Round 1 2023 Side

JuniorFromNewyy said:
1. Bradman Best.
2. Jayden Brailey.
3. Jake Clifford.
4. Adam Clune.
5. Mat Croker.
6. Adam Elliott.
7. Lachlan Fitzgibbon.
8. Bevan French.
9. Tyson Frizell.
10. Dane Gagai.
11. Tyson Gamble.
12. Jack Hetherington.
13. Bailey Hodgson.
14. Hymel Hunt.
15. Jack Johns.
16. Brodie Jones.
17. David Klemmer.
18. Kurt Mann.
19. Krystian Mapapalangi.
20. Kalyn Ponga.
21. Chris Randall.
22. Daniel Saifiti.
23. Jacob Saifiti.
24. Simi Sasagi.
25. Leo Thompson.
26. Enari Tuala.
27. Dominic Young.
28.
29.
30.

Off-contract & Unsigned:
- Pasami Saulo.
- Phoenix Crossland.
- Brayden Musgrove.

Rumoured Targets:
- Rueben Garrick.
- Luke Brooks.
- Kai Pearce-Paul. (Signed for 24 looking to get early release for 23).

Key:
Bold - New Signing.
* - Confirmed by Toohey but not announced yet.
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Hethrington and Elliot were confirmed a long time ago.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Playing with Reynolds he was used mainly as a runner or link man, did barely any kicking.

Playing with Mam or Milford he's played as the chief organiser, barking orders, and did the bulk of the kicking, conservatively putting the ball in the corner constantly.

He's versatile and I think his role in the team will be more about taking pressure off KP & Brooks - who I still think we'll sign - than about his own game. No matter how the Broncos have used him he's played his role without trying to overplay his hand or force anything.

In short he's a guy who's desperate to play first grade and will follow the coach's orders to the letter. Might replace Kurt Mann as the new coach's pet in the team.
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You still think Brooks is on the table? I can't remember we're I read it, maybe on here. They are letting Jock Madden go. And there preference is Brooks, Dougie, Hastings lock.
 
Unless we sign a quality 7 from somewhere we're going to spend another season getting flogged. I'd go Keary for next season. He's the best of the probably available 7s. If he gets KO'd and medically retired then we're back to playing Gamble at 7. Where's the downside?

The only possible alternative is for Ponga to somehow realise his potential as a half and be a dominant and sophisticated ball playing half, similar to Munster.

If Pryce turns out to be a superstar then we'll only need to find a good 7 from somewhere in 2024, then perhaps we'll have something to look forward to. Not that long to wait considering we've been at the same roofless bus stop in the rain for the last 15 years
 
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HarVeeGee13 said:
Edwards plays for the most dominant club side in the history of rugby league
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Big call and highly incorrect. Think you might be forgetting the St George team that won 11 straight premierships from 1956-1966. I think that tops the Panthers straight run of 1.
 
I reckon there are plenty of teams of the last decade that could put this Panthers team away.

That's not the same as dominant over a season or seasons, but it does provoke the question of what makes the Panthers successful. I've seen plenty of stronger rosters over the years. Dylan Edwards is quality footballer but he's a bumb compared to fullbacks like Tedy, Turbo, Latrell, for example. Koroisau is the Edwards of the Hooker world. And, frankly, the Panthers halves showed how 'good' they really were during Origin. Cleary is a classy 7 but he ain't no Thurston, Fitler or Joey--he's not of that calibre. I get that he has won a bunch of stuff but that is largely situational. It's like me getting a small loan of a million dollars from my dad and gloating to my mates about having made 2 million dollars a few years later.

The Panthers have athletic and powerful backs given quality ball by well crafted distribution permitted by one of the most effective forward packs we've seen in a long time. Tactically they're on point so they're hard to beat. And there's been a distinct lack of quality to compete with them. They're as well drilled as the Strom but just possess a better roster atm.

I reckon this half flogged Roosters outfit will give them a run for their money in the finals.
 
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Warbs said:
Big call and highly incorrect. Think you might be forgetting the St George team that won 11 straight premierships from 1956-1966. I think that tops the Panthers straight run of 1.
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Okay, the most dominant of the professional/NRL era.

By the end of St George’s run I think Norm Provan was the only player who was still there from the first one too, what I meant was most dominant group of substantially the same players.

