2026 Season

frankLauda said:
Bit worried about Jsaf out for an extended period. He is still hands down our best prop. A lot on Cody Hopwood and Crouch now. Sounds like Jones is playing well in cup. We will miss Jsaf damaging runs and defence.
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I agree it will be hard without his big runs, Hopwood defends at a much better rate than JSAF but doesn’t have that big hit in him like Jacob does.

All I can say is that it’s great experience for Mooney, Hopwood and Crouch, especially for Hopwood to know what it takes to be a starter in the NRL and for Mooney to see what it’s like to be expected to be the pack leader.
 
frankLauda said:
Hearing recent cup performances from Jones, being positive, it would be good to swap him with crouch or Hopwood the coming weeks as an alternative off the bench.
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Why? Crouch and Hopwood are signed long term and proving their worth in reserve and first grade for the whole year. Jones won’t be here next year and has only just come back.
Not saying I wouldn’t pick him if spot becomes available, but I don’t think a couple of good games makes him a shoe in.
 
Jones or no Jones it’s all about winning and making the finals.
Sometimes you have to pick the more experienced rather than play the young up and comers.
We look weaker without JSaf and this week we have Mooney returning from injury which puts more pressure on Hopwood and Crouch who admittedly have been going well.
If we suffer another injury say to Mooney or Frizell I would definitely want Jones selected and I also think that rotating the current four along with Jones has merit
 
frankLauda said:
Just when you have young props transitioning to FG week to week they may struggle a bit. So having the experience of Jones coming in for a couple games whilst Saf is out can give them a rest and ease them in. I know we have been doing that with Hopwood but he’s starting now, and Crouch one game.
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Good call after today tbh. I don’t think the idea of both going back to reggies with a plan to get some confidence up a few weeks before finals is the worst.
Crouch aimed up today and Keaon got the best of him, but the fact he still went at him is a great sign I think.
 
KriKri said:
Why? Crouch and Hopwood are signed long term and proving their worth in reserve and first grade for the whole year. Jones won’t be here next year and has only just come back.
Not saying I wouldn’t pick him if spot becomes available, but I don’t think a couple of good games makes him a shoe in.
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I would have Jones in my 17 way ahead of Cant, on both sides of the ball.
 
KriKri said:
Good call after today tbh. I don’t think the idea of both going back to reggies with a plan to get some confidence up a few weeks before finals is the worst.
Crouch aimed up today and Keaon got the best of him, but the fact he still went at him is a great sign I think.
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I really enjoyed him standing his ground when Keon went him. He copped a whack after but got back to his feet. There’s a good player there
 
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