Round 1 2023 Side

Aidos said:
Best is a concern but I think people forget that he's only just turned 21. He's probably not coming along as well as we hoped but there's obviously been an attitude problem across the whole playing group this year especially, so it's obviously not an environment to thrive in at the moment. I'm not convinced having him on the wing is better.

I am far more concerned about Gagai personally.
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Definitely gotta move Gags, right centre is the hardest position to defend in in the NRL and he just can’t do it, but then the question is who plays there instead?
 
Could be wrong but I think Lucas has played both sides? He’s definitely looked pretty reliable if not super exciting from what I’ve seen.
 
Written before Mapa debuts today, but my 3/4 line for round 1 would be:

Left Wing - Dane Gagai, allowing him to bring the ball out of danger using his natural gifts
Left Centre - Bradman Best
Right Centre - Hymel Hunt, playing there in defence and bringing the ball off our line
Right Wing - Dom Young, swapping with Hunt in attack once we are looking to get in to shape to spread the ball or are attacking in the opposition half. Get him more attacking ball, with an option outside him
 
Owey said:
Written before Mapa debuts today, but my 3/4 line for round 1 would be:

Left Wing - Dane Gagai, allowing him to bring the ball out of danger using his natural gifts
Left Centre - Bradman Best
Right Centre - Hymel Hunt, playing there in defence and bringing the ball off our line
Right Wing - Dom Young, swapping with Hunt in attack once we are looking to get in to shape to spread the ball or are attacking in the opposition half. Get him more attacking ball, with an option outside him
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I don’t hate it. I’d also consider swapping Gags & Braddy because I think that would enable crisper backline movements down that left side, but either way I think this off-season the focus needs to be getting at least one part of the attack consistently firing - and considering Ponga’s natural attributes, it’s the left sided attack, get them watching tape of Cody Walker. And the right side defence has been disgraceful, definitely agree with loading that side with the best defensive options we’ve got, which Hunt has proven himself to be, Young has excelled in that regard when the defence inside him hasn’t let him down, and Gamble has been a very good defensive half in his time in firsts so far. The points down the right side will come as a natural consequence if we can get the left side firing anyway.
 
Well here's a radical plan for fullback.
Dom Young.
Last year it would have been crazy to think a young guy just learning to play wing and way down on fitness to play firstgrade even could learn to play fullback, but he is obviously a fast learner, very fit now and a smart and ambitious kid who would want to get into one of the big money positions.
He's already our best cover defender. If anyone makes a break I don't think about Ponga or Hoy stopping them - I take a look at where Dom is because he might have a chance to stop them.
He'd have plenty to learn still, but he came here as a centre and picked up wing very quickly and the trainers raved about his gains in fitness in the off season.
I think he could do it, and i'd sure like to see him with a license to go for a run anywhere on the field whenever he wanted.
 
Billy said:
Well here's a radical plan for fullback.
Dom Young.
Last year it would have been crazy to think a young guy just learning to play wing and way down on fitness to play firstgrade even could learn to play fullback, but he is obviously a fast learner, very fit now and a smart and ambitious kid who would want to get into one of the big money positions.
He's already our best cover defender. If anyone makes a break I don't think about Ponga or Hoy stopping them - I take a look at where Dom is because he might have a chance to stop them.
He'd have plenty to learn still, but he came here as a centre and picked up wing very quickly and the trainers raved about his gains in fitness in the off season.
I think he could do it, and i'd sure like to see him with a license to go for a run anywhere on the field whenever he wanted.
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It's not something that I look at him and go, yeah that could be a possibility, but if I were the coaching staff I'd definitely be putting some training into him during pre-season just to see how he looks. Same with Best, Gagai on the wing. If he looks alright, persevere and see how much he can learn in a pre-season, as well as training his normal positions of course. Can't hurt to add new skills and new looks.
 
Billy said:
Well here's a radical plan for fullback.
Dom Young.
Last year it would have been crazy to think a young guy just learning to play wing and way down on fitness to play firstgrade even could learn to play fullback, but he is obviously a fast learner, very fit now and a smart and ambitious kid who would want to get into one of the big money positions.
He's already our best cover defender. If anyone makes a break I don't think about Ponga or Hoy stopping them - I take a look at where Dom is because he might have a chance to stop them.
He'd have plenty to learn still, but he came here as a centre and picked up wing very quickly and the trainers raved about his gains in fitness in the off season.
I think he could do it, and i'd sure like to see him with a license to go for a run anywhere on the field whenever he wanted.
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I'd be happy with Dom in the 1 as well i reckon he would kill it there . I reckon best would go well at wing as well .
 
Billy said:
Well here's a radical plan for fullback.
Dom Young.
Last year it would have been crazy to think a young guy just learning to play wing and way down on fitness to play firstgrade even could learn to play fullback, but he is obviously a fast learner, very fit now and a smart and ambitious kid who would want to get into one of the big money positions.
He's already our best cover defender. If anyone makes a break I don't think about Ponga or Hoy stopping them - I take a look at where Dom is because he might have a chance to stop them.
He'd have plenty to learn still, but he came here as a centre and picked up wing very quickly and the trainers raved about his gains in fitness in the off season.
I think he could do it, and i'd sure like to see him with a license to go for a run anywhere on the field whenever he wanted.
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Wow, hadn't thought of that. I need to sit down for a minute...If he does indeed have the fitness, I think he'd be a revelation. It is a big frame to cover so much distance with during a game, but he does seem to have the motor. Wow...
 
Owey said:
Wow, hadn't thought of that. I need to sit down for a minute...If he does indeed have the fitness, I think he'd be a revelation. It is a big frame to cover so much distance with during a game, but he does seem to have the motor. Wow...
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He would need to get better under the high ball and learn the defensive side of fullback first (I dont mean making a 1-on-1 tackle). He definately seems to pick things up quickly though.
 
I don't understand why we are after French when he is the same size as Mac Baker, who doesn't get a run because he is too small.
It's like we are replacing Mac Baker with a similar player on a lot more money.
 
1. Ponga
2. Young
3. Mapalangi
4. Best
5. Gagai
6. Cillford
7. ????/Clune
8. Klemmer
9. Brailey
10. D-saf
11. Frizzel
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Elliot

14. Mann
15. J-saf
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Croker or Leo Thompson

So we have 29 rostered players for 2023? I heard talk of getting Gamble. I'm not sure if Brooks will happen, we can't afford him unless the Tigers chip in a lot. I'm really not sure what we have left in the cap? I think Hastings is $500K.
 
Assuming every recruitment/retention rumour I’ve heard is true:

1. Reuben Garrick
2. Dane Gagai
3. Krystian Mapapalangi
4. Dylan Lucas
5. Dominic Young
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Tyson Gamble

8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Jacob Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Adam Elliott

14. Simi Sasagi
15. David Klemmer
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Leo Thompson/Mat Croker

Enari Tuala first reserve for the 2-5 and Bradman Best needing a big big pre-season to come back into calculations for mine. Would maybe benefit from a stint in NSW Cup. I’ve complained about us not getting him the ball properly but he also needs to go fkn get it and seems to have become allergic to hard work this year.
 
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