Thanks Wrighty, good analysis. One thing I’m not sure I quite follow is your comment on my forwards being below 3-4 other teams. Wiz made a similar comment & im not sure why. When I look through the teams I think there’s only one forward pack clearly butter than mine which is Cces. Which are the other packs you consider superior?
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- Thread starter Wrighty
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- #22
Only one is clearly better and that is Cces
Two others are marginally better
1) I think mine is marginally better. You have better props, but I think my second row of Mason and Thorn carries your second row and carries your pack as a result. I think Katoa was a mistake pick for your second row. I think he is a good player but few people will rate him in a game like this. That may be unfair to him I agree. Yes he is the Dally M second rower for 2024 and 2025 but Liam Martin won the Clive Churchill and Dally M in 2023 and no one rates him much either in these games. It may also be an issue that Defence pointed out last year that players in the current career are not rated as highly as those who have a mystique of an era gone by.
2) I think Warriors55 has a better pack. Just marginally. His Props are better and with his Lock is better too with Taumalolo.
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Katoa, brain injury aside is the best second rower in the world currently & was only second to Walsh in the 25 GF. Warriors55 has marginally better middles & if we go on absolute peak form then probably on par in the second row, just not David Fifita 2025! I’m not sure about your second row being better. In any case I don’t think my forwards are a weakness, they’re better than the average team & agreed my halves are the top combo comfortably. But Cces team is really good & I’m pleased it hopefully highlights to everyone that overspending on elite is not the winning strategy.
Cces
🎯
Awesome work from you & @Chris Hodges these holidays @Wrighty.
I think that both Viliame Kikau & Eli Katoa's popularity suffers by not playing State of Origin and Kikau, playing for Fiji in the second tier Pacific Cup, gets even less exposure. IMO Kikau has become a very well rounded player who now does the basics extremely well, such as lots of effort on kick chases & running convincing decoy lines, in addition to his highlights. He made the Team of the Tournament in the simulation too for what it's worth.
Would you have started Mannering at his expense? If so, would that shift Kennedy to Second Row so Mannering would play #13 or just a straight switch?
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- Thread starter
- #25
Yes i would have started Mannering at 13 and rate him much higher than Kikau.
Mannering turned up and put in 150% every match and that is what he is remembered for.
While Kikau in my humble opinion turns it on for big occasions and conserves energy in regular season matches.
I also think the Canterbury system does not show case his rampaging nature well. It is a tightly drilled team that plays to Xs and Os on the white board rather than giving him a license to ad lib and take risks.
It comes as no surprise to me you point out he has improved at his kick chase and decoy runs as that is what highly drilled teams work a lot on at practice.
Yes good points about SOO and both of them not being able to show case their skills in it.
I think Mannering had to be in your pack and you would have gotten even more votes if he was and Kikau was on the bench.
This my view only. It could be wrong. It probably is wrong. But you asked my opinion and that is it.
Thanks for playing I appreciate the feedback. Well played it was a pleasure to play with you.
- Thread starter
- #26
When I opened the poll I chose for it to expire after 7 days. So in 5 more days it will expire.
Even though votes have dried up today let's just wait all 7 days until it closes as no one has a train to catch and needs the results announced sooner.
Even though votes have dried up today let's just wait all 7 days until it closes as no one has a train to catch and needs the results announced sooner.
It woukd be quite interesting to read why people voted for what they did.
- Thread starter
- #28
It would be but as the game moderator and inventor of the game I prefer to keep my personal votes and their rstionale confidential .
- Thread starter
- #29
We would all be interested in who you voted for and why as a third party however.
Its listed under voting recommendation:
I find it pretty accurate. I think there were a handful of contenders, and some teams that werent at all hence the voting results is somewhat interesting.
Plus i can see what people voted for and what they stated on this thread...
I understand the need to show appreciation so everyone feels cuddled and gets votes, but theres some interesting votes indeed hence why i kindly asked if people were willing to post up their rationale.
Anyone everyone will be able to see who voted for who once its closed to see what i mean.
Kumbaya..- Thread starter
- #31
That's five days from now and no one will care to investigate that level of scrutiny as time will have passed.Anyone everyone will be able to see who voted for who once its closed to see what i mean.
We remember who wins every year but we forget who is 2nd 3rd and the rest.
I know Mr Brownstone won last year and that Defence and possibly Boats n Hoes chased him hard for the win.
Yes noone will care, but integrity is also important, especially as a gamesmaster. We are all adults in here, there is no need to give participation awards as if people are in kindergarten or very thin skinned.
