Updated: Atherton Trial Team

[Guest]

Where's Nate going? (not in either list)

*prepares for toilet jokes*

He is our rep in the Allstars game that weekend...

[elo]

He is our rep in the Allstars game that weekend...

Ahhhhh ofcourse, that exhibition.....good, good.

[Hawkeye]

Good old sonny T....


I hope and pray he never gets near first grade this year

Yes that was the first name that jumped up at me off the page.
Though I notice he's in the centres, maybe they think he wont have to be under the highball as much like the wing ?

[Guest]

I think the NZ side is looking something like this at the moment:

1. Anthony Minichiello (c)
2. Sam Perrett
3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
4. Ben Jones
5. Steve Naughton
6. Jonathon Ford
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Frank Paul-Nuuausala
9. James Aubusson
10. Daniel Conn
11. Aiden Guerra
12. Anthony Cherrington
13. Tinirau Arona

14. Liam Foran
15. Martin Kennedy
16. Mose Masoe
17. BJ Leilua
18. Charlie Leaeno
19. Chris Afamasaga
20. Daniel Fepulaei
21. Boyd Cordner
22. Kane Linnett

Just a few things to note:
* It's a pretty young trial team with the more experienced guys such as Anasta, Carney Paea etc. making the trip to Atherton.

* Looking forward to seeing how Boyd Cordner performs. I rate this kid very highly. He is as tough as nails and is a great player to watch. Very mature beyond his years.

* Shaun Kenny-Dowall in the centres is one to watch either way. He can either perform well and put pressure on the other blokes vying for a centre position or he can crumble and the experiment in the centres can be over with after this trial. I think he'll do very well.

* Interesting again that Hughie Stanley was not mentioned to me in regards to being in a firts grade trial. I have to assume he is playing in the NYC trial. Although I do recall Peter O'Sullivan mentioning in a radio interview that he needs to put on more size to play at the top level so that might be the reason he hasn't been picked.

* I'll be interested to see how Aiden Guerra goes. With the people I have spoken to, they mentioned him as being one to watch and that he is a very tough kid. He should go well.

* Ben Jones being played at centre will make or break his season IMO. If he is to cement a spot in the team to play the Rabbits in Round One, he will most likely occupy the number 4 jersey.

* There has been a lot said about BJ Leilua and I'll be very interested to see how performs at this level. I've seen him dominate junior rep games and I'm hoping he'll be able to have an impact in his first game with the big boys.

* Good to see a few Newtown boys in there in Charlie Leaeno and Chris Afamasagta. Leaeno has definite potential and hopefully he'll be able to fulfil that potential here at the Roosters.

[Guest]

Good old sonny T....


I hope and pray he never gets near first grade this year

You will be eating humble danish,this kid is explosive thats why they kept him & now the boy is in his right position.Mini was shit under the bomb for his first couple of years too & look what happened.

[Guest]

Yes that was the first name that jumped up at me off the page.
Though I notice he's in the centres, maybe they think he wont have to be under the highball as much like the wing ?

The poor kids was also playing outside Sa when he was in FG as well.....

Give him another year.....the centre positions are WIDE open and if we have ANY chance of have a hot backline this year, one or two of the kids will need to stand up.

[TheBigFella]

The poor kids was also playing outside Sa when he was in FG as well.....

Give him another year.....the centre positions are WIDE open and if we have ANY chance of have a hot backline this year, one or two of the kids will need to stand up.

Hard to be confident outside Sa & Soliola...

Manu Vatuvai was diabolical under the high ball. Now he is competant at the least..

[Guest]

The full strength team for the season will probably be:

Todd Carney
Anthony Minichiello
Ryan Williamson
Sam Perrett
Phil Graham/Shaun Kenny-Dowall (depending on Grahams fitness and form)
Braith Anasta
Mitchell Pearce
Jason Ryles
James Aubusson
Lopini Paea
Anthony Cherrington
Nate Myles
Mitchell Aubusson

Ben Jones
Tom Symonds
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
FP Nuuausala

This is very easy - they are our 17 best players, and they make the top 17. I would give Williamson an early shot, depending on the trials, and relegate SKD to Jets early on, especially if he doesn't impress.

