Roosters v Faders trial in QBN

[Rooster_6]

Collins must stay on the bench for mine, he just needs increased minutes.

I think it's just old school thinking to have your best players starting, for mine I want one of SST or Collins on the field at all times and the easiest way to manage that is to have one of them coming off the bench. Liu and Collins off the bench with Fifita as next man up if there's injury/suspension is an exceptional rotation.

The interesting spot on the bench for mine is the other two positions. Seems pretty clear that Robinson will rotate Friend this year so when Verrills is fit he will be on the bench. That final bench spot could still go to Adam Keighran, it was interesting to see him spend minutes at lock on Saturday if you're looking for a player who can still provide what Radley does in terms from distribution he's probably the best pick and then also covers for injuries in the 2nd row, centres and halves.

We could end up with

Collins
Liu
Verrills
Keighran

at full strength.

[fletch]

Collins must stay on the bench for mine, he just needs increased minutes.

I think it's just old school thinking to have your best players starting, for mine I want one of SST or Collins on the field at all times and the easiest way to manage that is to have one of them coming off the bench. Liu and Collins off the bench with Fifita as next man up if there's injury/suspension is an exceptional rotation.

The interesting spot on the bench for mine is the other two positions. Seems pretty clear that Robinson will rotate Friend this year so when Verrills is fit he will be on the bench. That final bench spot could still go to Adam Keighran, it was interesting to see him spend minutes at lock on Saturday if you're looking for a player who can still provide what Radley does in terms from distribution he's probably the best pick and then also covers for injuries in the 2nd row, centres and halves.

We could end up with

Collins
Liu
Verrills
Keighran

at full strength.

If Cordner makes it back later this year got to find a spot for Tupouniua on the bench.

[The Skeez]

I like Lindsay on the bench too. When he comes on, with his speed and energy it can be hard to defend. I think we are in it this year as the pace we will play at will break a lot of teams.

Relentless

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Collins must stay on the bench for mine, he just needs increased minutes.

I think it's just old school thinking to have your best players starting, for mine I want one of SST or Collins on the field at all times and the easiest way to manage that is to have one of them coming off the bench. Liu and Collins off the bench with Fifita as next man up if there's injury/suspension is an exceptional rotation.

The interesting spot on the bench for mine is the other two positions. Seems pretty clear that Robinson will rotate Friend this year so when Verrills is fit he will be on the bench. That final bench spot could still go to Adam Keighran, it was interesting to see him spend minutes at lock on Saturday if you're looking for a player who can still provide what Radley does in terms from distribution he's probably the best pick and then also covers for injuries in the 2nd row, centres and halves.

We could end up with

Collins
Liu
Verrills
Keighran

at full strength.

Like your prop rotation cunning plan.

Just a query on Keighran...do we know he can cut the mustard? Is he automatically a choice ahead of say Hutch in that bench spot?

[ism22]

I like Lindsay on the bench too. When he comes on, with his speed and energy it can be hard to defend. I think we are in it this year as the pace we will play at will break a lot of teams.

Relentless

Agreed! Nothing wrong with being a powerful bench prop. If anything I reckon it can be a harder job to do because you get less time to play yourself into the game.

[zac]

if we're playing friend and verrills in the same team i think we probably need the other 2 bench players to be all out forwards. friend played a bit in the middle during soo and that's an option.
i'd go verrills, collins, liu and dsf.

[Rooster_6]

If Cordner makes it back later this year got to find a spot for Tupouniua on the bench.

I'm still not sold on Tupouniua, for a forward he goes quiet way too often for my liking. Love everything else about him but all worthless unless he's getting involved.

Unfortunately drifted out of the trial game for large patches of the game as well. Keary on the right edge will hopefully bring the best out in him but he really needs to learn how to involve himself in general play more often.

[Rooster_6]

if we're playing friend and verrills in the same team i think we probably need the other 2 bench players to be all out forwards. friend played a bit in the middle during soo and that's an option.
i'd go verrills, collins, liu and dsf.

I would have agreed with you 12 months ago but I think we saw a shift last year in the make up of benches. A lot of clubs were picking a utility back on the bench to cover for injury because an injury to an outside back or half in the current state of the game can be so detrimental.

