Team get named today - predictions?

[ism22]

A few unfortunate injuries and suspensions. Be thinkin' that Collins, Toops and Rads are out. What's supercoach Robbo gonna do?

I'm thinking...

1. Teddy
2. Momirovski
3. Drew
4. Manu
5. Sua'uli'i
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Verrills
10. Lodge
11. Crichton
12. Butch
13. Watson

14. Gildart
15. SST
16. Egan
17. May

---

The above gives us a 'weak side' but I think our middle's pretty tight, so hopefully this restricts their last tackle options. I like the versatility too. Lotsa options for Watson, Drew, Gildart and (for example) Butch to move around.

No 'outs' are good (particularly when we know that our full-strength roster gave bel... I mean... headache too much trauma to do a generic, 3 minute presser for the fans). But these 3 are just tragic. I don't wanna think about 'what if' but if JWH gets suspended (emotional game + refs will be after him) and somebody else goes down, we're looking pretty lean.

Damn Lodge and Gildart were 'the right pickups' though ay. To anybody who questions Robbo's recruitment... it's almost as if he predicted this sorta situation and wanted to be prepared.

[The Lip]

A few unfortunate injuries and suspensions. Be thinkin' that Collins, Toops and Rads are out. What's supercoach Robbo gonna do?

I'm thinking...

1. Teddy
2. Momirovski
3. Drew
4. Manu
5. Sua'uli'i
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Verrills
10. Lodge
11. Crichton
12. Butch
13. Watson

14. Gildart
15. SST
16. Egan
17. May

---

The above gives us a 'weak side' but I think our middle's pretty tight, so hopefully this restricts their last tackle options. I like the versatility too. Lotsa options for Watson, Drew, Gildart and (for example) Butch to move around.

No 'outs' are good (particularly when we know that our full-strength roster gave bel... I mean... headache too much trauma to do a generic, 3 minute presser for the fans). But these 3 are just tragic. I don't wanna think about 'what if' but if JWH gets suspended (emotional game + refs will be after him) and somebody else goes down, we're looking pretty lean.

Damn Lodge and Gildart were 'the right pickups' though ay. To anybody who questions Robbo's recruitment... it's almost as if he predicted this sorta situation and wanted to be prepared.

Not bad Ism - it's hard isn't it. Wouldn't mind seeing Gildart get a run in the centres or wing. I agree with not disrupting both sides so keep Joe and Joe together.

If Gildart doesn't get a run in the backline I wouldn't have him on the bench however - would rather see another pig.

I think I would keep Conner as 14 as well and put Egan 13

[top_joe]

I Think keep Jo & Jo together, and just put a defensively solid option in place on the LHS to stop them scoring tries.

Agree with The Lip , Egan at 13 and let him play big minutes.

[Easts75]

Walker & Fatrell will target and I'm afraid will exploit Hutch in a bad way. Hate them but Souths are slick when playing wide and it could be a long night when they are running at Hutch

[RoosterChick]

Not too worried about the replacements Robbo will choose. More worried about the ref. The way Sutton gave Souths a leg up with penalties out of their own 40 not to mention all the 6 agains. If we get Sutton we might be in trouble.

[ism22]

Not bad Ism - it's hard isn't it. Wouldn't mind seeing Gildart get a run in the centres or wing. I agree with not disrupting both sides so keep Joe and Joe together.

If Gildart doesn't get a run in the backline I wouldn't have him on the bench however - would rather see another pig.

I think I would keep Conner as 14 as well and put Egan 13

Like your thinking about Egan the #13 (and then maybe dropping Gildart if he's below Momirovski in the pecking order, as last week would suggest).

Meh. I reckon we'll be fine. Souffs aren't that good, we just always have emotional clashes with them and rhey lift...etc. Hopefully the new stadium (NOT THEIR EFFING STADIUM!!!) and big crowd gives us a bit of a cauldron to cheer these boys over the line early on, so that the only 'emotion' from Souffs is a sloppy kinda frustration.

[Bondicigar]

I hate this game before semi finals.
Way too much emotion involved, always a massive risk of Injury and suspension.

It's only good for the NRL and other contenders
With a good chance both sides could be weaker come finals time

[RoosterChick]

In saying all that I said before about the Ref. Besides that I think he might bring Gildart in to replace Toops. Siua at lock, he’s played there before when Rads has been out. May on the bench in for Lindsay. Egan on the bench might come on to give Siua a rest. He’s played lock for the Bears. Also Watson at 14. Also we need another big body on the bench so probably Baker. He’s got some experience. That’s all!

[DP1990]

Well, initially (on another post), this was my line up prediction:

1. Tedesco
2. Suaalii
3. Gildart
4. Momirovski
5. Manu
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Verrills
10. Lodge
11. N Butcher
12. Crichton
13. Watson

Bench

14. Hutch
15. SST
16. E Butcher
17. May

18. Baker
19. Wong

20. Thomas
21. Whyte
22. Naiqama/Keighran



But now I think just to add a bit more of a stronger defence in the middle, more control in passing ... I wouldn't mind seeing Hutchinson start at Lock and switch Watson back to the bench utility. We know Watson runs around like a headless chook sometimes (that's his trait) but that may not be good against Souffs early on ... he's better to be injected in later on when there are tired forwards in front and that's when he is at his best .. playing 'eyes up' unstructured and broken.


A lot of talk about Siua Wong in the last week ... perhaps he gets a run ?

[Rooster36]

I think Manu plays wing and does his normal roving thing in attack we need his kick returns In The absence of tupou

[morley101]

1. Teddy
2. Naiqama
3. Momirovski
4. Manu
5. Sua'uli'i
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Verrills
10. Lodge
11. Crichton
12. Butch
13. Egan

14. Watson
15. SST
16. Hutch
17. May

[The Lip]

Speaking of click bait

[SamKerrSimp]

Manu and Suaalii have to play on the same side to counter the Souths left side attack that's all they have is going down the left so we need our two best defenders out there

[King Salvo]

Players could be rested perhaps as next week is the game to put the best available 17 on the field - sure they could be playing for 5th place if Storm beat Parra or a Home final first week irrespective of the result of the Parra vs Storm game. - The Roosters of course may play Souths back to back if Parra beat the Storm

But when you finish 5/6/7 or 8th your playing knock out footy and it shouldn't really matter where you play so winning this last round game isn't really the priority - next week is - if you can freshen up some players at this stage of the season it may pay dividends going forward.

[King Salvo]

I hate this game before semi finals.
Way too much emotion involved, always a massive risk of Injury and suspension.

It's only good for the NRL and other contenders
With a good chance both sides could be weaker come finals time

Robbo should consider spelling some players as next week is the focus - sure it may mean no home final first week of the finals - but what game do you want to win - a last round game or a first week finals game?

You certainly don't want the players to be flat the next week after all the build up and hoopla that will surround this game


1. Manu
2. Naiqama
3. Gildart
3. Momirovski
5. Sua'uli'i
6. Hutch
7. Walker
8. SST
9. Verrills
10. Lodge
11. Crichton
12. N Butcher
13. E Butcher

14. Watson
15. May
16. Baker
17. Wong
18.Thomas
19. Whyte
20.Marschke
21. Carr
22. Atoni