General Pick Your Team For Round 19 Vs Wests Tigers

[Hitman82]

So we have a bye this week, not keen on this short gap between our byes. I feel we would be better served playing through the whole Origin period. One bye is great for allowing players to rest and rehabilitate, but having them so close together makes the second one pointless and really is nothing but a disruption. Anyway, bitch session over.

Seven games left and we need to win 4 of them, with a couple of big wins to fix our shitty points differential.

Wests Tigers also have the bye this weekend, and they are coming off a run which included 3 losses from their last 4 games. Slight advantage to the Tigers as we are playing at their home ground, but we should still have the quality to put them away.

Current Injured Players (expected return date)

Pita Godinet – knee (round 19)
Russell Packer – hamstring (round 19)
Ben Henry – knee (out for season)
Sione Lousi – knee (out for season)
Steve Rapira – knee (out for season)

1 Locke (he was flat versus the Rabbitohs but I am happy to put this down to jetlag + flu)
2 Fish
3 Hurrell (in stonking form)
4 Nielsen
5 Vatuvei
6 Leuluai
7 Johnson
8 Lillyman (was awesome starting)
9 Friend
10 Rapira
11 Taylor (better attacking game than Mannering)
12 Mateo
13 Mannering (bringing more size and impact to the centre)

14 Packer
15 Matulino (get their awesome combination back together)
16 Matagi (playing as a second rower - more impact than Lowrie)
17 Peyroux (backs cover and energy injection for back row)

I believe moving Mannering to the centre will make us more dominant in the ruck battle.

Taylor's athleticism, speed, scrambling defense and ball play is better suited to the edge.

Matagi has played a fair bit of back row and his hard running, hard tackling style will bring an aggressive edge when Taylor or Mateo need a rest.

Gubb was great on debut but Packer owns his jersey and has not disappointed this season. I want to see his combination with Matulino renewed.

Final bench spot was hard to pick. Went with Peyroux as he has played well every game. I hope Elliot uses him though.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Good team hitman. The only change I would make is Fish at the back and Laumape and Manu on the wings. I'm a Locke fan but he's not offering anything at the moment whereas the other boys I mentioned are all in great form.

Gotta get Lowrie outta there and yeah switch Mannering and Taylor for sure

 

[jsmooove]

Pretty much spot on with that team. I know its 2 weeks away but i dont want locke playing unless he is absolutely 100%.

the 17th spot is a hard tough one. More than happy to use DP. love his enthusiasm when he is on and feel he brings more than lowrie. do you bring back godinet just in case we need some attacking spark? or go with a 4 forward bench. I am leaning towads a 4 forward bench. i think we can easily roll the tigers up the middle

 

[Hitman82]

Pretty much spot on with that team. I know its 2 weeks away but i dont want locke playing unless he is absolutely 100%.

the 17th spot is a hard tough one. More than happy to use DP. love his enthusiasm when he is on and feel he brings more than lowrie. do you bring back godinet just in case we need some attacking spark? or go with a 4 forward bench. I am leaning towads a 4 forward bench. i think we can easily roll the tigers up the middle

If playing a 4 forward bench, would you bring Gubb in also? We could always use 3 props on field if necessary. Matagi in all reality is a forward utility; suited to the middle and the fringe.

 

[Jay M]

Option one - if the view is Locke isn't 100% right:
Fish
Manu
Nielsen
Hurrell
Laumape
TL
Shaun Johnson
Packer
Friend
Rapira
Mateo
Matulino - add some more size to the starting side - right hand side of Mutts and Hurrell - ouch!
Mannering

Locke - he's been out of form the last couple of games, Fish was in good form. As much as I am a fan of Locke's let's see if he can add some spark off the bench (also provides some injury cover). I'd like to see him come on at five eighth, with TL spelling Friend for a bit. As awesome is Friend is playing 80 minutes - I think a spine of Fish, Locke, Shaun Johnson, TL could add more attacking flair during the game. It also starts preparing for the future.
Bull - senior prop off the bench partnering Gubb/Matagi
Gubb/Matagi
Taylor - will probably play 50 mins - 20 mins for Mateo and 30 for Mutts. Harsh on Taylor - but we need a bit more size in the starting pack.

