General Your 2024 lineup

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There's a few jokers in here surely.

Ali wasn't even that good yesterday. He has aggression and I think he's one for the future, but he didn't do anything that would of made Webby change any of his Rd 1 plans.

No way he's replacing Berry, who had a great 2nd half of 2023 and really cemented himself as a starter. Does all of the little things well and his attack came on towards the end of the year.

Deffo keeping that jersey warm for Berry, for now
 
Mitch Barnett
Wade Egan
Addin Fonua-blake
Kurt Capewell
Marata Niukore
Tohu Harris

Although this is probably my best pack, I don’t think it should start. Last year we fell off a bit after a good 1st 20-30mins and once these guys all back on again, we often came home with a wet sail.
For me Niukore starts on the bench and come on after 20 mins at 1st rotation. I’d probably have Ford starting after last years effort but if Laban has had a stellar summer, then I’ve got no issues putting a 19-20yr old into the starting line-up, especially with that experience around him.
In saying that my starting rotation would be
AFB
Egan
Bunty
Capewell
Ford/Laban
Tohu

Walker
Barnett
Niukore
Lussick/CHT (whoever provides best Egan cover. Thinking Sironen type player)

Whichever of Ford/Laban who misses out won’t make bench as doesn’t work with their style of play. Though Laban would seem to offer more impact than Ford..

Although Jazz might be a good team man and hype guy, these younger guys are overtaking him quickly.

Barnett and Niukore both to still play 50+ mins but either side of half time instead of at start and end of game. The good teams always put on points on 5-10mins either side of the break. We need to be one of those teams.

RTS and Montoya gonna carve up this year!!
 
Capewell can pass and is tricky for a backrower so would put him on rogers left side, he can also instruct rog in defence if necessary (didn’t seem necessary yesterday)

Niukore should stay with SJ running hard lines, him moving to prop is a next year problem.

Rd 1 big game, big crowd, big hype might not be the best time to play a rookie of the bench, probably just stick Ford on there as can play lots of minutes if called upon.

Rd 2 is another big game in Melbourne so again a bit more safety first experienced players, then if we aren’t getting enough impact off the bench, Laban seems to be next in line.

Similarly Ali is not going to start at center from rd 1, but webbys a penrith man and they have built there winz on (other than having N.Cleary) hard carries from the OB’s, charging it back one out, to slowly win field position, boring but it works, and Berry does not carry hard. Also kicking to the right side, over and over, the right center leads the kick chase, Ali is going to be more physical in that area as well.

Unless CHT plays some dummy half this week, it’s probably Lussick on the bench, there’s no impact there, but running Egan into the ground from day 1 seems unwise. If he played a well undercooked Jazz in the finals as bench prop, he’ll be playing a fit Jazz as bench prop now. A bench of Lussick/Jazz/Walker/Ford is not exciting, but I think that’s what we are going to get, at least they will hustle and keep the defensive intensity high.

6, given the balance of the team maybe you do just pick the best defender, low error player, but if Rog is making half breaks, Metcalf running off him (if he stops overrunning all the time) is exciting too, and a way to create points without being so reliant on Johnson.
 
miket12 said:
Given his form, RTS looks like he's overtaken Pompey. Unless Pompey plays on the wing, I can't see him there Round 1 so does that mean the goal kicking duty goes back on to SJ?
Click to expand...

Overtaken?

Brah, he was never behind!

RTS is money in the bank.

All I need now is Ali on the other side and taking the 5th tackle and not mr blue berry. Berry is like Ford to the forwards. Safe, reliable but not X factor. Cappy said it himself last year, we need more xfactor in the team (he referred to RTS) but you add Ali to the list.
 
Jonno13 said:
Mitch Barnett
Wade Egan
Addin Fonua-blake
Kurt Capewell
Marata Niukore
Tohu Harris

Although this is probably my best pack, I don’t think it should start. Last year we fell off a bit after a good 1st 20-30mins and once these guys all back on again, we often came home with a wet sail.
For me Niukore starts on the bench and come on after 20 mins at 1st rotation. I’d probably have Ford starting after last years effort but if Laban has had a stellar summer, then I’ve got no issues putting a 19-20yr old into the starting line-up, especially with that experience around him.
In saying that my starting rotation would be
AFB
Egan
Bunty
Capewell
Ford/Laban
Tohu

Walker
Barnett
Niukore
Lussick/CHT (whoever provides best Egan cover. Thinking Sironen type player)

Whichever of Ford/Laban who misses out won’t make bench as doesn’t work with their style of play. Though Laban would seem to offer more impact than Ford..

Although Jazz might be a good team man and hype guy, these younger guys are overtaking him quickly.

Barnett and Niukore both to still play 50+ mins but either side of half time instead of at start and end of game. The good teams always put on points on 5-10mins either side of the break. We need to be one of those teams.

RTS and Montoya gonna carve up this year!!
Click to expand...

I prefer Niokure starting

His physicality and aggressive is what we need to match the opposition at the start of each game when everyone is fired up.

Coming on after 20 hyped up he’s likely to do something that will get him yellow carded
 
miket12 said:
Given his form, RTS looks like he's overtaken Pompey. Unless Pompey plays on the wing, I can't see him there Round 1 so does that mean the goal kicking duty goes back on to SJ?
Click to expand...
I don’t think it’s as clear cut with Pompey and Berry. Think they might both start next trial with RTS showing he’s looking sharp to fight it out. Berry showing massive promise and could be the other starting centre but Pompey has experience on his side and I think the Warriors would have let him go to the knights when they offered him a contract if they didn’t think he still had a place in the team.
 
