Newtown Comings and Goings

[Horry]

As Per Rugby League Review - Summer Special

I am only quoting the mag...

Coming

Byron Ford (returning), John Ford (Knights) Jason Wells ( Manly) Charlie Herekotukutku ( Wests), Justin Coveney (Wests) Troy Savage (Shellharbour) Ryan Verlinden (Cronulla) Brad Barret (Cronulla) Chris Afamasaga (Ipswich) Jason Baiteri (Parramatta) Keith Peters ( Penrith) Charlie Leaneo ( Bulldogs) Tim Weyman and Russel Aitken ( Possible)

Going

Don Thompson (Cabramatta) Smith Samau (Ipswich) Sean Rudder (Newc Wests) Jimmy Andersen ( Burleigh Bears) Rohan Ahern ( Brisbane Norths) Kyle Lodge ( Manly) Tevite Vatuvei ( Trialing with Tigers)

[Rooster_6]

Baiteri from all reports is a very good signing, although I think he'll struggle to get a chance in the backrow.

[Guest]

So that confirms that Johnathon Ford and Jason Baitieri are dual Roosters/Newtown signings.

Keith Peters at hooker is an interesting signing. Also the return of Byron Ford and Troy Savage.

Ryan Verlinden is a monster prop. So is Leaeno. But neither have made it at first grade at their clubs.

[Guest]

Nice, Sean Rudder going ??? I always rated him, oh well.

Thanks Horry.

[Guest]

Russel Aitken - five-eighth (17 games for Sharks/Storm in 2003-2009)
Charlie Leaeno - prop (14 FG games from Dragons/Bulldogs in 2006-2009)
Keith Peters - hooker (10 FG games for Panthers in 2006-2009)
Jason Wells - backrow (3 FG games for Manly in 2007)
Tim Weyman - prop (1 FG game for Sharks in 2007)
Johnathon Ford - fullback/five-eighth (played NYC for Newcastle last year)
Jason Baitieri - lock (played NYC for Parramatta last year)
Byron Ford - winger (former Newtown player)
Charlie Herekotukutuku - fullback/five-eighth (former Newtown player)
Troy Savage - centre/wing (former Newtown player)
Ryan Verlinden - prop
Brad Barrett - backrow
Justin Coveney - wing
Chris Afamasaga - prop

[Guest]

I think Ryan Verlinden is a great buy. I've seen him play a couple of times and he looks the goods. I don't know why he hasn't cracked NRL but he's a great signing to be back-up if we get any injuries in first grade.

So IMO, Newtown's best team would look something like this (including those players who I wouldn't include in the 17 for NRL):

1. Luke Towers
2. Byron Ford
3. Kane Linnett
4. Sonny Tuigamala
5. Steve Naughton
6. Russell Aitken
7. Liam Foran
8. Ray Moujalli (c)
9. Keith Peters
10. Ryan Verlinden
11. Aiden Guerra
12. Martin Kennedy
13. Jason Wells

14. Charlie Leaeno
15. Aiden Guerra
16. Jason Baiteri
17. Johnathon Ford

[Guest]

Who cares?

[Guest]

I do ?

[Guest]

1. Sam Perrett
2. Anthony Minichiello
3. Mitch Aubusson
4. Phil Graham
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jason Ryles
9. Jake Friend
10. Lopini Paea
11. Anthony Cherrington
12. Nate Myles
13. Braith Anasta

14. Ben Jones / James Aubusson
15. Tom Symonds
16. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
17. Frank-Paul Nuuausala

1. Luke Towers
2. Steve Naughton
3. Kane Linnett
4. Sonny Tuigamala
5. Byron Ford / Justin Coveney / Troy Savage
6. Russell Aitken / Charlie Herekotukutuku
7. Liam Foran
8. Martin Kennedy
9. Keith Peters
10. Tinirau Arona
11. Brad Takairangi
12. Daniel Conn
13. Jason Baitieri / Nick Kouparitsas

14. Jono Ford
15. Aiden Guerra / Jason Wells / Brad Barrett
16. Mose Masoe / Chris Afamasaga
17. Charlie Leaeno / Ryan Verlinden / Tim Weyman

Plenty of depth.

[Guest]

Whom would you have in your top 25 man squad Mack?...

[Guest]

The first grade team, + Conn, Towers, Naughton, Foran, Kennedy, Linnett, Tuigamala, Takairangi

[Geohood]

Bro I thought you only operated in squads of 75?? :O

[Guest]

1. Sam Perrett
2. Anthony Minichiello
3. Mitch Aubusson
4. Phil Graham
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jason Ryles
9. Jake Friend
10. Lopini Paea
11. Anthony Cherrington
12. Nate Myles
13. Braith Anasta

14. Ben Jones / James Aubusson
15. Tom Symonds
16. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
17. Frank-Paul Nuuausala

1. Luke Towers
2. Steve Naughton
3. Kane Linnett
4. Sonny Tuigamala
5. Byron Ford / Justin Coveney / Troy Savage
6. Russell Aitken / Charlie Herekotukutuku
7. Liam Foran
8. Martin Kennedy
9. Keith Peters
10. Tinirau Arona
11. Brad Takairangi
12. Daniel Conn
13. Jason Baitieri / Nick Kouparitsas

14. Jono Ford
15. Aiden Guerra / Jason Wells / Brad Barrett
16. Mose Masoe / Chris Afamasaga
17. Charlie Leaeno / Ryan Verlinden / Tim Weyman

Plenty of depth.

You reckon.

[Guest]

You reckon.

He says that in the lead up to every season

[Guest]

You reckon.

There is.

The problem is the experience of the depth. Unlike a lot of teams, our Jets lineup this coming season has lots of fringe first-graders. That is a hallmark of Brian Smith - he stockpiles reserve grade depth. Bellamy is the same. Fittler spent all on the main players, and left most of our Jets team as pretty much Jets-contracted players from Bundaberg Cup.

What made us so strong back in 2003-2004 was that we had plenty of strong depth with blokes like Payten, Catic, Lester, Dorn, Crouch etc. who weren't amazing first graders but provided solid first grade standard stability whenever injuries struck.