General YOUR Team for 2026

Anyone know whether Linnane as a good defender. I would think he would be decent as those Newcastle halves are generally tough buggers. If he is a good defender I would say he has a very high ceiling. He seems to have many other great attributes.
 

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Tuaupiki has seemed to fall out of favour on this forum over the last couple weeks?
Because he stagnated this year. No improvement from last year in my opinion. But that's tied to his size imo, the game might slow down for him the more experience he gets (i.e. makes better decisions etc). But the harsh reality is he's pretty close to his ceiling or best version.

Still a better option than CNK though.
 
Tuaupiki has seemed to fall out of favour on this forum over the last couple weeks?
He’s a bit like Boyd imo Kills it in cup and is quite average in First grade.
You look at all the other mini fullbacks in the game Fuller, Kini etc they’re scoring length of the field try’s every 3rd game or so. I struggle to remember Taine making a line break, hence his nick name Almost

I’d have him ahead of Charnze but Roger and Linnane would be my preference for next year.
 
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It will be pretty disappointing if CNK is at fullback and DWZ is on the wing for round 1.

What we don't want is Webby being too conservative and we lose 4 of our first 6 games before we then look to the younger players who will then need time to adjust to first grade and we lose more games.

I would prefer we start with those younger players and even if we still lose 4 of our first 6 games the experience that they will gain will set us up for the rest of the season when Met is back.

With everyone fit

1. RTS (I would need to see more of Linnane at fullback before making a judgement on whether he is better than RTS, TT etc. If Linnane is being looked at as our 1 RTS can move back to the wing in place of Kali)
2. AKP
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. Kali
6. Linnane/Cleary
7. Metcalf
8. Fish
9. Healey
10. Barnett
11. Halasima
12. Capewell
13. Clark

14. CHT
15. Vaimauga
16. Laban
17. Gannon

18. Fatialofa

For round 1 I would go

6. CHT
7. Cleary
14. Egan

Give Cleary a run at 7 with some experience in CHT beside him. When Met is back we can decide whether CHT, Linnane or Cleary is the best option to partner him. I just don't want to see CHT and Boyd paired together again.

The other option is to go 6. Linnane/Cleary 7. Boyd.

If our round 1 team runs out 1. CNK 2. DWZ 6. CHT 7. Boyd that is going to be disheartening. Let's see which of the youngsters impress in pre-season and if Webby is bold enough to make the tough calls.
 
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