Long gone are the days of plugging those holes with a 2nd rower and grinning out the game, the game is just too fast and way more expansive to not have quick mobile backs and ball players in your critical positions.

I'm not sure anyone any one has figured out the secret sauce just yet but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of sides only carrying two middle forwards on the bench this year.

[zac]

I would have agreed with you 12 months ago but I think we saw a shift last year in the make up of benches. A lot of clubs were picking a utility back on the bench to cover for injury because an injury to an outside back or half in the current state of the game can be so detrimental.

Long gone are the days of plugging those holes with a 2nd rower and grinning out the game, the game is just too fast and way more expansive to not have quick mobile backs and ball players in your critical positions.

I'm not sure anyone any one has figured out the secret sauce just yet but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of sides only carrying two middle forwards on the bench this year.

fair call but there's always going to be a gamble about which injuries you cover for. if we played a bench of verrills, collins, liu and dsf then we can't cover an outside back, verrills might be able to cover in the halves at a pinch. but if a forward goes down and your bench is verrills, collins, liu and keighran then that puts a big strain on your forward rotation. i don't know what's right.
if we go with jake and verrills in the 17 then the only way you can have a utility on the bench is if jake plays in the middle a bit and i wouldn't have a problem with that - he'd probably bring more to that role than butch and could move there when victor goes off.

[The Brain]

Lindsay is past Bench he will alternate with JWH and Taki as the season rolls..well he is a SOO champ..undefeated

[Teddy]

Like your prop rotation cunning plan.

Just a query on Keighran...do we know he can cut the mustard? Is he automatically a choice ahead of say Hutch in that bench spot?

Good question JFC this is how I see it, I know Hutch cops a lot on here but so far I don’t think he has had a terrible game (please correct me if I’m wrong) besides the obvious which is his lack of speed he’s a handy backup has a decent short kicking game, he’s a big man can handle the best of them i.e Kikau or TaumaLoLo, defensively, would be very familiar with our systems also.

Keighran I have seen him play but haven’t seen enough to suggest he would be ahead of Hutch, Robbo has made it clear he wants a Mr Fix it probably more so now then ever, the Moz’s will need replacing at some point (Sitili and Angus cannot play centre) apparently he kicks goals and can cover the entire backline and back row, that’s handy should the need arise.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Good question JFC this is how I see it, I know Hutch cops a lot on here but so far I don’t think he has had a terrible game (please correct me if I’m wrong) besides the obvious which is his lack of speed he’s a handy backup has a decent short kicking game, he’s a big man can handle the best of them i.e Kikau or TaumaLoLo, defensively, would be very familiar with our systems also.

Keighran I have seen him play but haven’t seen enough to suggest he would be ahead of Hutch, Robbo has made it clear he wants a Mr Fix it probably more so now then ever, the Moz’s will need replacing at some point (Sitili and Angus cannot play centre) apparently he kicks goals and can cover the entire backline and back row, that’s handy should the need arise.

Yeah my main knock on Hutch is he just lacks that attacking threat in the halves. He could cover another utility type role in a pinch.

[Mickie Lane]

Collins must stay on the bench for mine, he just needs increased minutes.

I think it's just old school thinking to have your best players starting, for mine I want one of SST or Collins on the field at all times and the easiest way to manage that is to have one of them coming off the bench. Liu and Collins off the bench with Fifita as next man up if there's injury/suspension is an exceptional rotation.

The interesting spot on the bench for mine is the other two positions. Seems pretty clear that Robinson will rotate Friend this year so when Verrills is fit he will be on the bench. That final bench spot could still go to Adam Keighran, it was interesting to see him spend minutes at lock on Saturday if you're looking for a player who can still provide what Radley does in terms from distribution he's probably the best pick and then also covers for injuries in the 2nd row, centres and halves.

We could end up with

Collins
Liu
Verrills
Keighran

at full strength.

So Butcher, Tupouniua, Suluka- Fifita & Lussick miss out. 4 pretty good quality players.
Has Butcher slipped out of our best 17?
I think Robbo likes him especially his defence.