Jets team:

Luke Towers
Steve Naughton
Kane Linnett
Sonny Tuigamala
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Jonathan Ford
Liam Foran
Martin Kennedy
Nick Kouparitsas
Tinirau Arona
Aiden Guerra
Daniel Conn
Jason Baitieri

Keith Peters or Daniel Fepuleai (both Jets contracted players)
Brad Takairangi
Mose Masoe
(any of the Jets various props - Charlie Leaeno, Ray Moujalli, Khalid Deeb, James Koloamatangi, Ryan Verlinden, etc)

We will probably see Cheyse Blair, Boyd Cordner and Jacob Miller alternate between SG Ball and NYC. Ethan Lowe, John Leiataua, BJ Leilua and JP Du Plessis will be NYC regulars, while Ben Jones will probably figure in Jets or NRL more than U20s anymore.

[Guest]

Is this the first time Mini is captain? for some strange reason I think i've read somewhere that he was captain in that aus V USA game

[witty92]

Is this the first time Mini is captain? for some strange reason I think i've read somewhere that he was captain in that aus V USA game

he captained the second game against souths last season after Anasta's season ended and fitzgibbon was out for the week

[Guest]

thanks, I had forgotten about that

[Spirit of 66]

Mini was shit under the bomb for his first couple of years too & look what happened.

I can remember Mini be a bit suspect in defence in those early days, but I can't recall him being bad under the bomb. Was it when he played wing?

[TheLoneRooster]

Will Fine Moekiola EVER be fit? It seems to me that he is perenially injured.
Also, it was mentioned in footy's first post in this thread that Ryles is injured - what's wrong with him?

[Guest]

The full strength team for the season will probably be:

Todd Carney
Anthony Minichiello
Ryan Williamson
Sam Perrett
Phil Graham/Shaun Kenny-Dowall (depending on Grahams fitness and form)
Braith Anasta
Mitchell Pearce
Jason Ryles
James Aubusson
Lopini Paea
Anthony Cherrington
Nate Myles
Mitchell Aubusson

Ben Jones
Tom Symonds
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
FP Nuuausala

This is very easy - they are our 17 best players, and they make the top 17. I would give Williamson an early shot, depending on the trials, and relegate SKD to Jets early on, especially if he doesn't impress.

Jets team:

Luke Towers
Steve Naughton
Kane Linnett
Sonny Tuigamala
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Jonathan Ford
Liam Foran
Martin Kennedy
Nick Kouparitsas
Tinirau Arona
Aiden Guerra
Daniel Conn
Jason Baitieri

Keith Peters or Daniel Fepuleai (both Jets contracted players)
Brad Takairangi
Mose Masoe
(any of the Jets various props - Charlie Leaeno, Ray Moujalli, Khalid Deeb, James Koloamatangi, Ryan Verlinden, etc)

We will probably see Cheyse Blair, Boyd Cordner and Jacob Miller alternate between SG Ball and NYC. Ethan Lowe, John Leiataua, BJ Leilua and JP Du Plessis will be NYC regulars, while Ben Jones will probably figure in Jets or NRL more than U20s anymore.

Tinirau Arona is in line for a bench spot in Round One. He has apparently been impressing the coaching staff with his work ethic, which was on show during the first half of last year's NYC when he was regularly topping the 200 metre mark.

I'm interested to see what Jonathon Ford can do. He has played numerous positions including five-eighth, wing, fullback and even halfback at times. He is a very rangy type kid but has very good vision. Brian Smith must have a big wrap on him to bring him across from the Knights.

I agree with Jacob Miller, Cheyse and Boyd Cordner alternating between SG Ball and NYC but I have a sneaking suspicion Cordner is in line to debut at some point in time this season. He is definitely big enough and I underestimated him. I would have wanted him to debut in 2011 but he looks just about ready to break into the big time.

[Guest]

Will Fine Moekiola EVER be fit? It seems to me that he is perenially injured.
Also, it was mentioned in footy's first post in this thread that Ryles is injured - what's wrong with him?

I wasn't told what is wrong with Ryles but he is apparently out injured at the moment, although I don't think it's a serious injury. Hopefully he features in a trial before the season start.

Fine Moeakiola had shoulder surgery towards the end of last season. The club must really rate him if they have kept him on despite all his injury woes. If he can get over them, he will be very useful in the backs.