Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
More players on the bench this season means don't have to worry soo much about that utility player. Can have a half just sitting there, and a 14, winger as well as that cripples teams losing a winger they can't cover.
Second pre-season trial - Knights Vs Bulldogs - 6:00pm Saturday, 14th February - McDonald Jones Stadium
- Thread starter Lefty
- Start date
More players on the bench this season means don't have to worry soo much about that utility player. Can have a half just sitting there, and a 14, winger as well as that cripples teams losing a winger they can't cover.
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
If you’re rating them compared to the rest of the second-rowers in the comp then I don’t think any of them are even a 5. Jones is the safe defensive pick. McEwen is the attacking impact and overall upside pick. Cant has played all of his best NRL games in the middle where he’s less of an isolated target in defence and can use his leg speed against bigger/tired forwards. Pretty consistently shown that’s he’s too small/unathletic as an NRL second-rower (and too slow for centre in the brief attempt to turn him into one of those). Will be happy to be proven wrong but didn’t see anything on the weekend to make me think he’s changed much physically, he just had a pretty good game against reserve graders which he’s always been capable of.
KPGreatness
Todd Bates
“Reserves graders” is a bit disingenuous for mine since a lot of the forward pack has nrl experience
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
My rating, now is Jones, McEwen then Can’t, always considered Jones a 2nd rower.
Future, next few seasons, McEwen, Jones, , Cant, think McEwen will no doubt get better with further experience where Jones is likely at his peak while Cant seems limited due to size
Defender1
Matthew Johns
Cant is the same weight as Dylan Lucas. He is a couple of cm's shorter though.
How are we getting a line on McKewn? He has just come through his most important preseason yet and we haven't seen him play since last year. Given how much more robust the likes of Hunt (broke more tackles last week then he did in firsts last year) and ESL looked, I'd suggest there has been significant physical improvement in McKewn as well.
McEwen is absolutely the starter, though after a huge year in his first season I’m not against him not playing 80minutes. Let him have a rest either side of half so his explosiveness and decision making is on point. I truly hope Cant has a breakout season, he’s good enough to do so with coaches and players backing him. He played edge forward all his junior footy and reserves. It would bode very well for club if Cant and Jones become reliable edge forwards (Jones already is in my opinion).
Also I like what I saw from Francis Manulelua. He’ll only get better as well.
Also I like what I saw from Francis Manulelua. He’ll only get better as well.
Can I ask what the ends of the scale are here? Is 10 the best edge backrower right now, say Kikau, the best ever, maybe a Paul Sironen type, or the ideal SR who never misses a tackle, can't be tackled, runs perfect lines and goes for 80 minutes?
The 0 scale is even more confusing. Are we comparing them to a bottom of the barrel nrl edge? The average gym junkie? Man on the street? Newborn?
Given those ratings, newborn to cyborg makes the most sense.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I don't expect to see him anytime soon, like honestly if he hasn't started training, his going to get folded on his first kick return and gosh knows what pops when he does.
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Manuleleua is the most gifted athlete at the club - except for the size of his motor.
The guy is the size of our biggest props with the speed of a winger, surprising agility, and a great long pass.
I'm glad to see he has been kept in the squad this week.
Get him fit enough to go long minutes in firstgrade and he could be anything.
The guy is the size of our biggest props with the speed of a winger, surprising agility, and a great long pass.
I'm glad to see he has been kept in the squad this week.
Get him fit enough to go long minutes in firstgrade and he could be anything.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Nice to see Gamble in the 14, I have zero doubt his the best for the utility row and will really bring some agro when he comes on.
Tackleslikeagirl
Gary Wurth
KP is training with the team and Holbrook reiterated yesterday again he looks forward to him playing in round one
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Okay I've been pretty negative about him, hope he proves me wrong and kills it this season.
KPGreatness
Todd Bates
I believe the question was the best for the right edge at the moment.
So I toke that as ranking based on in club only as they are the only ones able to grab that right edge spot.
That’s why I have Cant first if it was based on potential i would have obviously said McEwen but the poster specifically asked for potential to not be taken into account and based on the best currently
I didn’t rank Manu or ESL as the person asked for only the three to be considered
The scale is based on my own opinion on who could do a better all round job currently so 10 would be a “without a doubt” think of a Lucas and 0 would be a “oh god please no”
As I said I’m only comparing them to the other options as was asked the values would change drastically if comparing the entire league as you would imagine
MullosLefttoRight
Tim Maddison
Manuleleua will likely be a beneficiary of the new 6-man bench rules in this respect. Perfect guy to sit in the 18th/19th man slot who could be thrown on for impact late in the game.
Ideally we end up with McEwen/Manuleleua rotating on an edge in our week-to-week 17 anyway but I daresay the flexibility of the 6-man bench will see players like Francis debuting earlier than they otherwise would have.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
For sure if we are towelling up a team why wouldn't you give someone 20 minutes who you want to see how they perform at NRL level, I personally hate the new 6 man bench, or if we have to have to have it, they should only be allowed to be actived per previous 18th man injury that someone is ruled out through an act of foul play.
frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
They are still only allowed to interchange 4 players. Say a back goes down for the game, then one of the forwards that would have played probably won’t because the back will come on instead.
frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
I’m glad we will get to see Brown / Sharpe combo second half this game. I would say probably only 20mins. And Smith moves to hooker. Be interesting to see how that works. It won’t be against the full strength dogs team, as I would assume most of the 17 will only play the first half.
Someone mentioned on here and have heard on a couple of poddies KP playing 7. Crazy with his history but also valid argument. I still think the “safest” option is Sharpe on the wing. But can see why Holbrook is not 100% on his decision yet. It’s a tough one! Sharpe is such a gun. I remember a comment he made when he first started he wanted to get the spine sorted early. lol.
Spine
1. Sharpe
6. Brown
7. Ponga
9. Crossland/Smith
Someone mentioned on here and have heard on a couple of poddies KP playing 7. Crazy with his history but also valid argument. I still think the “safest” option is Sharpe on the wing. But can see why Holbrook is not 100% on his decision yet. It’s a tough one! Sharpe is such a gun. I remember a comment he made when he first started he wanted to get the spine sorted early. lol.
Spine
1. Sharpe
6. Brown
7. Ponga
9. Crossland/Smith
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