Finals Week 1 vs ??? at ???

From what I’ve been reading, the injuries sustained on the weekend shouldn’t stop anyone from playing in the finals. They are a good chance of being fit to play at this stage, here would be my squad if all goes to plan:

  1. Kalyn Ponga
  2. Dom Young
  3. Dane Gagai
  4. Bradman Best
  5. Greg Marzhew
  6. Fletcher Sharpe
  7. Sandon Smith
  8. Cody Hopwood
  9. Phoenix Crossland
  10. Tyson Frizell
  11. Jermaine McEwen
  12. Francis Manuleleua
  13. Mat Croker
14. Harrison Graham
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Lachlan Crouch
17. Brodie Jones
18. Thomas Cant
19. Fletcher Hunt

20. Diesel Hagan
21. ESL
22. Toby Winter
 
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HarVeeGee13 said:
Also don't think there's anything you can say about Souths you couldn't say about the Phins... very similar teams, one is just a better version right now.
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Just think Souths are being judged on what we've seen of them without acknowledging they've been playing, much like us, without a bunch of key players. Even now they're fielding JS at halfback, 3rd string.

At full strength they're top 3 imo. But yea, for the reasons you mentioned I dont actually think they can win the comp from where they are. Was more the point that we'll be meeting something approaching their full strength side first week of finals
 
Even though it’s a final, it still think the game might be a repeat of the one in Newy. Points shoot out, all out attack, and who can score the most tries in 80 minutes

As good as Murray, Cody, and Duncan etc are, Latrell is the one that really scares me. If he wasn’t playing I’d feel more confident but if he turns up in a mood, he can win the game by himself almost, plus when he’s on he’s a very good goal kicker

If we do play Souths, can we not get in Cody Walker’s face and fire him like, like a certain dim-witted former 7 chose to do last time we played Souths in a final.
 
Newygirl said:
Even though it’s a final, it still think the game might be a repeat of the one in Newy. Points shoot out, all out attack, and who can score the most tries in 80 minutes

As good as Murray, Cody, and Duncan etc are, Latrell is the one that really scares me. If he wasn’t playing I’d feel more confident but if he turns up in a mood, he can win the game by himself almost, plus when he’s on he’s a very good goal kicker

If we do play Souths, can we not get in Cody Walker’s face and fire him like, like a certain dim-witted former 7 chose to do last time we played Souths in a final.
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I still have PTSD from that finals choke vs Souths
 
Mooney out for the year and Francis a chance of playing in the finals. That’s the season unfortunately. Cant win without J Saf and Mooney. Definitely exceeded expectations though.

Looking forward to next year at least until endless injuries shatter our dreams again.
 
mozza said:
Cant win
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iu
 
bremsstrahlung said:
I feel better about Hopwood and Crouch after their game time while Safs has been out - they’ve been great. It would have been so good to have them on the bench - relieving Mooney and Safs.
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I agree they were good against the Warriors. I was having a beer with an ex Warriors player on Sunday night and he thinks under similar circumstances (12 for 67 mins, other prop injured, edge forward injured and 1 man bench) some teams in this comp would have conceded 80+. He had no idea who Crouch was but thought he went great for a developing middle.
 
So Mooney is out so we are light on in middle forwards looks like it will be Hopwood, Crouch and Frizell in and choice of Hola, Saulo and Jones.
Voiced my concerns before about Saulo, fitness? Played Cup round 25 after being sidelined for quite a while then bench against Warriors got on paddock for 13mins at the 54th minute for Hopwood and the replaced by same 13mins later when we already had losses JSaf and Mooney.
Only way I see using him is to play him in Cup, get him back in the groove and hope he goes well and comes out uninjured.
We will require more than 13mins from all props in our semi.
 
It’s a catch 22 with Saulo. Some big minutes in Cup would be ideal for his fitness but I don’t know if he can risk another injury to our middles.

Knowing our luck we’ll rest him and he’ll get an injury watching the game on TV.
 
Starting him is our best option IMO even tho i doubt it will happen, he doesn’t create impact off the bench, he has a good work ethic and motor so let him start, stick it with their big boys and empty his tank and ask friz to play big minutes
 
Junior said:
Starting him is our best option IMO even tho i doubt it will happen, he doesn’t create impact off the bench, he has a good work ethic and motor so let him start, stick it with their big boys and empty his tank and ask friz to play big minutes
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If he starts, he likely gets a good 30-40 minutes breather before potentially another spell.


Hope Crossland has been able to keep fit - going to need his minutes.
 
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