Sam Verills suspected broken thumb...

[DP1990]

Ben Marschke would be the ideal replacement with Watson as utility but there's restrictions in place. Alternatively Keighran or Hutchinson can fill the utility role as well. Keighran is probably better suited because he is more versatile, can play in the backs, fill in the halves, can fill in as makeshift hooker and he can kick well.


I'm gonna suggest a left field option here as well, "if" he is allowed to play (not sure as he's on a developmental contract), why not throw Ronald Volkman in early and see if he could do a job as a utility and rotate as a hooker option to give Watson a breather ?. The kid is a live-wire and obviously we don't need another half running around and over-complicating things during play but at least when he has played, he has shown his pass selection was good, his running game was good although not lighting fast and he can kick. Wouldn't be a bad idea and it'll give us a proper look to see what he can offer playing first grade.


PS: Anyone but Lam.

[Thirteen]

Ben Marschke would be the ideal replacement with Watson as utility but there's restrictions in place. Alternatively Keighran or Hutchinson can fill the utility role as well. Keighran is probably better suited because he is more versatile, can play in the backs, fill in the halves, can fill in as makeshift hooker and he can kick well.


I'm gonna suggest a left field option here as well, "if" he is allowed to play (not sure as he's on a developmental contract), why not throw Ronald Volkman in early and see if he could do a job as a utility and rotate as a hooker option to give Watson a breather ?. The kid is a live-wire and obviously we don't need another half running around and over-complicating things during play but at least when he has played, he has shown his pass selection was good, his running game was good although not lighting fast and he can kick. Wouldn't be a bad idea and it'll give us a proper look to see what he can offer playing first grade.


PS: Anyone but Lam.

Have you seen enough of Volkman to know he can handle that kind of defensive load? Are you forgetting that attack is only half of the game?

I don’t want a ‘look’ at him when 2 points are on offer. We can have a look at him in reserves and watch him become a consistent reserve grader before he is considered for NRL.

With Connor, Drew, Adam and Lam, we can cover 9 quite well while Sam V is out.

[Roosterfarian]

Why the hell would the club put Marschke on a development contract!

Thought he was one of our shining lights last year. He’s ahead of so many others in my view including Lam, Adam K and even Hutch.

[DP1990]

Have you seen enough of Volkman to know he can handle that kind of defensive load? Are you forgetting that attack is only half of the game?

I don’t want a ‘look’ at him when 2 points are on offer. We can have a look at him in reserves and watch him become a consistent reserve grader before he is considered for NRL.

With Connor, Drew, Adam and Lam, we can cover 9 quite well while Sam V is out.

I haven't seen enough but neither has anyone else since Covid basically derailed the lower grades competition over the past two years so there's only two choices, 1. We watch him play for Norths and come to a conclusion or 2. He gets a run in first grade and it's a baptism by fire.


Are we desperate enough that we need to throw him in ? No, not at all and like I've said Keighran and Hutchinson can do the job well temporarily but we won't know unless we see him play.

[Headless Chook]

Why the hell would the club put Marschke on a development contract!

Thought he was one of our shining lights last year. He’s ahead of so many others in my view including Lam, Adam K and even Hutch.

Because he's really not that good. He's average at best

[mightyrooster]

You’re joking. Please tell me it’s not happening again. Hope it’s a quick recovery for Sam.

[Roosterfarian]

Because he's really not that good. He's average at best

Disagree there Headless. I thought he had a good breakout season. Remember that it was his first crack at the top level.

He topped the fitness charts with Radley.

[Rooster90]

Disagree there Headless. I thought he had a good breakout season. Remember that it was his first crack at the top level.

He topped the fitness charts with Radley.

I like Marschke, he is the closest thing we have to Jake Friend in the amount of tackles he makes.
However there have been several lapses in defense where a try was scored directly from him missing a tackle or making the wrong choice.

In saying that Keighran, Lam and Lussick aren't exactly brick walls in defense so I'd have him above them but below Verills, Hutch and Watson

[zac]

poor sammy. still, gives hutch a chance to play some footy.
will be interesting to see how many mins watson plays at 9.

[ism22]

Have you seen enough of Volkman to know he can handle that kind of defensive load? Are you forgetting that attack is only half of the game?

I don’t want a ‘look’ at him when 2 points are on offer. We can have a look at him in reserves and watch him become a consistent reserve grader before he is considered for NRL.

With Connor, Drew, Adam and Lam, we can cover 9 quite well while Sam V is out.

Yeah I tend to think that...
- Verrills / Watson is a split-hair decision. However, Watson has enough games under his belt to fend off all the others.
- Hutcho, Keighran and then Lam are the other picks. Dunno why people are starting to hate on Lam but Hutcho's the better defensive player. Keighran gives us kicking as a bonus and can also play centre (maybe - didn't during the trial).
- Manu's in the mix if Keary/Walker go down (or Keary's simply not ready yet... noting Robbo's kept Naiqama on the reserves list). Don't wanna read into this too much but if Keary's not ready I'm guessing it's not necessarily gonna be Hutcho to #6 & Walker to #7.
- Volkman/Marschke are fun but (respectfully), I'm hoping we don't have to dig that deep this season.

[Fourteen]

We have plenty of depth with Watson, Lam, Lussick and Marschke.