And its not like you have asked me to vote previously on previous games for users because you felt sorry for users who did not have any votes. Right? Right?
- Thread starter
- #33
Fuck you have a good memory. That would have been at least three years ago. No flies on you.
The only issue of integrity worth noting warranting action will be if someone voted for themselves. Which is strictly against the rules and I would have no choice and have to act very strongly.
I think anyone who votes should have to justify why they voted the way they did. Everyone puts in way too much time during the game so the voting should be transparent & people should be held to account. Otherwise the whole game is a waste of time.
From an outsider looking in perspective i thought these teams we're honestly really hard to separate. I picked a top 3 but still not that convinced ive got it right. Maybe it was because of the timeline criteria used, but all teams have 1 or 2 all-timers mixed in with some great to very good players.....across the board, so yeah...very hard to separate. Had to look at relative bench strength's to some positional questions to find a point of difference. For what its worth and cause im now on holiday with nothing to do my brief take on these line ups -
Gus's Wizards - obviously 1 half of your spine is the absolute elite. Really all you need to do is have solid players who know their roles (which u have) around those 2 guys and they would do the rest. Real strong centre pairing but Saifiti somewhat falls short of the standard, and while i rate all your backrowers.... perhaps doesnt match the class or strike of other line ups.
Uncivil Warriors - i think probably the best spine overall and a tough, workmanlike forward pack (u dont get much tougher than Tapine and Morley). Not too many weaknesses across the board but i dont know if i could rate Tupou and Best all time worthy yet, plus (personal opinion) ive always found Latrell a tad over rated, too inconsistent for my liking. Not sure about the chemistry of that bench either.
Warriors Strikeforce - if we're rating these players at their absolute peak then i think Webcke, Wiki, and Taumololo gives u the strongest middle third of the comp (Wayne Bennett once stated in his whole career, he's only coached 2 Warriors - Webcke and Reuben Wiki). Got a good halfback to work off them too. Personally i think if you'd put Minichello at fullback wouldve added to and given that spine a whole different look. Also hard to judge McLean (who no doubt will be a great) over someone who's done it their whole career. The balancing act u have i guess putting these squads together.
Starfords Stars - actually really like your team Wrighty. Real pace out wide (something im a sucker for) serviceable halves, and probably the best overall pack (along with Cces). My one change wouldve been to put Tonie Carroll to centre (where i always thought he played best) for Timoko. Elephant in the room is that bench tho...i mean kudos for sticking true to your guns....could be the difference tho.
Muddogz X111 - the hypothetical pairing of Cleary and prime SJ is a mouth watering prospect and something we Warrior fans wondered "what if" for years. While Fonua Blake and Petro for bookends give this team immediate validity. Pair of tanks on the wings and a hooker who had the misfortune to be around the same time as the GOAT but "2nd best' to him is better than most others. Bit light in the 2nd row for mine (altho Nikora's a fave) and on the fence over Papz (Boyd might of been the option there) solid bench.
The Territorial Monsters - strong across the board not many weaknesses. Probably most balanced side with equal strongest pack. Not sure wether this team struggles from not having an all timer in the halves? (that said Reynolds has won how many comps?). Bench make up i would question. Juju's not one that immediately springs to mind when thinking bench impact, i wouldve swapped him and Kennedy. And Sorenson i just think is too Penrith centric and struggles out of that structure.
Apex Predators - best team name. Best balanced backrow of the comp. One of the better centre pairings. And DCE and Benji is a combination not to be underestimated, right up there imo. On face value tho Ponga on the bench looks surplus (having both him and Dearden there throws the balance out of whack imo). I think if his money had been spent on another alpha prop of high standing in place of Fitzgibbon (who i always remember as a high workrate 2nd rower) then i think your team becomes the real deal.
Norther Rynos - many will probably question Menzies at centre....but not me. He was probably faster than most of them, and his ability and vision to run into space was next level. That said Menzies to 12 and Gallen to 13 and the standing of your forward pack increases. In the timeframe criteria their have been 2 GOATs - Cam Smith and Andrew Johns, great work getting 1 of them.
Just a dudes opinion folks who gets things wrong all the time so dont read too much into it (just as well the votings still open cause ill probably go back and re-evalute several times - thats how close all these line ups are). Actually rate all the players u guys have picked and understand the salary cap constraints play a big part.
