Round 1 2016 Team

In my opinion Hagan's legacy will be what it is to every individual, there are legitimate arguments either way regarding both his coaching and stewardship with recruitment. Personally I think he couldn't coach a choko vine over an outdoor ****house, and our recent recruitment speeks for itself, and I dare not mention the eels! However he is a decent bloke who always had the best interests of the club at heart, so bagging him here seems a little pointless. Brown in my opinion has a much more balanced approach to recruitment i.e: not running around like a chook with your head cut off begging every tom,**** and harry to come to newcastle! Desperation is very unattractive and as Ron Burgundy would say: "Stay classy Newcastle"!
 
Billy said:
Article in the Herald today says we seem to have given up on recruiting and are trying to upgrade the contracts of Rochow, Tapine and some un named younger players as well instead (possibly the Saifiti twins or Koopu).
As the wooden spooners, quality players are not interested, and spending money on fringe rejects is just wasted money.
Brown is in a very difficult position, but so far he has given a chance to young players like Freeman, Pearsell, Bhana, Cook, Baker - who would all be on next to nothing contracts - and now has to frontload a few contracts rather than use cap on the expensive rejects who will only come to the club if no one else wants them.

2016 is shaping up to be a year where a lot of young guys are playing for a chance and a future as a professional player. It will be a tough year for supporters, unless you can see the benefit of young guys improving over the season (hopefully).
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Geez I hope not, we seriously need to look at recruiting it needs to be at the top of our priority list. Keeping locals too. As that's a good club culture we have but we won't succeed without recruitment. And there's plenty of positions that need upgrading

Lord of the Skraelings said:
We will never win a comp, something you have to come to peace with.

That simple.

Seriously Bennett couldn't get us one!
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Youre off chops lol, Bennett did not fit in with what we value here, he was utterly useless tbh.
 
It doesn't mean they've given up recruitment forever lol. Just means that there's no one they're interested in at the moment and are focusing on locking up the young players we already have. It's better than throwing money at the wrong players just because they're available. I read today on Fox Sports that we're one of the clubs linked with Dale Copley, though. Not sure if that's reliable or if it's just FoxSports assuming we're interested.
 
Lord of the Skraelings said:
We will never win a comp, something you have to come to peace with.

That simple.

Seriously Bennett couldn't get us one!
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Big hugs Lord and a Merry Christmas!

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mullenmagic said:
It doesn't mean they've given up recruitment forever lol. Just means that there's no one they're interested in at the moment and are focusing on locking up the young players we already have. It's better than throwing money at the wrong players just because they're available. I read today on Fox Sports that we're one of the clubs linked with Dale Copley, though. Not sure if that's reliable or if it's just FoxSports assuming we're interested.
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From what I have heard Copley would be a very astute signing and just the kind of player Brown would be interested in! Versatility is important and Copley could cover centre for a year or two, but from all reports is a second rower in the making!
 
Copley would be a good signing. Probably would replace Leilua with apparent error issues but would bring some try-scoring power to the backline. A few clubs would be interested but when the Broncos are signing a Dally M centre for just over 200k then you know salary caps are tight & we'd have at least a slight chance of getting him if Brown does go down that road.
 
8 Snowden.... Snowden is always going to start.
9 Levi ....... He should be ready to play at least 60 min .
10 Stockwell .... I think he was our best till he got hurt .
11 Tapine .... I think we will lose him or Rochow and maybe both.
12 Korbin..... He looks to have lost a bit of bulk.
13 Rochow .... Hope we don't lose this guy.

14 Paea .... This way we have 1 experienced F/Rower on the field all the time .
15 PauliPauli ..... I don't think there is any way Brown is going to leave this kid out of the side and he plays 2nd row if need be.
16 Mataora .... This guy stood up at the back end of the season and he looks so much fitter now .
17 Randal /Bhana .... Probably Randal for his versatility but ive read only good things about Bhana apparently he is a very good defender and a good back up hooker .

Not saying this is how it will be because who knows ... but I have to say I like the look of that pack and bench and that's without Tariq or Smith....
 
Is Paea really that sure of selection? He's the smallest of our props and he'll be 30 when the season starts and I watched him after we signed him in he SL, he really wasn't overly impressive or didn't have high stats. I don't think he's as sure thing as he's probably getting made out to be. I think we're banking on him being a hard runner but I could easily see him and Smith in the NSW Cup leading the way for them and Brown giving the young players a go in first grade.

