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Alex McKinnon Claims If We Sign DCE We'll Most Likely Win The 2026 Comp

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  • Alex McKinnon Claims If We Sign DCE We'll Most Likely Win The 2026 Comp

    Interesting article I saw yesterday, obviously to be taken with a grain of salt but McKinnon has indeed played NRL so knows more than most average punters so thought it was worth posting up here for everyone to enjoy, his claim is if we sign DCE he is the missing puzzle piece and we will go close to winning the comp next year:

    https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...mmendedCount=0

    His predicted side for 2026:

    1. Tedesco 2. Young 3. Billy Smith 4. Toia 5. Mark N 6. Walker 7. DCE 8. Collins 9. Robson 10. Whyte 11. Crichton 12. Wong 13. Radley

    14. Watson 15. Steep 16. Leniu 17. Nat Butcher

    ---

    Personally I partially agree with him, with the addition of DCE we would have an incredible spine and one of the best in the competition but I think to win the comp we would need DCE, another good prop forward and unless Dom Young significantly improves his defence on the wing this year we'd probably need to replace him also to win a comp.

    What do you all think?

  • #2
    I agree mate
    we would be the top 2 spines with that team up their with Melbourne
    back 5 tupou is still there next year
    and Watson at 14 is the best utility in the comp

    Wong and Whyte have kicked off this year

    if we have rads, Gus, Collins and Spencer firing it’s certainly a side that can do it

    just need the luck of injuries and suspensions at the right time of the year

    I also agree we need another front rower on the bench instead of strep or Nat butcher
    - maybe Vaa or Seve might be up there by then

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by MKCS View Post
      Interesting article I saw yesterday, obviously to be taken with a grain of salt but McKinnon has indeed played NRL so knows more than most average punters so thought it was worth posting up here for everyone to enjoy, his claim is if we sign DCE he is the missing puzzle piece and we will go close to winning the comp next year:

      https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...mmendedCount=0

      His predicted side for 2026:

      1. Tedesco 2. Young 3. Billy Smith 4. Toia 5. Mark N 6. Walker 7. DCE 8. Collins 9. Robson 10. Whyte 11. Crichton 12. Wong 13. Radley

      14. Watson 15. Steep 16. Leniu 17. Nat Butcher

      ---

      Personally I partially agree with him, with the addition of DCE we would have an incredible spine and one of the best in the competition but I think to win the comp we would need DCE, another good prop forward and unless Dom Young significantly improves his defence on the wing this year we'd probably need to replace him also to win a comp.

      What do you all think?
      My only question would be how Walker would go at #6. A few pundits are of the opinion that DCE and Walker are very similar players in that they're natural, instinctive halves. Whereas, Cronk as a 'coach' is a less suitable fit for Walker as he's more of a manufactured half.

      IDK!!! Right now I think DCE would be the difference between us losing the last 3 games (to rubbish teams) and us winning them. That wouldn't make us a premiership favourite, it'd simply help us to avoid the spoon.

      Have said it elsewhere... there's a lot of drinks between now and 2026. IMO DCE and Robson would offer a solid POD (hopefully enough to stop Cheese, Latrell and Skeletor from heckling us... very much hope we do a job on them in 2026). But, a premiership would be down to sustained development from the likes of Toia, Mark N, B-Smizzle, Wong, Whyte, Steep, Butcher, Va'a...etc. That and consistent rep grade form from guys like Crichton, Leniu and Collins.

      Easts always have an intimidating roster and can win any season. It's a matter of DOING it. Even this faaarkin season TBH!!! We could still be an intimidating top-8 prospect if Leniu, Collins, Townsend and Young all play to their potential. I say Chad because the guy's played like ~200-300 games and won a premiership!!! He didn't need to be amazing for us to beat Souffs with no halves. He just needed to make some sorta decision for our last tackle options. SOMETHING other than punting the ball straight to Jye Gray. SOMETHING brother.