Great job tho gentleman. The fine League IQ of this forum is evident here
Gus's Wizards - obviously 1 half of your spine is the absolute elite. Really all you need to do is have solid players who know their roles (which u have) around those 2 guys and they would do the rest. Real strong centre pairing but Saifiti somewhat falls short of the standard, and while i rate all your backrowers.... perhaps doesnt match the class or strike of other line ups.
Uncivil Warriors - i think probably the best spine overall and a tough, workmanlike forward pack (u dont get much tougher than Tapine and Morley). Not too many weaknesses across the board but i dont know if i could rate Tupou and Best all time worthy yet, plus (personal opinion) ive always found Latrell a tad over rated, too inconsistent for my liking. Not sure about the chemistry of that bench either.
Warriors Strikeforce - if we're rating these players at their absolute peak then i think Webcke, Wiki, and Taumololo gives u the strongest middle third of the comp (Wayne Bennett once stated in his whole career, he's only coached 2 Warriors - Webcke and Reuben Wiki). Got a good halfback to work off them too. Personally i think if you'd put Minichello at fullback wouldve added to and given that spine a whole different look. Also hard to judge McLean (who no doubt will be a great) over someone who's done it their whole career. The balancing act u have i guess putting these squads together.
Starfords Stars - actually really like your team Wrighty. Real pace out wide (something im a sucker for) serviceable halves, and probably the best overall pack (along with Cces). My one change wouldve been to put Tonie Carroll to centre (where i always thought he played best) for Timoko. Elephant in the room is that bench tho...i mean kudos for sticking true to your guns....could be the difference tho.
Muddogz X111 - the hypothetical pairing of Cleary and prime SJ is a mouth watering prospect and something we Warrior fans wondered "what if" for years. While Fonua Blake and Petro for bookends give this team immediate validity. Pair of tanks on the wings and a hooker who had the misfortune to be around the same time as the GOAT but "2nd best' to him is better than most others. Bit light in the 2nd row for mine (altho Nikora's a fave) and on the fence over Papz (Boyd might of been the option there) solid bench.
The Territorial Monsters - strong across the board not many weaknesses. Probably most balanced side with equal strongest pack. Not sure wether this team struggles from not having an all timer in the halves? (that said Reynolds has won how many comps?). Bench make up i would question. Juju's not one that immediately springs to mind when thinking bench impact, i wouldve swapped him and Kennedy. And Sorenson i just think is too Penrith centric and struggles out of that structure.
Apex Predators - best team name. Best balanced backrow of the comp. One of the better centre pairings. And DCE and Benji is a combination not to be underestimated, right up there imo. On face value tho Ponga on the bench looks surplus (having both him and Dearden there throws the balance out of whack imo). I think if his money had been spent on another alpha prop of high standing in place of Fitzgibbon (who i always remember as a high workrate 2nd rower) then i think your team becomes the real deal.
Norther Rynos - many will probably question Menzies at centre....but not me. He was probably faster than most of them, and his ability and vision to run into space was next level. That said Menzies to 12 and Gallen to 13 and the standing of your forward pack increases. In the timeframe criteria their have been 2 GOATs - Cam Smith and Andrew Johns, great work getting 1 of them.
Just a dudes opinion folks who gets things wrong all the time so dont read too much into it (just as well the votings still open cause ill probably go back and re-evalute several times - thats how close all these line ups are). Actually rate all the players u guys have picked and understand the salary cap constraints play a big part.
Great job tho gentleman. The fine League IQ of this forum is evident here
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I’ll put it out there. I voted for star power, match winners and big game players and didn’t support teams as much that were strong across the field but didn’t have much x-factor.
I don’t know if we’re giving away our votes but I voted for 2 of the top 3 teams as well balanced with flare and strong spines. The third top 3 teams I appreciated but didn’t like their halves and was surprised they placed so high.
But that’s the game. We all have our personal preference and when judging players in different decades, with different strengths and weaknesses and sometimes peak years and indifferent parts of their careers or promising young talent, it’s all very subjective.
I don’t know if we’re giving away our votes but I voted for 2 of the top 3 teams as well balanced with flare and strong spines. The third top 3 teams I appreciated but didn’t like their halves and was surprised they placed so high.
But that’s the game. We all have our personal preference and when judging players in different decades, with different strengths and weaknesses and sometimes peak years and indifferent parts of their careers or promising young talent, it’s all very subjective.
- Thread starter
- #37
I have decided for mental health and well being reasons, to pull back from these threads. You can all see the poll and I empower the group to announce the winner when the poll closes.
Thanks.
Thanks.
You do realise what topic any criticism of Bradman Best could lead on to aye??
$5,000Oh shit....he wasnt a goal kicker was he
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