The pre-season 2026 thread

So is it correct to say we don’t have one out and out halfback in either firsts or reserve grade?

Brown 6
Smith 6/7
Gamble 6
Hunter 6

Am I forgetting someone?
 
Jacob Taulani played for PNG and made 17 tackles with 1 miss in about as many minutes against quality firstgraders.

He played 4 games of reserve grade at the back end of the season and was in some of our best performances in the last 3 games. He made 62 tackles with 2 missed in short minutes each game as a middle forward.

He played most of the season in Flegg.

His younger brother played for the junior Kumuls and was one of their best.

He's one to watch in the pre-season I think. It would be nice if his brother came down to play Ball.
 
Newygirl said:
So is it correct to say we don’t have one out and out halfback in either firsts or reserve grade?

Brown 6
Smith 6/7
Gamble 6
Hunter 6

Am I forgetting someone?
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Its mostly a fair assessment but I gotta say, I'm pretty comfortable with Smith at 7. I think people will be pretty happy with him. The only question mark is his long kicking game - with a comparatively average set of middles and a genericly styled 9, will Smith's medium length boot be a critical issue?

I don't reckon. It'll be an improvement on Cogger at least
 
Les Misérables said:
Its mostly a fair assessment but I gotta say, I'm pretty comfortable with Smith at 7. I think people will be pretty happy with him. The only question mark is his long kicking game - with a comparatively average set of middles and a genericly styled 9, will Smith's medium length boot be a critical issue?

I don't reckon. It'll be an improvement on Cogger at least
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I wasn’t being a smart ***, although it seems to have come across that way. I was genuinely asking if that was true. We don’t actually have a genuine 7 in either grade at the moment?
 
It’s weird it seems like we have another Brown situation, Smith has been a 7 all professional life now obviously Walker is a freak so he wasnt going to take that spot, so they turned him into a five-eighth, toke him a bit to understand it and hasnt looked back since

I dont mind Smith at 7 it is his natural position, regardless id be asking Crossland to do a lot of the big kicks down field as no matter who you put on those spaces im pretty sure Crossland out does them which is unfortunate to say it nicely.
 
Newygirl said:
I wasn’t being a smart ***, although it seems to have come across that way. I was genuinely asking if that was true. We don’t actually have a genuine 7 in either grade at the moment?
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The majority of Sandon’s games at every level except the NRL have been at 7, I think it’s fair to describe it as his preferred spot.

I think he was being played as a 6 as a speculative thing in the hopes he would replace Keary but he and Sam Walker haven’t complimented each other that well, a bit too similar I think.

IMO I think it’s fair to call him a 7 in the sense that you’d call Ben Hunt a 7, that’s his preferred spot but both are versatile playmakers with good running threat who are adept at 6 and 9 too, even 1 in a pinch, as opposed to an Adam Reynolds type who doesn’t really have another position besides halfback.
 
Newygirl said:
I wasn’t being a smart ***, although it seems to have come across that way. I was genuinely asking if that was true. We don’t actually have a genuine 7 in either grade at the moment?
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Based on what I've seen of Smith, he appears to be a very competent first receiver. He’s a quick thinking half who demands the ball and usually has the best read on things among the players around him.

What I like most about him is how busy he is. He'll fit our system well as his primary job will be to feed our edges, produce good shape and do it at pace. But doing so at the right times, which is where his read on the game comes into play. We're not asking him to play like Adam Reynolds, we're asking him to play like Luke Keary.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
The majority of Sandon’s games at every level except the NRL have been at 7, I think it’s fair to describe it as his preferred spot.

I think he was being played as a 6 as a speculative thing in the hopes he would replace Keary but he and Sam Walker haven’t complimented each other that well, a bit too similar I think.

IMO I think it’s fair to call him a 7 in the sense that you’d call Ben Hunt a 7, that’s his preferred spot but both are versatile playmakers with good running threat who are adept at 6 and 9 too, even 1 in a pinch, as opposed to an Adam Reynolds type who doesn’t really have another position besides halfback.
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Fair, thanks for that. I guess I was more curious if there was a young 7, I’d missed that had been recruited or they’re looking to move up from the lower grades.

Are there any promising halfbacks in the lower levels?
 
Newygirl said:
Fair, thanks for that. I guess I was more curious if there was a young 7, I’d missed that had been recruited or they’re looking to move up from the lower grades.

Are there any promising halfbacks in the lower levels?
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Very young Chase Butler in Mathews this year looks very special, but at least 3 years from firstgrade. The kid of Ennis who kicked us to the Johns cup title has a hell of a boot on him.
 
Billy said:
Very young Chase Butler in Mathews this year looks very special, but at least 3 years from firstgrade. The kid of Ennis who kicked us to the Johns cup title has a hell of a boot on him.
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Definitely them two so far. I think we shouldn’t sleep on Brooklyn Rosenmeyer from the Rooster with locked up this year. He plays like Loza but I think has been begging for the 7 role and had Rodwell in-front of him. He’ll be playing Flegg and a up next year. Hunter probably more a running 5/8 with some FB in him.
 
Billy said:
Very young Chase Butler in Mathews this year looks very special, but at least 3 years from firstgrade. The kid of Ennis who kicked us to the Johns cup title has a hell of a boot on him.
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Haven’t seen that much of Chase but he does “pop” as someone who looks like they could be legit from what I have.

Hopefully we can get to a point where “at least 3 years” turns into what it should - 6 years of development and entering first grade once he’s beating down the door.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Haven’t seen that much of Chase but he does “pop” as someone who looks like they could be legit from what I have.

Hopefully we can get to a point where “at least 3 years” turns into what it should - 6 years of development and entering first grade once he’s beating down the door.
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Hmm the next big thing... Can we make sure this time around we dont sack his father/family or otherwise give him a reason to quit and go elsewhere. Lets keep this one for a change.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Haven’t seen that much of Chase but he does “pop” as someone who looks like they could be legit from what I have.

Hopefully we can get to a point where “at least 3 years” turns into what it should - 6 years of development and entering first grade once he’s beating down the door.
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Had a very good first year in Hmatts, played Ajohns Cup year before and was electric, but I thought more a ball runner as he was just stepping around opposition for fun, so he took a great leap in being a game managing 7. Looking forward to him continuing that role next year under Matt Lantry and an even more skilled team. I think he finishes High school in 2 years, which is what he's signed till, then it'll be game on.
 
I’d be shocked if Deardon was the 7 over Cleary. Muster will be the six yes. I really don’t get Cleary rep form. Had he been that bad? The word “dominanted” always comes up. He has been a part of two origin series wins.

He’s arguably the best player in the game IMO, way above Tom Deardon. He should be the 7 for Australia. Deardon could be the 14 though.
 
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