Option two - if we put Locke's form this week down to flu/jetlag:
Locke
Manu
Nielsen
Hurrell
Fish
TL
Shaun Johnson
Packer
Friend
Rapira
Mateo
Matulino
Mannering

Laumape - adds more to the side than Peyroux and Lowrie on the bench. Provides injury/cover. Ideal utilisation for me would be subbing Hurrell off for a bit to freshen him up (once he gets tired - his impact is lessened, and Laumape is an ideal replacement for him in that regard). Could also give Laumape a bit of time late in the second half as a roving back-rower. He has the build
Taylor
Lillyman
Matagi/Gubb

Side note - I could see Hurrell turning into a T-Rex style back rower for us in the future. His stats are starting to look like one already - 20ish tackles per game (with not many misses recently). Running into forwards, quick play the balls... Right now, he's a great centre, but he will probably get bigger...

 

[Hitman82]

Good team hitman. The only change I would make is Fish at the back and Laumape and Manu on the wings. I'm a Locke fan but he's not offering anything at the moment whereas the other boys I mentioned are all in great form.

Gotta get Lowrie outta there and yeah switch Mannering and Taylor for sure

Yeah I could totally live with Fish being picked for this game if that were the decision made. His running game could be deadly versus the Tigers sketchy defense.

And of course there is the added bonus of having Laumape on the wing outside Hurrell... Laumape is a sublime footballer. He is an incredible find.

For me the absolute must-change is our use of Lowrie, Taylor and Mannering. We won 5 in a row but we have required some SRS luck to get those wins... luck's run out, now we need more power.

 

[Apus]

Good team hitman. The only change I would make is Fish at the back and Laumape and Manu on the wings. I'm a Locke fan but he's not offering anything at the moment whereas the other boys I mentioned are all in great form.

Gotta get Lowrie outta there and yeah switch Mannering and Taylor for sure

Yeah I agree on dropping Locke. No excuses - you play poorly, you get dropped. Fish hasn't set a foot wrong at fullback, and personally I think Laumape HAS to be in the side somewhere.

Gubb or Matagi is a bit of a headscratcher. Matagi seems to add a lot more power at the line and some aggression, whereas Gubb seems to have the bigger motor and appears to be a far more complete footballer. I wouldn't mind seeing them switch depending on what the team needs to combat opposition packs. Guys like Packer must be getting worried, both Gubb and Matagi look like serious threats.

 

[Jay M]

Gubb or Matagi is a bit of a headscratcher. Matagi seems to add a lot more power at the line and some aggression, whereas Gubb seems to have the bigger motor and appears to be a far more complete footballer. I wouldn't mind seeing them switch depending on what the team needs to combat opposition packs. Guys like Packer must be getting worried, both Gubb and Matagi look like serious threats.

Gubb having a bigger motor is an advantage... means Gubb could take Mutts bench spot (being the prop who tends to play our biggest minutes) and partner Lillyman, which would then free up Mutts to play as an edge back rower... imagine Mutts coming into the game 20 minutes in, and coming onto the fringe inside Hurrell... can you say ouch to their defensive line? Laumape (or anyone else) could scoot quite nicely out of dummy half on the back of a Mutts line bending run too...

Matagi at the moment offers more than Lowrie/Peyroux - so I'd give him one of their spots his aggression would help keep the line solid too.

 

[Apus]

Personally I'd stay away from taking our props and chucking them into the second row for now, I'd like us to sort out our bench usage first. I feel like we're constantly shoot oursevles in the foot in the second half. If Elliot used the bench like Cleary did we'd be consistently rolling through withour forwards I reckon.

 

[Danpatmac]

1. Locke
2. Fisiiahi
3. Neilson
4. Hurrell
5. Vatuvei
6. Leuluai
7. Johnson
8. Lillyman
9. Friend
10. Matulino
11. Mateo
12. Mannering
13. Taylor

14. Laumape
15. Packer
16. Rapira
17. Gubb

 

[greenie]

Close to the OP team (and the team last night), but I'm torn on Matagi vs Gubb on the bench. I don;t know if Matagi has had significant minutes yet compared to what Gubb did yesterday.

 

[Hitman82]

Gubb having a bigger motor is an advantage... means Gubb could take Mutts bench spot (being the prop who tends to play our biggest minutes) and partner Lillyman, which would then free up Mutts to play as an edge back rower... imagine Mutts coming into the game 20 minutes in, and coming onto the fringe inside Hurrell... can you say ouch to their defensive line? Laumape (or anyone else) could scoot quite nicely out of dummy half on the back of a Mutts line bending run too...

Matagi at the moment offers more than Lowrie/Peyroux - so I'd give him one of their spots his aggression would help keep the line solid too.

Well, when you think about it:
We have two great developing props. One of whom can already play big minutes to good effect.
We have a couple of front rowers who are converted back rowers, one of whom I believe could slot straight back into the second row.
Why not use the new props and distribute a bit more size and impact through our team?
Laumape is too good to not have in the team. He's also a more effective winger than the Fish. Perhaps Fish should ONLY be used as fullback.
I like your team post earlier.

