I think you have pretty much nailed it. I'd put our top 12 forwards (exc hooker) up against any in the league. I'm OK with the right side, with Hopoate, feeding Holland and Smith. The halves are going to be great with Lewis and Foran, if Foran isn't up to standard then he's gone and we have salary cap available to get someone pretty damn good, before July. It's the left side that concerns me (leaving hooker aside for a moment), Montoya will need someone inside him who reads the defence and can direct him around in both. Maybe Harawira-Naerea can be our Inlgis (without the DUI of course). Can't escape it any more, hooker, now there's a worry, maybe Lichaa at ~60 minutes and then Marshal-King for ~20 minutes might work. Hooker is what will keep me awake at night the most.Our forwards kept us from getting the spoon this past year, and I'm confident our forwards will even better in 2019, also I believe our bench will be one of the best in the comp in 2019.
I'm very confident that Pay will play CHN at centre in 2019 in spite of all the talk that he won't, and I think he will be a revelation there, as for the other centre not so sure.
Our FB position should be OK without been great with either Hoppa or Meaney.
The kennels opinion of Lichea is well known, now that Woodford is gone perhaps GMK could surprise if our coaches give him a crash course in dummy half play during the pre season, I've seen some attributes in him which makes me think he could be ok there.
My main concern surprise surprise is the possible second year syndrome for Lewis and Smith.
My heart want's me to consider Foran but my mind wont let me.
If I had to bet on where our club will finish it would be 5-8.
I agree, we would have been wooden spooners without them. my guess is we'll finish around the same spot or sneek into the bottom 8Watched a couple of our games from last season and the contributions from the moz bros had been great. Interesting to see how the team can cover the loss
Spot on with the review. I think Foran will go well with Lewis. Lewis will take a lot of the long distance kicking pressure off him, and will take on the line. Foran will be great for Lewis development and will be used to steer the ship out there whilst Lewis will be executing the plays.Our forwards kept us from getting the spoon this past year, and I'm confident our forwards will even better in 2019, also I believe our bench will be one of the best in the comp in 2019.
I'm very confident that Pay will play CHN at centre in 2019 in spite of all the talk that he won't, and I think he will be a revelation there, as for the other centre not so sure.
Our FB position should be OK without been great with either Hoppa or Meaney.
The kennels opinion of Lichea is well known, now that Woodford is gone perhaps GMK could surprise if our coaches give him a crash course in dummy half play during the pre season, I've seen some attributes in him which makes me think he could be ok there.
My main concern surprise surprise is the possible second year syndrome for Lewis and Smith.
My heart want's me to consider Foran but my mind wont let me.
If I had to bet on where our club will finish it would be 5-8.
We do have a surplus of back rower talent, that's for sure. So if Martin wants a spot then he has to earn it, show that he wants it, everyday, in pre season, training and trials. Pay isn't going to "give" anyone a spot, they have to damn well earn it and that starts next Thursday, if it hasn't already.I don’t hate the idea, but I just don’t see Pay moving him to the Centres. I have this concerned feeling that he’s going to drop Martin back to ISP. I hear from people (don’t know how true it is) that besides his kicking they don’t really rate Martin. I don’t agree personally but thats what I hear along the grape vine.
So with gifting the kicking duties to Holland who is also a capable kicker, they will then drop Martin back to ISP until injuries require his promotion
I don't know man.You all under estimate the impact of the departure of the Morris boys and also the effect a full season of 1st grade NRL has on rookie's. There is reason TAB has us placed as 3rd last. Foran's last good season was 2014 so you are dreaming if you think he is somehow going to fix a broken body and deliver on his $1.3M per year salary at NRL level. I hope to god Hasler does take him back to manly before he burns us for $2.6M. I apologize if I sound so negative but I think we will be playing somewhere in the realm of 10th to 14th but wont get the wooden spoon.
I think around there10th give and take
Wish we could've kept JMoz, would have solved a lot of problems on our left side,We will finish at 8. A big improvement on this year and be more consistent. No player offloads and hopefully a stable and consistent team. Remember with Lewis inclusion we won most our games when he played what if that guy started the season this year in our team we may off made the 8. Our big loss will be the Morris brothers.
You dont give up do you?I think we have the forwards to be competitive in every game. Sadly the backs dont have the skill to capitalize
on the work the forwards do. A strike centre is an absolute must. We just dont have one unless CHN steps up.