Best 17 for round one?

[Freakzilla]

Exactly 40 days until the Bulldogs first preseason game.

 

[LeeroyJenkins]

I said Ciraldo best 17 he loves salmon .

we’ve improved depth not our top 17 . Only thing that helps hopefully is another year under Ciraldo and his systems plus juniors pouring through now.

Ciraldo is taking the piss if Salmon is in the 13, bloke doesn't even make our best 21

 

[alic]

Ciraldo is taking the piss if Salmon is in the 13, bloke doesn't even make our best 21

I don’t rate him at all . No coincidence we played a lot better when he was out injured and started to slow down when he was back in the side .

 

[battered sav]

There's no way in hell Mann doesn't start at 13

And I'm calling it now, Salmon won't make the 17 @CrittaMagic69

It will of course depend how the preseason pans out but I would be very surprised if you were wrong.

 

[LeeroyJenkins]

I don’t rate him at all . No coincidence we played a lot better when he was out injured and started to slow down when he was back in the side .

100% and the stats back it up. Defensively we're worse, offensively we're worse...he's a straight plodder.

 

[Dogiezz]

He's a bulldog, I back the coach and recruitment team! Constant hate for Salmon is uncalled for. Was he a superstar signing, didn't the team improve? Club picked well, we have more professional players in the club.

 

[ElMagicElMasri]

With hindsight I don’t think we sign Sitili if we had our time over with the emergence of Hayes

the solution is use Curran/ Todd as a lock/middle to rotate with Mann then go with Sitili, Hayes and an out and out middle but we all know Hayward/Salmon takes up a bench spot unfortunately

 

[Big_Kahunas]

There's no way in hell Mann doesn't start at 13

And I'm calling it now, Salmon won't make the 17 @CrittaMagic69

I hope you are right. CC made the call with Perham and Hutcho, so there is a chance he will do the same with Salmon.

 

[alic]

Anyone rate Amone highly ? The two matches I’ve watched so far of him,Not really much to be excited over .

Has anyone watched plenty of him ?

 

[CQDog]

We’ve got to pray Salmon gets the Perham treatment this year

 

[D.O.W.]

He's a bulldog, I back the coach and recruitment team! Constant hate for Salmon is uncalled for. Was he a superstar signing, didn't the team improve? Club picked well, we have more professional players in the club.

Yeah, I agree, we picked him up to set standards around training and work ethic. He also provides utility value… he’s not in the elite echelon of talent, but he gives 100% and plays with good aggression. Anyone wearing our colours should be supported.

 

[Lynchpin]

Anyone wearing our colours should be supported.

Fortunately, NSW Cup wear our colours too, so of course Salmon has full support.

He's Top 30, so can show everyone what full-time training looks like, mentoring the talented youngsters trying to adjust to open-age in reggies.

He's decent injury back-up, but if he's required in any meaningful way across the '25 campaign our ambitions for Top 8, and especially Top 4, could be in jeopardy.

 

[Rumdogmillionaire]

Fortunately, NSW Cup wear our colours too, so of course Salmon has full support.

He's Top 30, so can show everyone what full-time training looks like, mentoring the talented youngsters trying to adjust to open-age in reggies.

He's decent injury back-up, but if he's required in any meaningful way across the '25 campaign our ambitions for Top 8, and especially Top 4, could be in jeopardy.

Salmon seemed an important communication cog in CC's defensive system in '24. Understandable, given he played it at Penrith.
Almost an on-field defensive captain/coach.
His attack is ordinary. Not a great runner or distributor.

Hopefully, the rest of the squad has had 12 months to understand the D system now and Salmon is not as crucial to the NRL team anymore.

As Lynchpin said, he's good back up for the NRL team & he has huge value mentoring Reggies, so the whole squad will know how to play the D effectively.

 

[Rumdogmillionaire]

Position	NRL	CUP
1	Tracey	Taaffe
2	Kiraz	Sua
3	Xerri	Tuala
4	Crichton	Gabrael/Afualo
5	Wilson	Montoya
6	Burton	O'Neill
7	Sexton	Tia
8	King	Suluka-Fifita
9	Mahoney	Turpin
10	Hughes	Underhill
11	Kikau	Salmon
12	Preston	Hayes
13	Mann	Todd
14	Hayward	Hutchison
15	Curran	Sutton
16	Tupouniua	Hopoi
17	Amone ? (Hayes/Todd)	Morrin
Cup players pushing NRL selection		Young players with potential to play Cup
Backs : Sua, Montoya, Tuala		Woods
Forwards : Todd, Hayes, Salmon, Morrin		Spinks
Smokey's : DSF, Tia		Alatini
		Luke Smith
Don't forget me : Underhill, Hopoi; Taaffe ; Turpin		Moyle
Lotto chance : Hutchison, Sutton, O'Neill, Gabrael/Afualo		Jones

 

[bradyk]

Position	NRL	CUP
1	Tracey	Taaffe
2	Kiraz	Sua
3	Xerri	Tuala
4	Crichton	Gabrael/Afualo
5	Wilson	Montoya
6	Burton	O'Neill
7	Sexton	Tia
8	King	Suluka-Fifita
9	Mahoney	Turpin
10	Hughes	Underhill
11	Kikau	Salmon
12	Preston	Hayes
13	Mann	Todd
14	Hayward	Hutchison
15	Curran	Sutton
16	Tupouniua	Hopoi
17	Amone ? (Hayes/Todd)	Morrin
Cup players pushing NRL selection		Young players with potential to play Cup
Backs : Sua, Montoya, Tuala		Woods
Forwards : Todd, Hayes, Salmon, Morrin		Spinks
Smokey's : DSF, Tia		Alatini
		Luke Smith
Don't forget me : Underhill, Hopoi; Taaffe ; Turpin		Moyle
Lotto chance : Hutchison, Sutton, O'Neill, Gabrael/Afualo		Jones

Montoya most likely starting over Wilson. Salmon Ciraldo's love child will most likely be in the 17, I wouldn't even be surprised if he starts.

