BULLDOGGSFAN
Kennel Participant
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2023
- Messages
- 126
- Reaction score
- 185
Yep I'd agree with all that and I like the idea of bringing in Joash Papalii. Again though, because he's a smaller fullback we're gonna need Kiraz and Skeltons yardage and metres on kick returns. You couldn't pick him alongside Wilson because they're both just gonna get smashed and driven backwards.I like your thinking and logic, good team though have some differing views.
Agree dropping Taaffe, his shocker in the Sharks trial compounded by his errors in the Parra game has his confidence rock bottom, he’ll need to regain that in Cup before getting another look in.
Skelton to me is a no brainer, particularly with our lack of size in the middles, he is a very effective tackle 1 option and will go for 140+ meters easily every game.
Kiraz is a winger fullstop.
Wilson’s pace is great, but has feet for hands, needs to do more reps in cup.
Xerri should be in the centres, he’s not looked out of place since coming to the club. He’s a specialist in that position.
As tempting as it is to move Crichton into 1, he’s the worlds best defensive centre and arguably the best centre period. You don’t move the best player in his position elsewhere. But, open to the idea if we’re desperate or poor for choice. Let’s see how Tracey goes in that role and who knows, if that fails, maybe it’s time we blooded Papalii.
Burton @ 6 is starting to do my head in…. He kills the ball, Kiks and Crichton don’t see any good ball outside him… he lacks vision and good choices, even his spiral bomb has gone missing. Absolutely went missing last week…. He’s almost cooked on chances at 6 so centre or even fullback could be better options.
Sexton must come into the team at 7, he provides an extra dimension in attack, has good speed, good vision and a terrific passing game.
Hutch could join Sexy if Burto plays centre, but given Burton’s move is unlikely, Hutch is either a 14 or playing Cup.
Reed should get 50-70mins and let Mann or Turpin come in with some energy. The only thing Mahoney is guilty of is trying too hard. Ciro needs to simplify his role similarly to how the Eels used him (just dart passes from dummy half and from time to time, have a scoot to keep the markers honest.
Middles, we need to start with Hughes, he gives us that size and he often finds his front, Poasa can come in for 2x 20min power stints. Kautoga’s aggression would give our pack a boost, should make the bench.
Mann or Salmon (one of the two and not both) is the utility option of choice, Mann looks the sharpest of all utilities early on.
Last but not least, sheer aggression and pack mentality, was there in spades vs Storm in trial#1 and vanished slowly since. Our pack has to hunt in numbers and ramp up that defensive intensity at the start of sets like Storm and Penrith do. We were super effective in that first trial doing just that but it’s all vaporised.
Skelton, Katoga, Tracey and Xerri need to find a home in our 17. Once match fit, Patolo should come off the bench.
For example- If they kick it to our corners and it's Skelton first hit up (tackle zero), Kiraz dummy half run (tackle one), then Critter (2 )then we're gonna have some momentum getting out of trouble. Similar to how Penrith use Brian To'o start the sets on kick returns...