Sadly it's that time, your team for 2020

He lost his spot to the 4th choice backup hooker from the Storm who was on a different level defensively.
I think he has his talents but he is about 10 years too late on them.
 
Glad it's over at any rate. It's a win for us with extra cap space, win for the Seagles picking up a cheap, quality hooker which they need, and a win for Levi to have a shot at a starting spot. Good outcome for everyone.
 
Ethan said:
I just think Hunt plays better at centre than wing and best is definatly faster than Hunt but Hunt is more likely to break the line and get a ball away. Besides isn't F/back Bests prefered position not centre.
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He was interviewed not long after his debut, or even before, saying his preferred position was centre. I think that’s where he’s best suited as well. He’s already got the build and speed, just may have to get used to tackling big bodies.
 
I am very happy we have parted company with Danny Levi. I’m looking forward to our hookers following the game plan this year. Pearce should now get the ball when he wants it.
 
Levi will be living the dream playing around the ruck and running the ball off the back of Jurbo, AFB and Kapow. Brailey seems much more suited to our style of play though.
 
Think Levi was talking mostly about 2019 which obviously including the falling out with coach who had many starters/signings for No 9, Griff, Watson, Mann etc. Levi is definitely first grade standard but it didn’t work out with Brown who then signed Brailey before he left leaving an awkward situation. Can’t blame Levi for leaving, no Brailey he stays. Hopefully we have the better but time will tell, Brailey had better be good, 80min player? Again time will tell, if he is what happens to Watson. I think it was all handled poorly but let’s hope it ends for the best. From a team point of view dissolving a possible conflict is best. Whatever way you look at it Levi was potentially our best hooker over past 4-5 years and even Buderus has high opinion of him.
 
I don't like the style of play that Levi is good at, but it works for Cook and seems to be the current trend with many clubs, including Manly.

I've always thought the best hookers are ones you forget are even playing because they get the ball smoothly to where you want it with no fuss and make all their tackles too.
 
Levi played a season with a buggered back and then delayed further surgery to help the team while we were building our collection of spoons. Nowhere near as bad as some on here make out. Conceded 5 penalties and attempted 2 barge overs in 2019 but I can see why plenty blame his apparent bad attitude and lack of ability for us being rubbish. Bottom line is he wasn't one of Brown's pets and by the end of 2019 he wasn't Robinson Crusoe.
 
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...bsite&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews

Toohey article that says Jirah Momoisea will be promoted to the top 30 squad and Randall will get a development contract after Levi's departure.

Quotes O'Brien as saying Jirah is athletic and has plenty to learn, but he sees him as a project player.
Jirah is 1cm taller than Fitz and 2kg heavier, so he is a big unit for the second row. In under 20s he would sometimes get into the clear and he has pretty good pace for a big guy.

Article also says we have to name at least 1 more player for the top 30 before round 1 and another 1 before June 30. We also still have a development spot if Jirah is promoted to top 30.
 
Billy said:
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...bsite&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews

Toohey article that says Jirah Momoisea will be promoted to the top 30 squad and Randall will get a development contract after Levi's departure.

Quotes O'Brien as saying Jirah is athletic and has plenty to learn, but he sees him as a project player.
Jirah is 1cm taller than Fitz and 2kg heavier, so he is a big unit for the second row. In under 20s he would sometimes get into the clear and he has pretty good pace for a big guy.

Article also says we have to name at least 1 more player for the top 30 before round 1 and another 1 before June 30. We also still have a development spot if Jirah is promoted to top 30.
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Can we promote someone from Ipswich? Is there anyone even worth bringing up?
 