Les Misérables said:
I've seen plenty of stronger rosters over the years. Dylan Edwards is quality footballer but he's a bumb compared to fullbacks like Tedy, Turbo, Latrell, for example. Koroisau is the Edwards of the Hooker world.
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I agreed with the first sentence and disagreed with the second so hard you’ve just given me whiplash Les 😂
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I agreed with the first sentence and disagreed with the second so hard you’ve just given me whiplash Les 😂
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Sure, I don't even entirety agree with it. I just felt like making the argument that the Panthers mightn't be as good as they look.

I'm not expecting them to lose in the finals. But if someone like the Roosters do somehow beat them I think that speaks volumes about the lack of good competition as opposed to the historic level superiority they're being labelled with because there really aren't any impressive rosters getting around arm other than the Panthers. The Roosters don't have a hooker. The Cowboys have Dearden and Townsend in the halves and the Storm have a strong spine only.
 
Pretty impossible to compare teams who play in different seasons, when I say “most dominant” I mean relative to their competition. I don’t think I’ve seen another team dominate field position, get as big a share of possession and just bash the ever loving **** out of their opposition as consistently as this Panthers side does. They’re “up” almost every week and so often their big wins just look like the other team wilting under the relentless pressure rather than them being as slick as the Roosters/Storm at their best.
 
Maxibon said:
1. Rueben Garrick

2. Bevan French 3. Krystian Mapa 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young

6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Jackson Hastings

8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti

11. Tyson Frizell 12. Jack Hetherington

13. Adam Elliot​

14. Simi Sasagi
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Leo Thompson
17. Mat Croker
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Gagai will be in the back 5 if we like it or not. I also think the Hetherington back row experiment is over, and he will be back playing as a bench front rower bringing on aggression, speed, and impact. Kurt Mann best suits our 14 role as he can play anywhere but prop. My team would look like

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Bevan French
3. Krystian Mapapalangi
4. Dane Gagai
5. Dominic Young
6. Jake Clifford
7. Tyson Gamble
8. David Klemmer
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frziell
12. Mat Croker
13. Adam Elliott

14. Kurt Mann
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Simi Sasagi
17. Jack Hetherington

That's without getting any more signings but hopefully we can secure another 1 or 2 for next season. Either Hastings, Brooks or Croft for our halves depth.
 
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Enari Tuala
3. Krystian Mapapalangi
4. Dominic Young
5. Dane Gagai
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Luke Brooks (just accept it… it’ll hurt less if you just accept it now)

13. Adam Elliott
12. Oh No. Oh ****. What Do We Do Here?
11. Tyson Frizell
10. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
8. David Klemmer

14. Nathanael “Simi” Sasagi
15. Daniel Saifiti
16. Jack Hetherington
17. The “Ten Minutes A Game If Everyone Is Fit” All Stars
 
JuniorFromNewyy said:
Gagai will be in the back 5 if we like it or not. I also think the Hetherington back row experiment is over, and he will be back playing as a bench front rower bringing on aggression, speed, and impact. Kurt Mann best suits our 14 role as he can play anywhere but prop. My team would look like

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Bevan French
3. Krystian Mapapalangi
4. Dane Gagai
5. Dominic Young
6. Jake Clifford
7. Tyson Gamble
8. David Klemmer
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frziell
12. Mat Croker
13. Adam Elliott

14. Kurt Mann
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Simi Sasagi
17. Jack Hetherington

That's without getting any more signings but hopefully we can secure another 1 or 2 for next season. Either Hastings, Brooks or Croft for our halves depth.
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That's the best line-up I've seen this far with what we have (almost) confirmed. Hopefully, with the addition of Hastings (#1) or Brooks (#2) for mine. Certainly not Croft or Tuala, we'd be going backwards in my opinion.
 
1.? New signing Hodgson/Armstrong
2.Gagai
3.Best
4.Mapa
5.Young
6.Ponga
7.Hastings (VC)
8.J.Saf
9.Brailey (C)
10.D.Saf
11.Friz
12.?Jones/Fitz/KPP
13.Elliott

14.Mann/Randall
15.Hethrington
16.Croker
17.Thomson
18.Hunt

Imo we are missing a fullback, starting backrower and prop benchie/depth
 
1. Niu
2. Gagai
3. Best
4. Mapapalangi
5. Young
6. Ponga
7. Hastings
8. Jsaf
9. Brailey
10. Dsaf
11. Frizell
12. Hetherington
13. Elliot

14. Sasagi
15. Croker
16. Thompson
17. Toleafoa????

18. Mann

We need a fullback and probably another two cheap forwards with a bit of experience.
 
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