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I still believe we are one outside back short once the dust settles. I believe Mini is done and offers nothing at fullback and will offer little on the wing. He's too slow, he's ineffective from dummy-half and he has no power running left in him. We are pinning a lot of hope on Henry, RTS, Oldfield, Peni and Tupou. I think the only thing the club has fallen short on in getting us in to a strong position for the future is this outside back area. I wish they had 1 or 2 less backrowers, 1 less Minichiello and a Justin O'Neill, Dane Gagai, Gerard Beale etc waiting in the wings. All of whom were off contract this year. All players who are starting winger/centres, but more importantly would make very good fullback alternatives.
1. RTS - I can't see how we can expect him to play 26 + rounds next year as starting fullback. I have heard that Oldfield is handy pick up and the fact he wasn't playing for Manly all year in a nutshell is obvious. Why develop him further for us.
2. Oldfield/Tupou - see my opening statement.
3. BJ - I still don't what BJ's best position is. I always (and still some what do) considered him a backrower. But after watching him in the City-Country Origin match and seeing him further develop I think he has the talent to make a great fist of the centre position. He played well this year in patches, and with Anasta inside him that's saying something.
4. SKD - He is a grand final centre, world champions centre. Yes his defensive lapses, but I'd rather having playing with us than against us.
5. Tau Tau - He will get there. SBW will be worth his weight in gold to someone like Tau (I coached Tau age 12). SBW will provide him, and a lot of others with great confidence.
6. Maloney - will provide us with everything Braith didn't. Has defensive flaws, but not through lack of effort and commitment unlike some others.
7. Pearce - He is a class half, and when class halves are rare these days I am happy we have him. Is he happy to have us?
8. JWH - Simply we need a Hannant work load from him. He is effective in everything he does, but needs to do MORE of it. In saying that - less penalties please...
9. Friend - Needs to have his work rate reduced. Makes too many tackles to be effective. Hopefully he and Pearce can be provided with better go forward by FORWARDS rather than wingers, and we will see him continue to develop and learn that less is sometimes more.
10. MK - Just like JWH. We need MK to be our Tolman.
11. SBW - Let him do his thing on the right edge. Can hear it now: SBW gets arm free pops beautiful ball to SKD streaking down the left edge. He has Moga outside, RTS looming on the inside. TRY!! RTS scores his 20th try of the year and the crowd is chanting 'Barba Who'?
12. Guerra - Left side is all yours Aiden, like has been last 4 or so seasons. Very under rated. Best part is we have adequate back up - for he is injury prone.
13. Cordner - can he be our Fensom/Parker? If not who will it be? Bosden?
14. Seluini/Maubs
15. Evans
16. FPN/Taka
17. Tasi/Bosden
The bench is a tricky one, depends how Trent plays it I guess. What he expects from Friend. What he can get out of Seluini. What he gets out of JWH, MK, FPN and Tasi. We need for whoever replaces JWH and MK after 20-25mins to continue the platform they lay-something that didn't happen this year. One thing for sure is that Newtown will have a cracking forward pack next year.
That just leaves one other decision - CAPTAINCY. MK for mine.
Look forward to hearing some thoughts on what I have written. Good or Bad.
1. RTS - I can't see how we can expect him to play 26 + rounds next year as starting fullback. I have heard that Oldfield is handy pick up and the fact he wasn't playing for Manly all year in a nutshell is obvious. Why develop him further for us.
2. Oldfield/Tupou - see my opening statement.
3. BJ - I still don't what BJ's best position is. I always (and still some what do) considered him a backrower. But after watching him in the City-Country Origin match and seeing him further develop I think he has the talent to make a great fist of the centre position. He played well this year in patches, and with Anasta inside him that's saying something.
4. SKD - He is a grand final centre, world champions centre. Yes his defensive lapses, but I'd rather having playing with us than against us.
5. Tau Tau - He will get there. SBW will be worth his weight in gold to someone like Tau (I coached Tau age 12). SBW will provide him, and a lot of others with great confidence.
6. Maloney - will provide us with everything Braith didn't. Has defensive flaws, but not through lack of effort and commitment unlike some others.
7. Pearce - He is a class half, and when class halves are rare these days I am happy we have him. Is he happy to have us?
8. JWH - Simply we need a Hannant work load from him. He is effective in everything he does, but needs to do MORE of it. In saying that - less penalties please...
9. Friend - Needs to have his work rate reduced. Makes too many tackles to be effective. Hopefully he and Pearce can be provided with better go forward by FORWARDS rather than wingers, and we will see him continue to develop and learn that less is sometimes more.
10. MK - Just like JWH. We need MK to be our Tolman.
11. SBW - Let him do his thing on the right edge. Can hear it now: SBW gets arm free pops beautiful ball to SKD streaking down the left edge. He has Moga outside, RTS looming on the inside. TRY!! RTS scores his 20th try of the year and the crowd is chanting 'Barba Who'?
12. Guerra - Left side is all yours Aiden, like has been last 4 or so seasons. Very under rated. Best part is we have adequate back up - for he is injury prone.
13. Cordner - can he be our Fensom/Parker? If not who will it be? Bosden?
14. Seluini/Maubs
15. Evans
16. FPN/Taka
17. Tasi/Bosden
The bench is a tricky one, depends how Trent plays it I guess. What he expects from Friend. What he can get out of Seluini. What he gets out of JWH, MK, FPN and Tasi. We need for whoever replaces JWH and MK after 20-25mins to continue the platform they lay-something that didn't happen this year. One thing for sure is that Newtown will have a cracking forward pack next year.
That just leaves one other decision - CAPTAINCY. MK for mine.
Look forward to hearing some thoughts on what I have written. Good or Bad.
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