Frank McWilliams said:
Think Levi was talking mostly about 2019 which obviously including the falling out with coach who had many starters/signings for No 9, Griff, Watson, Mann etc. Levi is definitely first grade standard but it didn’t work out with Brown who then signed Brailey before he left leaving an awkward situation. Can’t blame Levi for leaving, no Brailey he stays. Hopefully we have the better but time will tell, Brailey had better be good, 80min player? Again time will tell, if he is what happens to Watson. I think it was all handled poorly but let’s hope it ends for the best. From a team point of view dissolving a possible conflict is best. Whatever way you look at it Levi was potentially our best hooker over past 4-5 years and even Buderus has high opinion of him.
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I like Levi but he wasn't anywhere near as good as Griffin not even close . Buderus was saying how good Levi was right up until Griffin got here and then Danny B was all about how good Griffin was and he was right Griffin was miles ahead of Levi in every department ..
 
Matty23 said:
He was interviewed not long after his debut, or even before, saying his preferred position was centre. I think that’s where he’s best suited as well. He’s already got the build and speed, just may have to get used to tackling big bodies.
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If you were an up and coming f/back but the 1st grade side had Ponga at the back the first thing you would say is My preferred position is anything but f/back I would think . Your obviously not getting in the team if your a f/b and that's where you want to play and im sure Billy has been saying all along that Best and Toa are F/backs .
 
Positions in juniors don't really mean a whole lot to be fair. You have your favourites but it's hard to know until you stop growing. Robbie rochow was a fullback all through lower grades. Ended up a back rower.
 
Ethan said:
I like Levi but he wasn't anywhere near as good as Griffin not even close . Buderus was saying how good Levi was right up until Griffin got here and then Danny B was all about how good Griffin was and he was right Griffin was miles ahead of Levi in every department ..
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Not entirely true, Griffin was good, but there was a time where we realised we were a bit more dynamic in attack with Levi. Late in the year Levi was getting at least equal minutes if not more than Griffin on the field because we were looking better.
 
Ethan said:
If you were an up and coming f/back but the 1st grade side had Ponga at the back the first thing you would say is My preferred position is anything but f/back I would think . Your obviously not getting in the team if your a f/b and that's where you want to play and im sure Billy has been saying all along that Best and Toa are F/backs .
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Ponga has said fullback is his preferred position but was happy to play five-eight last year. Watson stated when he got here he was most comfortable at five-eight but was happy to play at fullback, centre or hooker, and now lock. Same thing has been said by Sione. The list goes on..
Bradman has said he most prefers centre, but doesn’t mean he wouldn’t play fullback or wing. So basically he, along with the coaching staff and other critics believe he’s a centre despite having played other positions in the lower grades. If we didn’t have Ponga as our fullback, I’m sure Best would still be lining up as our centre.
 
1. Ponga
2. Lee
3. Moga
4. Best / Tuala / Shibasaki (3,4 & 5 are harder to pick than a broken nose)
5. Hunt
6. Mann (he appears to be the front runner)
7. Pearce
8. Klemmer
9. Brailey
10. Ese'Ese
11. Fitzgibbon
12. Barnett
13. Glasby

14. Watson
15. Guerra
16. D Saifiti
17. J Saifiti (He'll have a big year)
 
It's pretty clear that the guys who are training well are catching the coaches eye - which I think is fair.
The guys unable to do full training because of injury like Crossland and Toa have fallen off the radar, but big Jirah, who kills it in the gym and is the strongest at the club, is getting some love, and Best is just a Beast at training, so he seems very in favour.
I think there is a genuine chance of a young guy like Jones, Jirah or Shibasaki to grab a spot.
 
Joshhh said:
Not entirely true, Griffin was good, but there was a time where we realised we were a bit more dynamic in attack with Levi. Late in the year Levi was getting at least equal minutes if not more than Griffin on the field because we were looking better.
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Sorry mate don't agree with that at all Griffins ball playing was better his defence was better and his attack was at least as good and that's why Griffin took Levi's spot in the team and in the Kiwi team .
I think that was in Griffins first year of starting the year in 1st grade .
Someone on here said that Griffin was the fourth in line at Melbourne for the 9 jumper if that's true ( im not sure it is )it shows how far behind Levi was ..
Imo there was no time that Levi was better than Griffin .
 
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