Round 1 team

[Headless Chook]

I’ve wandered down to watch them train a couple times in December Mickey . Toia looks really strong and Billy is massive . I swear if Billy stays fit he’ll be in a Aussie jersey soon . Toia and Smith will be our centres . Young is the one to be worried . Mark N and Toops are our best wingers .

So off the back of one game of league, against the team that finished 14th Marky N is a better player than Dom Young?????

[King Salvo]

Is Ethan King ready to step up to NRL level?

Yes but not sure if he's in the top 30 - Seen him in some training pics only. Not a tall fellow but plenty of pace - I rate him although many don't

[Thirteen]

Is Ethan King ready to step up to NRL level?

He will have to be as we have zero depth this season. Even if he’s not ready he will need to be used at some stage.

[Steggles]

100%. I wonder what the plan is for second string fullback? Even during the game if Teddy goes down? From what I see there is no obvious choice in our top 17?

Sandon Smith played a bit of fullback in the lower grades.

[Mickie Lane]

Sandon Smith played a bit of fullback in the lower grades.

So if Teddy goes down during the game & you move Sandon to FB who would play 5/8?
If Teddy went down during a game 1 of the centres would move to FB & a backrower would move to centre.

[Rooster_6]

So if Teddy goes down during the game & you move Sandon to FB who would play 5/8?
If Teddy went down during a game 1 of the centres would move to FB & a backrower would move to centre.

I think Sandon going to fullback is going to be the most likely option, Watson into the halves and utility off the bench into dummy half.

Going to be interesting to see what Robbo does with his bench because if he goes with Radley and Crichton on the edges he doesn't really have a mobile second rower who can cover centres if an outside back goes down and with Watson playing dummy half until Smith gets back we have lost our most versatile utility player to dummy half.

Wouldn't surprise if he goes with a half or outside back on the bench. Maybe someone like a Jake Elliot, potentially why they were considering someone like Mbye.

[Mickie Lane]

I think Sandon going to fullback is going to be the most likely option, Watson into the halves and utility off the bench into dummy half.

Going to be interesting to see what Robbo does with his bench because if he goes with Radley and Crichton on the edges he doesn't really have a mobile second rower who can cover centres if an outside back goes down and with Watson playing dummy half until Smith gets back we have lost our most versatile utility player to dummy half.

Wouldn't surprise if he goes with a half or outside back on the bench. Maybe someone like a Jake Elliot, potentially why they were considering someone like Mbye.

What if the bench was Whyte, Wong, Steep & E Butcher?
Whats happening about Mbye?

[Vasco]

What makes you think flogging them is any better??

Robbo has a 63% win rate in the nrl and Maguire with a 48%.
Maguire also has a history of either losing the confidence of the dressing room or the higher ups. Although you may say robbo has lost it now he is still holding the roll. As a supporter you should have at least a little bit of trust in the bloke to get us a trophy in the next few years.
Losing our half back and only being 80 minutes away from a grand final is still a big plus. Imagine if Cleary didn’t play the last 20 minutes of 2023. Or Cleary and Hughes went down last season before finals. It would have been a similar story to us.

I read these forums a lot and I worry about your negativity. I hope you have some good people around you.

Some good points there.

[Vasco]

I can't see Pauga starting in the centres. Billy Smith will be left and Marky Mark on the right. Toia will be next in if one of them is out injured or suspended.

[kakaruk]

I think toia will start in the centres with Billy dom young on one wing that leaves Marky to fight it out with toops for the other wing spot hard one for robbo legend of the club up against young potential superstar all the players are giving a big rap to toia that’s what I think anyway could be wrong

[Rooster_6]

What if the bench was Whyte, Wong, Steep & E Butcher?
Whats happening about Mbye?

I don't see him playing an all forward bench given the lack of versatility in the starting 13. He's already got a lot of forwards capable of long minutes in the side as well so no need for 4 forwards.

I can see a time where we play and outside back on the bench and this place is going to erupt...

[Rooster_6]

I think toia will start in the centres with Billy dom young on one wing that leaves Marky to fight it out with toops for the other wing spot hard one for robbo legend of the club up against young potential superstar all the players are giving a big rap to toia that’s what I think anyway could be wrong

Toops and Teddy are the first two names on the sheet and not just because of their numbers.

[King Salvo]

Hi gaz, Imo the Broncos 17 for round 1 will be considerably stronger than ours on paper. I'm being realistic! Walker and Cheese out, new halves combo, rookies, etc etc. They will lap us if we can't match them in the fitness department was the point I was trying to get across.

Bronco's have a new coach with a different game plan methodology so the Bronco players will take time to get used to the new way he wants them to play.

No team will be match fit round 1 no matter how hard they were flogged in pre-season.

It will take a few games before players will get into the swing of things game fitness wise.

No different to Cricket - a batter can spend all the time they want in the nets batting against net bowlers - It means diddly squat when it comes to the match though as more than likely they won't be facing similar bowlers as they will face in the match itself. - Ditto a Bowler

For an example nothing what a batter does in the nets would prepare them for the way Bumrah bowls in a match.

[Bates]

Bronco's have a new coach with a different game plan methodology so the Bronco players will take time to get used to the new way he wants them to play.

No team will be match fit round 1 no matter how hard they were flogged in pre-season.

It will take a few games before players will get into the swing of things game fitness wise.

No different to Cricket - a batter can spend all the time they want in the nets batting against net bowlers - It means diddly squat when it comes to the match though as more than likely they won't be facing similar bowlers as they will face in the match itself. - Ditto a Bowler

For an example nothing what a batter does in the nets would prepare them for the way Bumrah bowls in a match.

I've always thought pre season training was a waste of time. They should just turn up 1 hour before round 1 kicks off shake hands, say hi and play.

Coach Sally's methodology.

[Rooster90]

Yes but not sure if he's in the top 30 - Seen him in some training pics only. Not a tall fellow but plenty of pace - I rate him although many don't

he is okay in the lower grades - not a week to week nrl player atm, he is 22 so its now or never