The Mole's 2024 rookies to explode

[Berries]

who is the best 6 at the club if not Burton? No way Ciro moves Burton from 6 in round 1

Burton is about as good at 6 as a front rower. Absolutely useless and will have our backline twiddling their thumbs

 

[Berries]

Ciraldawg needs to make a big dog call and shifting Burton to the centres is that. Our edges are probably where most of our quality is and we can afford to have him fucking around at 5/8 just spamming kicks and not feeding the edges with quality ball. If he starts at 5/8 then...well, I cbf.

Fox will be standing around at wing again like Wendell Sailor in Union if Burton plays 6

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Fox will be standing around at wing again like Wendell Sailor in Union if Burton plays 6

I'm sure Burton will spam kicks in behind for him to keep some fans happy

 

[Nate DAWG]

Burton is about as good at 6 as a front rower. Absolutely useless and will have our backline twiddling their thumbs

We don’t have front rowers either! Burton was trash most of last year, especially in defence. But who is the better 6 at our club bro? Burton is still young and has lots to work on but imo he is the best half we have

 

[Berries]

We don’t have front rowers either! Burton was trash most of last year, especially in defence. But who is the better 6 at our club bro? Burton is still young and has lots to work on but imo he is the best half we have

What concerned me the most wasn't his lack of skills but the attitude last year, he seemingly gave up during the middle to end of the season. He has had everything handed to him on a platter as a half selection wise based on potential and even got a pay rise despite the performances being lackluster. Needs a huge year to justify his position in this team and obviously gets first crack to see how he has progressed over the off season.

 

[Berries]

I'm sure Burton will spam kicks in behind for him to keep some fans happy

Its so cute

 

[D0GMATIC]

On what basis are they claiming Gus is trying to keep him under the radar? Gus did comms for that NSW game he played in and was raving about him.

Kid is a great prospect, but his defence is not NRL standard yet. Keep developing him.

Also, it's a bit worrying to learn of exploding rookies, what are they being fed?

Wafer thin mints ?

 

[bulldogsfan_88]

1. Papali’i
6. Oloapu
7. Woods
13. Marshall

Would have thought Conti would be in there somewhere? Everyone has big wraps on him too. Nice problem to have

 

[D0GMATIC]

1. Papali’i
6. Oloapu
7. Woods
13. Marshall

It's a numbers game, if more than 1 ends up having a fg career with the club,we've done ok

 

[halfcast]

Oloapu is an interesting one imo, now that he's out for a year it gives Burton a chance to have a breakout year without any pressure of someone nipping at his heels, let's just say for arguments sake Burton does have a breakout year, will that then change the outlook for Oloapu and we transition him into the forwards?

Olaupu will be a backrower pending recovering from the neck issue

 

[halfcast]

burton is our best option at 6...

 

[ShepardDog]

Man O'neil really does get out-shadowed by some of the other youngsters besides Woods and Joash I see him as our next best junior. From what I saw he seems the most mature for his age but his leadership and work ethic seems high too.

 

[flamebouyant]

who is the best 6 at the club if not Burton? No way Ciro moves Burton from 6 in round 1

100%

 

[The DoggFather]

Called this early last year with the rest of us who watch the pups

 

[dawso047]

Not convinced by Marshall just yet Curran/KO before Marshall. Morrin is an outside chance if his defence improves.

 

[piggy]

I think he needs to play against men in NSW Cup to keep developing. He will kill it in Flegg no question. He needs to challenge himself.

He should play fullback in Cup with Taaffe at halfback.

A fit Tracey will be in the NRL 17.

so many people underestimate Taffe... he is more than a handy pick up and will surprise alot of people

 

[piggy]

Dunno what Ciro chooses but if I was deciding it’s simple, Tracey plays fb. I like him over Taffy because both are good positonally and fairly safe, but Tracey has a bit of mongrel and spark about him. I also choose him over Critta, because he’s been more impressive playing that position from what I’ve seen. And Critta is best centre around, so why move him?

Adding to that, if he earns it in preseason and trials, I hand Xerri the other centre spot and Kiraz, Skelton and Wilson can fight it out for the wing. If Xerri doesn’t do enough we start the year with one flank of Kiraz or Skelton playing centre. I’d like to see the latter actually but iirc he has only played wing so far? If Xerri doesn’t fire, I’d start the season with 1. Tracey 2. JAC, 3. Kiraz 4. Critta 5. Skelton/Wilson. I would prefer Kiraz on the right, but would pick Critta there to help whichever young player gets the wing spot.

would rather Skelton be given a go at centre than Kiraz....

 

[gbrussell]

I suggested this guy was the bolter in the fullback thread. He is at the age where he is ready to fil out, and with a good off season I think he will be in the equation to start the year at fb. He would benefit from further development though, so hopefully some more time in cup will have him primed.

As others have said he needs to bulk up, and his defence is suspect.

All the talk about fullbacks doing sweep plays and playing like a second five eighth is only part of the job. If a fullback is suspect in defence or catching bombs he is of no use to the team because it puts pressure on the whole team in defence.

 

[D.O.W.]

would rather Skelton be given a go at centre than Kiraz....

Kiraz is all effort which is what coaches love, but Skelton easily accounts for him in several areas, speed, agility, power and natural skill.

 

[Phalangist]

Kiraz is all effort which is what coaches love, but Skelton easily accounts for him in several areas, speed, agility, power and natural skill.

Are you saying Skelton is quicker then Kiraz?