Team changes??

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

I think, at an absolute pinch, Todd could play dummy half. May even cut them up from that position.

[Guest]

Bring back kouparitsis :d

[Hawkeye]

I think, at an absolute pinch, Todd could play dummy half. May even cut them up from that position.

Of course he could, but why would you move him from where he has been our main strike weapon.

[Guest]

Agreed, Aubs should be the backup for Friend. Sounds like COnn is injured anyway so Mose would come in. Penrith without Pritchard will find it hard to match us up front.

[Guest]

If BJ played on the wing the Panthers would pepper him all night.

The Tigers targeted Graham's wing all night with their kicks. And they were very successful. Graham is our weak link. Leilua will do a 10 times better job!

[BUDDY]

The Tigers targeted Graham's wing all night with their kicks. And they were very successful. Graham is our weak link. Leilua will do a 10 times better job!

Sorry I can't recall them going close to scoring off a kick particularly on the left side. I recall them crossing our line 4 times on our right hand side in the first 20 minutes where teams have had success all year. Our left side is not our weak link when it comes to defense.

[Guest]

I would not be dropping Graham at this point in the season. Too much experience, I wouldn't mind us starting next year with Leilua on the wing though.

There was one try down Graham's wing (Beau Knows) but that was because Linnett slipped in the lead-up. If anything, Perrett is a far greater defensive liability than Graham. Only difference is that Perrett digs in on the hitups and metres.

I don't think we need Leilua anymore this season in first grade, but if Graham is off next year, then I would have him out on the wing. He can always move into the centres or backrow later on, but for now, we need him as a winger while he is still young and has plenty of pace and mobility.

Graham has done his job - plugged the hole we had in the outside backs. For all his criticism, he has been a lot better than some of the blokes we have had on the wing in recent years (Hauraki, Waqa, Tuigamala, Earl, Mellars, etc).

We should finish 2010 with:

Minichiello, Perrett, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Graham, Carney, Pearce, Ryles, Friend, Myles, Nuuausala, M Aubusson, Anasta, BENCH: J Aubusson, Masoe, Hargreaves, Kennedy, 18TH MAN: Conn

We should start 2011 with:

Minichiello, Perrett, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Leilua, Carney, Pearce, Ryles, Friend, Myles, Nuuausala, M Aubusson, Anasta, BENCH: Watts, Masoe, Hargreaves, Kennedy, 18TH MAN: Conn

...and eventually bring in someone like Tasi, Arona, or Maliota to replace Ryles after 2011.

[Guest]

Sorry I can't recall them going close to scoring off a kick particularly on the left side. I recall them crossing our line 4 times on our right hand side in the first 20 minutes where teams have had success all year. Our left side is not our weak link when it comes to defense.

I didn't say anything about scoring points. They targeted Graham with their long kicking game. He provides nothing in attack, especially coming off our own line

[Guest]

I would not be dropping Graham at this point in the season. Too much experience, I wouldn't mind us starting next year with Leilua on the wing though.

There was one try down Graham's wing (Beau Knows) but that was because Linnett slipped in the lead-up. If anything, Perrett is a far greater defensive liability than Graham. Only difference is that Perrett digs in on the hitups and metres.

I don't think we need Leilua anymore this season in first grade, but if Graham is off next year, then I would have him out on the wing. He can always move into the centres or backrow later on, but for now, we need him as a winger while he is still young and has plenty of pace and mobility.

Graham has done his job - plugged the hole we had in the outside backs. For all his criticism, he has been a lot better than some of the blokes we have had on the wing in recent years (Hauraki, Waqa, Tuigamala, Earl, Mellars, etc).

We should finish 2010 with:

Minichiello, Perrett, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Graham, Carney, Pearce, Ryles, Friend, Myles, Nuuausala, M Aubusson, Anasta, BENCH: J Aubusson, Masoe, Hargreaves, Kennedy, 18TH MAN: Conn

We should start 2011 with:

Minichiello, Perrett, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Leilua, Carney, Pearce, Ryles, Friend, Myles, Nuuausala, M Aubusson, Anasta, BENCH: Watts, Masoe, Hargreaves, Kennedy, 18TH MAN: Conn

...and eventually bring in someone like Tasi, Arona, or Maliota to replace Ryles after 2011.

Its a shame this couldnt be left til after the season, but I just dont feel our style of play has suited Graham, he is built to be on the end of backline moves, not hitting the ball up from dummy half, and even though he has been good under the high ball, his light frame isnt built for the hard running required when returning kicks.

I like the guy, but most of our tries this year have been scored without the ball ever getting to the wing, because we have a running half and 5/8 who create opportunities infield he just hasnt gotten the opportunities to suit his best style of play.

I think BJ will go fine if given his chance, and if all the speculation is putting Phil off then it may be better for him to go now.....its a hard call.

[Guest]

Phil Graham is a good defensive centre, why wouldn't Smith put him in the centres and put Linnett on the wing, Linnett's running down and tackling of Nathan Merritt shows that.

[Guest]

why would Graham leave now? Ithink he has played every game for us this season and deserves his chance to have a shot at a grand final. His experience is far more important to us in such a big game than some greenhorn young hopeful.

[Guest]

If Brian Smith left Phil Graham in the centres since the beginning of the year, we would be saying to keep him on for another year. He was outstanding in the centres and then Smith decided to move him to the wing, why? It would have been better IMO to start Linnett off on the wing and eventually move him into the centres once Graham departed. Leave Graham in the side. He is versatile, quick and has great footwork. He just needs to get more involved.