1 Fish
2 Laumape
3 Hurrell
4 Nielsen
5 Vatuvei
6 Leuluai
7 Johnson
8 Rapira
0 Friend
10 Gubb
11 Matulino
12 Mateo
13 Mannering

14 Lillyman
15 Matagi
16 Packer
17 Locke

Pretty beastly team.[DOUBLEPOST=1373240346][/DOUBLEPOST]

Close to the OP team (and the team last night), but I'm torn on Matagi vs Gubb on the bench. I don;t know if Matagi has had significant minutes yet compared to what Gubb did yesterday.

Matagi hasn't played for more than about 15 minutes, as he was used as the "high effort opener" Elliot seems to favour. Packer was also used in this role, though he got a second stint and Matagi didn't. Matagi could definitely play more minutes.... he has a massive motor.

For the Rabbitohs game, Elliot completely re-jigged our propping approach, not exactly sure why. Lillyman was awesome as a starter though.

 

[OMG]

Locke
Glen
Neilsen
Kon
Manu
TL
Shaun Johnson
Sammy
Friend
Packer
Mateo-
Matulino
Mannering

Jake
Matagi
Taylor
Ngani/Gubb

We need mass on the field for much longer, 60 minutes out of Bull and Sammy, 70 for Matulino..we will dominate teams this way..

 

[thehitman95]

Keen to see Mateo play more minutes....when Lowrie comes on for Mateo the game changes, and not in a good way

 

[Hitman82]

I just saw Sam Rapira missed 5 tackles and made 15, in 36 minutes. Very poor work by his standards.

 

[Apus]

I just saw Sam Rapira missed 5 tackles and made 15, in 36 minutes. Very poor work by his standards.

He has been getting dominated in tackles by the bigger guys recently I've noticed. He got smashed by Thaiday and yesterday he had to go off after 8mins when he got wrecked by Burgess or Asotasi, can't remember. He could barely stand after that hit.

 

[Jay M]

Well, when you think about it:
We have two great developing props. One of whom can already play big minutes to good effect.
We have a couple of front rowers who are converted back rowers, one of whom I believe could slot straight back into the second row.
Why not use the new props and distribute a bit more size and impact through our team?
Laumape is too good to not have in the team. He's also a more effective winger than the Fish. Perhaps Fish should ONLY be used as fullback.
I like your team post earlier.

1 Fish
2 Laumape
3 Hurrell
4 Nielsen
5 Vatuvei
6 Leuluai
7 Johnson
8 Rapira
0 Friend
10 Gubb
11 Matulino
12 Mateo
13 Mannering

14 Lillyman
15 Matagi
16 Packer
17 Locke

Pretty beastly team.

That's a very good side. Bit harsh on Taylor not being there though - maybe we could play him at hooker to stiffen up the middle

What I do like about that side is the size aspect... Laumape, Hurrell, Manu in the backs, and a beastly pack of forwards... Mannering and Friend to be the only 80 minute forwards, I'd want to see 50-60 mins each from Mutts and Mateo with Matagi spelling them. Rapira and Bull to play around 40-50 mins each, Packer to be the monster prop, and Gubb to be the metre eater with his big motor...

Tomkins to five eighth and you have a team for 2014 too (with TL at hooker).

 

[JBmurc]

Keen to see Mateo play more minutes....when Lowrie comes on for Mateo the game changes, and not in a good way

Yes as to why I'd have the likes of Matagi / Gubb coming off the bench would add some steel where Lowrie looks flat at best

laumape and manu on the wings fish at the back.......locke to the bench

personal I'd have Matagi/Gubb /packer over sammy he's getting smashed of late

 

[Samwitwiki]

Keen to see Gubb get another go, thought hes debut was awesome, made good meters every run against a very big opposition forward pack, strong tackler and can play long minutes. Apart from that 1 error don't see why he shouldn't get picked for this Tigers game. Like it or not Lowrie will probably be in the team.

 

[Hitman82]

Putting yourself into Elliot's shoes, what are the reasons he is selecting Lowrie?

Solid, defensively oriented player who will not chance his arm during risky periods of the game?
Hard trainer?
Communication skills?
Experience / leadership?
Pressure to utilise someone we paid decent money for?
Lack of faith in Matagi to play decent minutes?
Matagi seen purely as a prop?
Ikahihifo our of favour?
Sam Lousi not ready yet?

There's gotta be something behind it.