 

[CMP]

Position	NRL	CUP
1	Tracey	Taaffe
2	Kiraz	Sua
3	Xerri	Tuala
4	Crichton	Gabrael/Afualo
5	Wilson	Montoya
6	Burton	O'Neill
7	Sexton	Tia
8	King	Suluka-Fifita
9	Mahoney	Turpin
10	Hughes	Underhill
11	Kikau	Salmon
12	Preston	Hayes
13	Mann	Todd
14	Hayward	Hutchison
15	Curran	Sutton
16	Tupouniua	Hopoi
17	Amone ? (Hayes/Todd)	Morrin
Cup players pushing NRL selection		Young players with potential to play Cup
Backs : Sua, Montoya, Tuala		Woods
Forwards : Todd, Hayes, Salmon, Morrin		Spinks
Smokey's : DSF, Tia		Alatini
		Luke Smith
Don't forget me : Underhill, Hopoi; Taaffe ; Turpin		Moyle
Lotto chance : Hutchison, Sutton, O'Neill, Gabrael/Afualo		Jones

I agree with most of this. I think the Wilson, Montoya, Tuala battle isn’t finalised yet.

I also think Hayward could be swapped out for a bigger body. Hayes or even Todd or Underhill. If Mann is in the 13. He can fill in for the utility role if needed.

 

[Rumdogmillionaire]

Montoya most likely starting over Wilson. Salmon Ciraldo's love child will most likely be in the 17, I wouldn't even be surprised if he starts.

Yep ....I think you're right - that is probably what CC will do.

But ... just thought a tiny spanner in the works won't hurt too much.

I'd love to see Todd come on as a ball playing lock.
In fact, I'd love to see Hayes and Todd improve to the point where they're both in the 17 every week.

 

[bradyk]

Yep ....I think you're right - that is probably what CC will do.

But ... just thought a tiny spanner in the works won't hurt too much.

I'd love to see Todd come on as a ball playing lock.
In fact, I'd love to see Hayes and Todd improve to the point where they're both in the 17 every week.

Todd will get his chance sometime in the season, hopefully plays well enough to hold it.

 

[Rumdogmillionaire]

I agree with most of this. I think the Wilson, Montoya, Tuala battle isn’t finalised yet.

I also think Hayward could be swapped out for a bigger body. Hayes or even Todd or Underhill. If Mann is in the 13. He can fill in for the utility role if needed.

Too true. The battle for the vacant wing spot will be massive. All 3 you mentioned

Trial games and training will be very spirited.

As for Hayward .... I like that suggestion where Mann covers utility spot. (Surely we don't need Mann, Hayward and Salmon!!)
My personal preference is for Todd to become a ball playing lock. (Our Isaiah Yeo).
I know his offload is slick, speed & footwork are good and he's a big unit. Not sure if his halfback type distribution skills are as good as Haywards?

In fact, I'd love to see Hayes and Todd in the 17 every week.

Sitili, Hayes, Curran and Todd - quite like that bench.
Not sure how you'd work the subs though?

Edges
(Hayes and sitili are both better edge players)
Kiks and Presto only play 60 minutes each ...there's 40 minutes of edge time.

Lock/Hooker
Todd sub Mann at 30 min mark and play 50 straight.
Mann take Reed off for his brain explosion period (last 15-20).

Props
Curran sub for Max n Sam.
Maybe Harry do a bit of middle grunt work towards the end too (much as Morin did last year).
Or maybe that's where Underhill comes into the equation?

Backs are covered - Mann - halves ; Harry & Sitili - centre/wing.

Unlikely to happen ....but fun considering the options.

 

[albatross]

Too true. The battle for the vacant wing spot will be massive. All 3 you mentioned

Trial games and training will be very spirited.

As for Hayward .... I like that suggestion where Mann covers utility spot. (Surely we don't need Mann, Hayward and Salmon!!)
My personal preference is for Todd to become a ball playing lock. (Our Isaiah Yeo).
I know his offload is slick, speed & footwork are good and he's a big unit. Not sure if his halfback type distribution skills are as good as Haywards?

In fact, I'd love to see Hayes and Todd in the 17 every week.

Sitili, Hayes, Curran and Todd - quite like that bench.
Not sure how you'd work the subs though?

Edges
(Hayes and sitili are both better edge players)
Kiks and Presto only play 60 minutes each ...there's 40 minutes of edge time.

Lock/Hooker
Todd sub Mann at 30 min mark and play 50 straight.
Mann take Reed off for his brain explosion period (last 15-20).

Props
Curran sub for Max n Sam.
Maybe Harry do a bit of middle grunt work towards the end too (much as Morin did last year).
Or maybe that's where Underhill comes into the equation?

Backs are covered - Mann - halves ; Harry & Sitili - centre/wing.

Unlikely to happen ....but fun considering the options.

Might be close at some stage? I like Mann at DH for a bit. He's got better attacking variety than Mahoney. I'm not sure about two planned edge rotations, but there's plenty of coverage for any situation.