Training....

[Andrew Walker]

It's sad, but you are right. Our boys make one mistake and they often cop hefty unwarranted abuse from many people it seems.

That's another thing I'm looking at eliminating, each week all player stats from the game they played will be available on this site. This will hopefully help people become more informed before they start posting rubbish

We will keep a tally of most missed tackles, most dropped balls, most penalties etc - so we can (with proper evidence) critizise those who deserve to be critized.

..Well thats the intention

And who shall be doing these stats ?

[Vasco]

It's sad, but you are right. Our boys make one mistake and they often cop hefty unwarranted abuse from many people it seems.

That's another thing I'm looking at eliminating, each week all player stats from the game they played will be available on this site. This will hopefully help people become more informed before they start posting rubbish

We will keep a tally of most missed tackles, most dropped balls, most penalties etc - so we can (with proper evidence) critizise those who deserve to be critized.

..Well thats the intention

We ran last in 2009. Players like SKD contributed greatly to this.

[Spirit of 66]

SKD is barely a first grader

I can remember Mark Harris playing quite a bit of reserve grade too. His handling improved. I'm hoping SKD's will too.

People mature, get more experience, improve.

[Guest]

I can remember Mark Harris playing quite a bit of reserve grade too. His handling improved. I'm hoping SKD's will too.

People mature, get more experience, improve.

True, but he'll need to do a lot more than improve his handling to be anything approaching Mark Harris, or even a first grade centre

He seems incapable of running straight, and always has to throw in that telegraphed, slow motion right foot step.

[zephyr 6]

It will mean nothing unless we flog Souffs.

I want Souffs, then Im happy for Spoon II. Little steps.

With Asotasi,Burgess and Taylor in their pack,be a big ask, we do Souths,we can do em all!!

[Geohood]

There is this massive unit with an iron jaw running in the centres..(JP Du...)

Excuse the ignorance but what is an iron jaw meant to mean?

[Guest]

all sounds good

this mysterious Du Plessis fellow has me interested...

If this is the same guy that was seem on the foxtel show a week or so back it is not Du Plessis........as far as I know he isn't even here....Will find out for sure on Friday.....

[Horry]

That was Aiden Guerra

[Spirit of 66]

True, but he'll need to do a lot more than improve his handling to be anything approaching Mark Harris, or even a first grade centre

He seems incapable of running straight, and always has to throw in that telegraphed, slow motion right foot step.

I don't want to sound like the president of the SKD fan club, because I'm not. (Mind you, if there is an SKD fan club it wouldn't take much to be elected president.)

SKD is definitely heart attack material at the moment. There were games last year where I literally had to close my eyes when he got the ball. But despite that (and his inability to run straight and his telegraphed right foot step) he did score 14 tries last year (21% of our total tries) and 15 tries in 2008, ... in first grade.

I reckon he might come good under Smith. He's only ever had Anderson and Fittler as coaches.

If he doesn't, I will officially join the chorus to get rid of him.

[Chookies74]

I reckon he might come good under Smith. He's only ever had Anderson and Fittler as coaches.

If he doesn't, I will officially join the chorus to get rid of him.

I'm putting most of the team in this boat, ie reserving judgement until Smith has had them playing first grade together, hopefully competitively, for 12 weeks.
Yes, too some, 12 weeks is half their lifetime, however, I remind them of 2002 and Brisvegas winning the comp a couple of yrs ago. The comp isn't won until the start of September (not that I'm saying we are any chance of winning the comp, but I think we will improve significantly as the season progresses).

[Guest]

My mate heard a fair few things too, including:

- SKD to centre
- Graham to wing
- Carney to fullback
- Koops to hooker
- Conn training at lock

I am expecting us to see:

1. Carney
2. Minichiello
3. Kenny-Dowall/Williamson
4. Perrett
5. Graham
6. Anasta
7. Pearce
8. Ryles
9. Aubusson
10. Paea
11. Cherrington/Guerra
12. Myles
13. Aubusson/Conn

14. Kouparitsas/Jones
15. Symonds
16. Waerea-Hargreaves/Kennedy
17. Nuuausala

[Guest]

JP Du Plessis arrived a few days ago and has already started training with the team. He is not that big, but is very solidly built. Martin Kennedy is looking very good and will most likely crack a spot on the bench for Round One is my mail. Mose Masoe is another who is looking very impressive, as is Joseph Leilua. Aiden Guerra could be a dark horse for a spot against Souths but will probably wait a bit longer before an opportunity arises for him. With Jared Wearea-Hargreaves out until Round Four, Martin Kennedy or Daniel Conn should get his spot.

[Guest]

SKD might drop the ball a bit, but he is very dangerous in attack when going well, he often breaks the first tackle and we've all seen some brilliant individual efforts. I see him in the Hodges mould doesn't move quick but is still very elusive and with the right training could do lots of damage in the centres

[Guest]

SKD to the centres might be a very good move.

Similar build to Matt King, can be used as a line-runner in the Monaghan/King mould near the line, doesn't have to be risked under the high ball anymore when a more accomplished player like Phil Graham can do that.

That means that for the first time in a long time, we have two wingers with extensive (albeit injury prone) playing experience in Minichiello and Graham. Carney will spark creativity and support our halves from fullback. The big question mark is our two fullback/winger-cum-centres SKD and Perrett - we still aren't sure of their transition. But luckily, we have guys like Ryan Williamson, JP Du Plessis, Tom Symonds, Mitch Aubusson, Kane Linnett and Aiden Guerra ready to fill in.

Our pack looks fine, our bench looks fine (both Jones and Kouparitsas have utility value), our wingers look fine (injury-permitting) and our halves are pretty much established. The question marks are the centres and fullback - mainly because none of them are really accustomed to their positions yet.

[Horry]

SKD to the centres might be a very good move.

and Aiden Guerra ready to fill in.

.

??? isn't he a backrower??