. Faamausili

18. Tracey
19. Edwards
20. Patolo
21. Wilson
22. Taffe
The rest arn't in the discussion yet.

Just an edit, someone has to play 7, Hutchinson, Sexton, BBO; or O'Niell, but I wouldn't.

 

[cuzza]

1. Crighton
2. JAC
3. Xerri
4. Burton (belongs in the centres)
5. Kiraz/Wilson
6. Salmon (call ball play)
7. Sexton (? best we got)
8. King
9. Mahoney
10. Hughes
11. Kikau
12. Preston
13. Curran

14. Mann/Hutch
15. Poasa
16. KKautoga
17 Patolo?

 

[cookieman909]

Trial form has changed my team. Taafe was a worry the other night. Pending Tracey’s fitness

1. Tracey/ Taafe
2. Kiraz
3. Xerri
4. Critta
5. Fox
6. Burton (needs to just fucking run)
7. Sexton (Hutchison doesn’t excite me)
8. King
9. Mahoney (FIX YOUR SERVICE ****)
10. Faamusili (Poasa, big 20 min stint)
11. Kiks
12. Presto
13. Curran/ Salmon (deadset torn. Both impressive, Curran just ahead)

14. Salmon
15. Hughes
16. Patolo (is he fit)
17. Morrin (I’ve forgotten someone because I’m drunk)