Jonno13 said:
That right edge combo last year was lethal. I reckon Berry stays there as long as he keeps performing. RTS and Pompey both looking like left side options
Click to expand...
Agree - Berry should get first crack at RHS Centre spot... don't break up a winning formula! I agree that he is "nothing special", but he is exactly what we need - solid player who can hold up an edge on attack and defence, has a good kick-chase and can put his winger away.
The questions for me is whether they play Ali left or right side in Cup - some have mentioned Pompey's stronger side is right, so maybe Pompey is the Berry understudy, with Ali shadowing Rog on the left. Then comes the question, if Berry was injured, do you bring Ali into right centre or keep him as Centre/Wing cover for first grade... Good problems for Webby to have!
 
Tookey 2.0 said:
Ali wasn't even that good yesterday. He has aggression and I think he's one for the future, but he didn't do anything that would of made Webby change any of his Rd 1 plans.

No way he's replacing Berry, who had a great 2nd half of 2023 and really cemented himself as a starter. Does all of the little things well and his attack came on towards the end of the year.

Deffo keeping that jersey warm for Berry, for now
Click to expand...
I am inclined to agree - Ali's biggest challenge is his running style on attack. He has the bump and the fend, but if he misses these, his body position is very upright and he gets driven backwards and/or put on his back. For a point of comparison, just look at Roger and how often he landed on his front when tackled (Sullivan actually had some good stops on RTS, but Rog still got a quick play the ball).
 
Based on 2023 and the first trial, these would be my NRL and Cup sides for Round 1 - our depth is very, very exciting! I feel like I've missed players haha.

NRLCup
1. CNK
2. DWZ (RHS)
3. Berry (RHS)
4. RTS (LHS)
5. Montoya (LHS)
6. Metcalf (LHS)
7. SJ (RHS)

8. AFB
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Ford (LHS) - I initially thought they'd stiffen up the LHS with Capewell for the experience/D, and Ford's game could replicate Niukore on the RHS (i.e., simple but hardworking 2nd rower who can both crash ball and likes to be dropped under (a SJ-favourite)), but Ford played LHS yesterday so I reckon Webby is looking at a LHS of Ford, [half], RTS and Montoya. My bet for Teamlist Tuesday is that Metcalf will be at 6 and will play with the LHS next week.
12. Capewell (RHS) - changing sides from his recent stints at Penrith and Broncos, but I recall someone mentioned he played some RHS with SJ at the Sharks.
13. Harris

14. Walker
15. Niukore - more punch than Barnett off the bench, and need that with AFB off the field (although I'd stagger the subs and give some time with both of them on the pitch)
16. Ale**
17. Jazz (or a utility - e.g., Lussick, CHT or TMM - if Egan or the game strategy requires it) - I think Tohu might get more rests this year as they manage his time, so Barnett/Niukore may also be 2nd row (and the latter, centre) cover in case of injury and that would justify having a four forward bench for at least some games. For Round 1, I'd be wanting to send a statement to the Comp by bashing Cronulla through the middle.

** This was a tough call, as they both went well in the first trial. For me, I thought Ale was marginally better on both D and attack - but it was close to a coin toss, so the second trial will hopefully give us a better indication of who ought to be preferred.
1. Tuaupiki
2. Tu - Sio Kali will be knocking at his door soon, but I suspect he'll mostly play Flegg given he is still SG Ball eligible.
3. Leiataua
4. Pompey
5. Graham-Taufa - until Kosi back from injury, then MGT becomes first drop for Wing/Centre cover, followed by Moimoi (who can still play Flegg)
6. TMM
7. CHT^^

8. Bunty**
9. Lussick
10. TSS - until Zyon Maiu’u returns from suspension.
11. Halasima - tempted to start him on the bench, but he is an exciting prospect, so I'd start him and use the more experienced Tupouniua to manage his minutes.
12. Laban - 80 minute player. Played right side in the trial, but do you play him LHS as the Ford understudy?
13. Going (c) - solid player, but for me I'm not sure what he adds to strengthen our NRL side other than being a solid, hearty worker (which I do appreciate is valuable). As such, I see him as a Cup player and will be unlikely to get more than a game or two at NRL, but that makes him a good captaincy option as he should be with the side for most of the year.

14. Paul Roache - could arguably play some time at lock too if Going needed a spell. Fukofuka is an exciting prospect, and could definitely play the utility/lock role as well as 9, but think he'll ply his trade in Flegg for most of the season unless there are injuries.
15. Ieremia-Toeava - would drop out of the side when Zyon Maiu’u returns (can also still play Flegg)
16. Tupouniua
17. [Prop / middle player] - we're a bit light on for middle forwards, and the Zyon Maiu’u suspension doesn't help that, but hopefully Sifakula returns mid-season as I'd say he will play prop / lock in Cup. Couldn't justify having Ben Farr on the bench in a utility role given we're light on middles and wanting to manage Halasima's minutes. Maybe Jazz or Ale plays Cup so they can carry a utility in the NRL side, which moves Farr into the halves / bench utility role?

^^^ This was also a tough call, as I would be keen to start the year with Hanson (with CHT at 14, getting game time at various positions, including in the halves) and see if he can show what he showed yesterday over a full season. However, when you have 4 NRL contracted halves who have histories of injury / form challenges, I suspect Hanson will likely start the year in Flegg and will get a good handful of games in Cup.
 
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