Cordner in O'Donnell has until saturday to prove fitness

[stsae]

We have a winner! If you read everything that Robbo's said, its clear this is what he is going to do. Robbo even mentions something like "Guerra has played different positions for us throughout the year".

I think JWH and Moa will start as props, Cordner will start and Guerra will drop to the bench.

Then bench will then look like

Morts
LOD
Guerra
Aubbo

That way you have LOD, Guerra and FPN possible of rotating with the props.

Expect Guerra to play and be Maloney's bodyguard and be that extra body on that side, coz we got opened up too many times on that side last time by Lyon. Couple of times they should have scored and only didnt coz of Manly's fault (dropped ball, etc).

I can see Aiden or Maubs as shock starters and Cordner on the bench.

But yeah every indication the coach has given has been about Aidens ability to play fringe or tight, even centre at a pinch. And Maubs ability to play fringe or centre, could even play tight or at 5/8 if we were that desperate, multiple mid game injuries.

IMO size won't be where we beat womanly.

Execution will win against this side.

And defence.

That's the only reason I reckon MLK would be considered if one of he props miss out. Even watching back to last time we played womanly some of his goal line was amazing. For his size his lateral is astounding.

[Guest]

FPN played his best football off the bench as destructive ball runner up the middle so I can see the following line-up:

8. JWH
9. Friend
10. LOD
11. Guerra
12. SBW
13. Cordner

14. Moa
15. FPN
16. Aubusson
17. Morts

I think you may have nailed it with that rotation!

[Chookies74]

FPN has to start. He's been hurting people in the last few weeks, in attack and defence, and Robbo will want to hurt them early, ie traditional softening up period.
If he came off the bench, he'd try and do something stupid,ie throw a crap pass or drop a hit-up, better to keep his mind occupied early with the concept of breathing.

[Yak]

I think you may have nailed it with that rotation!

Yeah that's our best team. As long as FPN fires up like he did playing front row in those games mid season.

Cordner may will probably start on the left in attack and defence. I'd say Guerra will defend in the middle and attack down the right (easily his best side as far as i'm concerned) and SBW will roam in attack and play right edge D. FPN and Moa to come on at first change. Guerra will be interchanged for Aubusson who attack and defend left edge with Cordner moving to lock in defence and right edge attack switching with SBW now in attack and defence. Then I'd imagine Guerra would come back on for Cordner given he would have been defending at lock for a good portion of his return game.

The key will be if FPN stepped up to taking more carries than usual which he's shown he can do in those games against the Storm and the Dogs.

I really like the amount of experience and form in that pack. So long as O'Donnell's hamstring holds out that will be a very tough pack to get over the top of.

[Guest]

Is there any chance that Coach Robinson would drop SKD, move Guerra to the centres and bring in Cordner. Guerra has played at centre before and did a great job.

[ChookMaster]

Is there any chance that Coach Robinson would drop SKD, move Guerra to the centres and bring in Cordner. Guerra has played at centre before and did a great job.

no chance mate. SKD defended superbly aganist matai a few weeks back, and its the GF the big one, I honestly cant see robbo throwing a major change like that. SKD & RTS have great communication down that right edge, imo if you chuck guerra in that position that all goes into turmoil. Guerra only played center too due to a few injuries, NO-ONE is injured so no chance maate.

[G-Unit Guerra]

I feel Cordner will start from the bench with same forward pack as last week starting.

It won't happen, fingers crossed, but if Boyd went down injured in opening minutes it would challenge the mindset of all players and be demoralizing and hard to regain focus. If Boyd came out at 25 mins and then suffered an injury, I feel the team would be deep into the game and more adept at dealing with the emotional loss of Cords. And with halftime just around the corner Robbo and co could address any issues regarding player loss etc.

This is also how LO'D should be used if under an injury cloud and called into the team. Both from the bench. It might be tougher on Cords and LO'D's nerves but easier to manage from a coaching perspective if the worst were to happen.

[stsae]

I feel Cordner will start from the bench with same forward pack as last week starting.

It won't happen, fingers crossed, but if Boyd went down injured in opening minutes it would challenge the mindset of all players and be demoralizing and hard to regain focus. If Boyd came out at 25 mins and then suffered an injury, I feel the team would be deep into the game and more adept at dealing with the emotional loss of Cords. And with halftime just around the corner Robbo and co could address any issues regarding player loss etc.

This is also how LO'D should be used if under an injury cloud and called into the team. Both from the bench. It might be tougher on Cords and LO'D's nerves but easier to manage from a coaching perspective if the worst were to happen.

Very rational thinking mate, I concur.

[Tommy Smith]

I would imagine both will undergo a very rigorous fitness test before getting a spot in the 17.

If there's anything resembling a risk of them going down injured then they won't play imo.

[chook 56]

Very rational thinking mate, I concur.

Smiffy would be very disappointed.

[Guest]

Cords and LOD will start, we'll need their aggression in the opening 20mins, it is going to be brutal.

Chook.

[Guest]

Cords and LOD will start, we'll need their aggression in the opening 20mins, it is going to be brutal.

Chook.

I agree. The first 20 minutes will be like SOO. I think this will take more out of Manly than us though. If we are level after 20 minutes I will be happy.