8. Snowden
9. Levi
10. Stockwell
11. Tariq
12. Korbin
13. Rochow

14. Randell
15. Tapine
16. Pauli
17. Mataora
 
Tariq said "He's training at backrow with me. It's a new position, new challenge for him and I know he's up to it."

I can understand why we have the idea he'll be lining up in the backrow but I thought he was really developing into a good prop last year so we'll wait and see. Either way I can still see Paea and Smith in NSW Cup instead if Mataora/Saifit brothers keep improving. Brown is going to have some headaches choosing his forwards.
 
Junior11 said:
Tariq said "He's training at backrow with me. It's a new position, new challenge for him and I know he's up to it."

I can understand why we have the idea he'll be lining up in the backrow but I thought he was really developing into a good prop last year so we'll wait and see. Either way I can still see Paea and Smith in NSW Cup instead if Mataora/Saifit brothers keep improving. Brown is going to have some headaches choosing his forwards.
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You're right, I thought I'd read somewhere that Korbin was just training there to add versatility given our lack of depth but must have been mistaken
 
I'd be very very surprised if Rochow and Tariq aren't playing 80 minutes in our full strength side. Which means Korbin isn't playing back row, unless they mean lock.
 
So Sam Mataora is good enough for First Grade but Jeremy Smith isn't?
This can only be based upon Smith's age because past performance and overall ability would dictate otherwise.
 
mozza said:
So Sam Mataora is good enough for First Grade but Jeremy Smith isn't?
This can only be based upon Smith's age because past performance and overall ability would dictate otherwise.
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Well what's the point in playing smith? He's not in our future plans and we aren't exactly in win now mode are we?I get you need veterans to steer but for mine, he can set the standard in nsw cup
 
We already have a very young side Brown said in his PauliPauli interview that our side is so young that PauliPauli could be viewed as an experienced player in our pack after 33 1st grade games . So I think Brown will want Snowden , Paea , and Smith in the side especially early on in the season .
 
I know the smaller interchange won't have a huge affect, but can we afford to carry someone like smith who won't play big minutes? I like his aggression I just feel like we should be building for 2017 etc....
 
I have no doubt Smith and Paea will start the season and be there for the first month or 2 but I could easily see them ending up in NSW Cup if guys like Mataora and especially the Saifitis and our other young forwards perform well. Brown loves young forwards which was evident in his time with the Super League, I don't see it being any different with us.
 
This is my round one team. feel free to pick it apart if need be. I Like Feeney at fullback because he is slightly bigger then Mamo, has ball playing skills which mako lacks and having played in the halves for a number of years he will be able to read the play and know what mull and hodgko are up to and be able to chime in when necessary. Therefore i would select Mamo on the wing playing outside Sione (i realise Sione is suspended for round 1 but going forward) Sione and Mamo have played juniors together for a long time and have a good understanding of each others game. I remember A junior SOO game when mamo was on the wing with sione inside and they completely blitzed the Queensland opposition on that side.

I would start the game with Randell at 9, I don't think Levi is quite yet up to defending a fresh fired up opposition pack for the first 30 min. Bring him on the last 10 min of the half and watch him run riot. I'd have snowy and stockwell as my starting props and bring korbin and paea on for impact. Id love to see pauli come on and play second row and run at some halves and centres ( i know its not likely though with rochow, rapine and t sims..

Mataora is very unlucky to miss out i just think smiths experience (especially considering we have such a young squad) and intimidation factor gets him over the line. Who knows what team brown will go for he may throw a few completely left field changes in… Anyway feel free give me your opinion on what you think.

After such a dismal year last year getting the wooden spoon we can only get better. I think a few teams may underestimate us and we may surprise a few people. Looking forward too it.


1 Feeney
2 mamo
3 Gagai
4 Sione
5 Uate
6 mullen
7 hodgkinson
8 snowden
9 Randell
10 Stockwell
11 rochow
12 Tapine
13 Smith


14 Levi mataora, fitzgibon safiti, safiti,
15 K sims channel, ross, pat,
16 pauli pauli
17 Paea
 
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