Its been a while since I've posted due to how the team has gone the last few years but we look pretty versatile next year while possessing decent depth. Here's my team:
1st Grade Choice with depth for each position
Fullback:
Te Maire Martin/Taupi - Ball player, secure under the high ball, great defensive organisation as seen in Broncos this year with and without him
Right Wing:
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak/
Kosi- fast, takes tough carries but seriously needs to learn how to step late into contact (see
Montoya or any other nimble winger in the comp or even
Maumalo) so he doesn't break down physically and makes some post contact metres
Right Centre:
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad/
Berry - Commited defensively and smart enough to shut down set plays, big right foot step and can set up winger, can play roving fb role and will make metres
Left Centre: Walker/
Vailea - Natural left hand carry with good fend and ball skills, needs to lose weight to regain speed but can handle the edge defensively if he can handle the middle
Left Wing:
Montoya/
Pompey - Secure under the high ball, works hard and takes tough carries, defends well, true warrior
Five Eighth: Volkman/Metcalf - depends on game plan with Metcalf providing a great quick ball running/playing option and volkman providing more of a kicking game but he can run, both will need a tonne of defensive work
Halfback:
Johnson - slowing down and needs to lose weight in order to keep mobility and evasiveness, pivotal but need him to not overplay his hand
Impact Prop:
Addin Fonua-Blake/
Ben Murdoch-Masila - one of the games best props,
Te Maire Martin,
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad,Walker, 5/8th should be supporting his offload
Hooker:
Egan/Lussick/
Otukolo - coming into his own as a great hooker, needs a running hooker off the bench to keep him fresh and injury free throughout the season
Steady Prop:
Afoa/
Pene/Kepu - Defends well and plays decent minutes (40), one of the longest serving warriors, durable, needs a step and an offload as his carries can be a bit one dimensional
Left Edge 2nd Rower: Barnett/
Curran - Plays 80, makes consistent metres and takes tough carries, defends with mongrel (minus the elbows) and can bodyguard his half
Right Edge 2nd Rower: Niukore/Ale - Aggressive and can set up his outside with offloads through contact, mobile enough to play centre and tough enough to support
Johnson defensively,
Lock:
Harris/
Jazz/
Sironen - Captain Warrior, tackles, ballplays, makes metres, supports, should be playing around 60 minutes to keep him mobile instead of running him into the ground like we did with Mannering
Interchange
Lussick - won't take a backwards step and has a good running game, should be playing around 30 minutes providing impact and energy especially in defence
Ale (Or
Pene) - shown promise this year in terms of making metres through the middle especially with footwork and speed and can provide defensive energy, covers prop when
Afoa is off
Curran (or
Jazz)- Tough lock that can play big minutes (50 if needed) and let
Tohu Harris play 2nd row or Prop, tackles and runs his heart out but would benefit from passing more often to the backline during set plays to put more doubt in the opposition defense
Ben Murdoch-Masila- Impact and energy off the bench for the 25 minutes
Addin Fonua-Blake comes off, runs and hits hard and can offload, injury prone but could benefit from starting
We clearly need another impact or premier prop but our 1st grade and reserve grade teams look promising if they can stay healthy.