      All he needed was for Young/Tupou/Toia/Smith to get the ball in hand while 20m out during ~5-6 plays and we woulda been a ~40% chance of scoring on individual brilliance alone. Bombing it to Jye Gray? Yeah he's short and less experienced than Latrell/Wighton but TBH kicking the ball behind Latrell (who played like absolute shyte) is a proven way to score some eeeeeeasy money... especially when he's trying to play a little bit like a slot-in half.
      Last edited by ism22; 04-10-2025, 09:18 AM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Alex McKinnon is far and away the dumbest pundit writing about the game his takes are so bad you'd think they came from The Roar.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Chook2 View Post
          I agree mate
          we would be the top 2 spines with that team up their with Melbourne
          back 5 tupou is still there next year
          and Watson at 14 is the best utility in the comp

          Wong and Whyte have kicked off this year

          if we have rads, Gus, Collins and Spencer firing it’s certainly a side that can do it

          just need the luck of injuries and suspensions at the right time of the year

          I also agree we need another front rower on the bench instead of strep or Nat butcher
          - maybe Vaa or Seve might be up there by then
          I agree as well but we need a year of luck with injuries our squad drops off if we lose a half or a front rower. Seve looks like he has plenty of upside but Taylor Losalu will do me just fine - he’s good.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by ism22 View Post

            My only question would be how Walker would go at #6. A few pundits are of the opinion that DCE and Walker are very similar players in that they're natural, instinctive halves. Whereas, Cronk as a 'coach' is a less suitable fit for Walker as he's more of a manufactured half.

            IDK!!! Right now I think DCE would be the difference between us losing the last 3 games (to rubbish teams) and us winning them. That wouldn't make us a premiership favourite, it'd simply help us to avoid the spoon.

            Have said it elsewhere... there's a lot of drinks between now and 2026. IMO DCE and Robson would offer a solid POD (hopefully enough to stop Cheese, Latrell and Skeletor from heckling us... very much hope we do a job on them in 2026). But, a premiership would be down to sustained development from the likes of Toia, Mark N, B-Smizzle, Wong, Whyte, Steep, Butcher, Va'a...etc. That and consistent rep grade form from guys like Crichton, Leniu and Collins.

            Easts always have an intimidating roster and can win any season. It's a matter of DOING it. Even this faaarkin season TBH!!! We could still be an intimidating top-8 prospect if Leniu, Collins, Townsend and Young all play to their potential. I say Chad because the guy's played like ~200-300 games and won a premiership!!! He didn't need to be amazing for us to beat Souffs with no halves. He just needed to make some sorta decision for our last tackle options. SOMETHING other than punting the ball straight to Jye Gray. SOMETHING brother.

            All he needed was for Young/Tupou/Toia/Smith to get the ball in hand while 20m out during ~5-6 plays and we woulda been a ~40% chance of scoring on individual brilliance alone. Bombing it to Jye Gray? Yeah he's short and less experienced than Latrell/Wighton but TBH kicking the ball behind Latrell (who played like absolute shyte) is a proven way to score some eeeeeeasy money... especially when he's trying to play a little bit like a slot-in half.
            I’d be disappointed if DCE puts Walker to 6. I think DCE should play 6. Keep Walker where he is happy - he’s the future. Not much diff between 6 and 7 anyway it’s just a big show of faith in Sam if we leave him at 7 that will build loyalty I think rather than erode it if we move him to 6.

            Comment


            • #7
              We would need another top shelf front rower on top of DCE to win the comp.
              Exonerate the West Memphis Three - www.wm3.org

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by SamKerrSimp View Post
                Alex McKinnon is far and away the dumbest pundit writing about the game his takes are so bad you'd think they came from The Roar.
                I tend to agree, this could be the kiss of death.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I think Gould expressed similar sentiments the other night but in not so many words.

                  FFS

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Who is Alex McKinnon to retire Toups? Guy has no idea.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Top 4 imo and then who knows come finals time.

                      1. Teddy
                      6. DCE
                      7. S Walker
                      9. Robson

                      14 Watson

                      We tick all the boxes with the above 5.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        JWH on $130k a year would be nice.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by The Lip View Post

                          I’d be disappointed if DCE puts Walker to 6. I think DCE should play 6. Keep Walker where he is happy - he’s the future. Not much diff between 6 and 7 anyway it’s just a big show of faith in Sam if we leave him at 7 that will build loyalty I think rather than erode it if we move him to 6.
                          What's a 7? A guy that can organise and get the team around the park and ideally has a big boot on him.
                          Walker isn't an organiser and neither was Keary. Walker can still call plays at 6.
                          We have been going around in circles since Cronk retired and OK Sam can steer, but I don't really trust his driving.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            saying we'd be favourites is a big call - not easy winning a comp, and who knows how good dce is next year - but if he's in form we'd give it a shot

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Roosterfarian View Post
                              We would need another top shelf front rower on top of DCE to win the comp.
                              Hopefully one of the young guys coming through will develop enough to fill this gap.

                              Comment

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