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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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.
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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Tackle breaks yes, metre average no way
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.
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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More than capable fill in but your making the rest up
I think in terms of squad. Watching the Pac Champs, the kiwis played better with Kini at FB.... I know he's not Taine and vice versa but they're a more similar style than your Roger or Charnze FB Modus Operandi...
Charnze and Roger are getting on , I'd like to see them play left edge together. On the right you'd chuck Berry or Ali or Even Pompey with AKP. I don't think they signed AKP to play Reggie's. I'd say he's here to usurp Dal. He's faster and younger. How long that will take? A preseason?
Halves are Straightforward. Luke's our potential dynastical halfback. SJs prodigal son. I'd say Chanel is our 6. He's solid.
Forwards are easy too a core of Barnett, Fish, Niukore ,Capewell and Clarke. Demetric, Ford , Leka and Laban provide youthful exuberance.
Egan , Healey and TMM play 9.
TMM is interesting. Pure spine Utility. Covers 1 ,6 ,7 and 9 and even 13.
It's the hardest choice imo, because healeys too good to not be your 14.
Charnze and Roger are getting on , I'd like to see them play left edge together. On the right you'd chuck Berry or Ali or Even Pompey with AKP. I don't think they signed AKP to play Reggie's. I'd say he's here to usurp Dal. He's faster and younger. How long that will take? A preseason?
Halves are Straightforward. Luke's our potential dynastical halfback. SJs prodigal son. I'd say Chanel is our 6. He's solid.
Forwards are easy too a core of Barnett, Fish, Niukore ,Capewell and Clarke. Demetric, Ford , Leka and Laban provide youthful exuberance.
Egan , Healey and TMM play 9.
TMM is interesting. Pure spine Utility. Covers 1 ,6 ,7 and 9 and even 13.
It's the hardest choice imo, because healeys too good to not be your 14.
It's the off-season so it's fun to dream, but I hope those of ya that are naming 4-6 rookies or positional changes aren't really expecting that come Rd 1 nek year.
Players like Ford, Niukore, CHT, Capewell, CNK and Dal will be there or there abouts imo.
We might get one young buck who trains the house down and gets a bench spot, or potentially one surprising positional shift like Leka to center, or an injury that keeps someone like Dal or CNK out but at least for the first half of the year until Barney and Metcalf is back, I think we'll all be a little underwhelmed at how similar the team will look to the end of this year.
I continue to have a sneaky suspicion that Leka might train as a center in the off season, which count open the door up for Fatialofa. I also think Dal or CNK will be injured to start the year and that will give AKP the chance to start the year.
My guess is:
CNK
AKP
Leka
Rocco
RTS
CHT
Boyd
JFH
Egan
Ford
Laban
Capewah
Clark
Healey
Niukore (middle)
Demi
EIT/Gannon/Fatialofa
Players like Ford, Niukore, CHT, Capewell, CNK and Dal will be there or there abouts imo.
We might get one young buck who trains the house down and gets a bench spot, or potentially one surprising positional shift like Leka to center, or an injury that keeps someone like Dal or CNK out but at least for the first half of the year until Barney and Metcalf is back, I think we'll all be a little underwhelmed at how similar the team will look to the end of this year.
I continue to have a sneaky suspicion that Leka might train as a center in the off season, which count open the door up for Fatialofa. I also think Dal or CNK will be injured to start the year and that will give AKP the chance to start the year.
My guess is:
CNK
AKP
Leka
Rocco
RTS
CHT
Boyd
JFH
Egan
Ford
Laban
Capewah
Clark
Healey
Niukore (middle)
Demi
EIT/Gannon/Fatialofa
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If we get our recruitment targets our team will win the comp
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. R Tuivasa-sheck
3. Matt Timoko
4, C Nickol-Klockstad
5. A Khan-Pereira
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Luke Metcalf
8. J Fisher-Harris
9. S Healy
10. M Barnett
11. L Halasima
12. K Capewell
13. E Clark
14. C Harris-Tavita
15. N Asofa-Solomona
16. D Vaimauga
17. M Niukore
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. R Tuivasa-sheck
3. Matt Timoko
4, C Nickol-Klockstad
5. A Khan-Pereira
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Luke Metcalf
8. J Fisher-Harris
9. S Healy
10. M Barnett
11. L Halasima
12. K Capewell
13. E Clark
14. C Harris-Tavita
15. N Asofa-Solomona
16. D Vaimauga
17. M Niukore
