Victor to an edge???

[Billy Gunn]

In the presser Robbo said that Victor was going to start in place of Nat until he was ruled out.

I'm sure he would go well as he is killing it this year but based on his form in the middle I wouldn't move him.

Thoughts???

[Chook2]

Yes would rather victor at lock but if the team needs him there and Conner can play 13 so well maybe it might happen
it makes sense now as Nat has been poor recently so at least robbo saw this as well
and he would have been told he was on the bench and actually played well so maybe Nat got abit of a kick up the backside from the last few weeks
robbo may be looking at options as the edge has been a little weak and also to have both Watson and sandon in the 17 with sandon coming back next week

[Steggles]

I think our best possible team has Victor at lock. Conor looked good there yesterday, but it’s easy to look good when the whole team is performing well. Victor has looked good all year, even when the team has been playing poorly.

It’s hard to leave Watson out of the 17, and we can’t run with both Conor and Sandon on the bench, particularly against the bigger sides.

That begs the question of what is our best possible team and who misses out. I’ve made no secret that I think Keary’s past it and needs to make way for new blood; nothing I saw yesterday changes my mind on that.

My best possible 17 would be -

Tedesco
Toups
Manu
Billy Smith
Young
Walker
Sandon Smith
JWH
Brandon Smith
Collins
Crichton
Can’t decide - N Butcher, Wong, Sitili
Radley

Watson
May
Leniu
Whyte

We can win the comp with that side. Controversial maybe with no Suaalli and no Keary. If Butcher can play like he did yesterday more consistently, he might get the nod. That’s my thoughts anyway and the coach probably has very different ideas.

[Roosterfarian]

Why can’t Robbo just leave him at lock but keep him out of first receiver FFS.

[Bates]

I like Vic as our hybrid lock. His ball playing adds another dimension to our attack. It's great that he can play on an edge if required.

[The Marshall]

I think our best possible team has Victor at lock. Conor looked good there yesterday, but it’s easy to look good when the whole team is performing well. Victor has looked good all year, even when the team has been playing poorly.

It’s hard to leave Watson out of the 17, and we can’t run with both Conor and Sandon on the bench, particularly against the bigger sides.

That begs the question of what is our best possible team and who misses out. I’ve made no secret that I think Keary’s past it and needs to make way for new blood; nothing I saw yesterday changes my mind on that.

My best possible 17 would be -

Tedesco
Toups
Manu
Billy Smith
Young
Walker
Sandon Smith
JWH
Brandon Smith
Collins
Crichton
Can’t decide - N Butcher, Wong, Sitili
Radley

Watson
May
Leniu
Whyte

We can win the comp with that side. Controversial maybe with no Suaalli and no Keary. If Butcher can play like he did yesterday more consistently, he might get the nod. That’s my thoughts anyway and the coach probably has very different ideas.

good discussion item. For me Suaalii is a far better winger than Young

[Chook2]

I think our best possible team has Victor at lock. Conor looked good there yesterday, but it’s easy to look good when the whole team is performing well. Victor has looked good all year, even when the team has been playing poorly.

It’s hard to leave Watson out of the 17, and we can’t run with both Conor and Sandon on the bench, particularly against the bigger sides.

That begs the question of what is our best possible team and who misses out. I’ve made no secret that I think Keary’s past it and needs to make way for new blood; nothing I saw yesterday changes my mind on that.

My best possible 17 would be -

Tedesco
Toups
Manu
Billy Smith
Young
Walker
Sandon Smith
JWH
Brandon Smith
Collins
Crichton
Can’t decide - N Butcher, Wong, Sitili
Radley

Watson
May
Leniu
Whyte

We can win the comp with that side. Controversial maybe with no Suaalli and no Keary. If Butcher can play like he did yesterday more consistently, he might get the nod. That’s my thoughts anyway and the coach probably has very different ideas.

Agree suaali has been a back up outside back but will play most of the year due to injuries but he is behind the backline you listed
we need sandon smith and Watson in the 17
as long as we can fine the right edge back rower and keep rads at 13
if Nat butch plays like that he can stay there
wouldn’t mind seeing more of Wong again
I like how Whyte is still on the bench as well as the edge and lock replacement

[Chook2]

good discussion item. For me Suaalii is a far better winger than Young

Disagree with this
young scored 25 tries last year
suaali offers hit ups only and odd catch with the high ball
where young provides the high ball and his out and out pace he will score many more tries then suaaali and set them up like he allready has
and young improved with his ball carries as well so glad to see he got this better in his time off
Manu also has got his defence better in the last few weeks so maybe robbo is viewing the chookpen
young made 222mtr from 18 hit ups. 7 tackle breaks and 3 line breaks v Dragons
that’s more tackle breaks and line breaks then suaali has made in his career

[Bondicigar]

No Robbo please leave Vic in the middle!
I'm not taking nothing away from Watson , he was great but Saints were soft up the middle .
We need Rads in the middle against the top sides , he hurts them.

[Steakface]

On the Suaallii topic .... Is it just me or is he quite slow compared to the average 3/4?

He always seems to be quite lethargic when it comes to pace, rather using strength over speed most of the time.

I do wonder if bulking up and becoming an edge forward makes more sense for him in the long run.

[Aubo]

I absolutely love rads … i feel like him ball playing in the middle of the field is our biggest problem it slows us down so much.. we need to get with the times and play faster and more direct. I cant stand the radley out the back to keary out the back to teddy and miracle tap on to a winger play any more and teams defend it so easily. I think rads plays more of a front row game with conner at 13 and sandon at 14

[Kelby]

Nat Butcher is a better lock than an edge backrower.

[Rooster90]

I'd like Rads on the edge - he is just as guilty as Keary & Teddy with playing sideways too often
Connor just tucks the ball and runs up the guts

[B2B]

Dare I say it does it come down to Toups or Sualli on the wing . If not Sualli should play centre . Before everyone tears me to shreds , I am huge fan of Toups . But I feel Sualli needs to be in the team even though he is heading off to Rugby next year .

[Teddy]

I'd like Rads on the edge - he is just as guilty as Keary & Teddy with playing sideways too often
Connor just tucks the ball and runs up the guts

Yep well said Conor kept us going straight all night, his runs were very dangerous and his defence albeit not as heavy or bell ringing as Rads was superb, Rads has been fantastic since about round 19-20 last year he would absolutely excel on an edge kept a little fresher and running at smaller men, I would like to see that.

Look it was the Merge and I like to see how Connor goes against the top sides in the middle his fitness is phenomenal coming back from a bad injury, covered hooker when Smith went off and we didn’t skip a beat.

Tough one for Robbo.