The pre-season 2026 thread

Billy said:
I feel like I could easily name the side AOB would have picked for round 1.
Holbrook might end up in exactly the same place for round 1.
But it is clear that he is running Gagai and Schiller on the left and different combinations we haven't seen before so he can judge for himself who he thinks should go where.
He has talked about watching footage of Sharpe and being excited by his potential, and I'm sure he will have had a similar look at all the players during the off season.
He'll have some ideas he will be trying out in training for sure.
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Me too, Cogger and Hastings as the halves with a million rotations planned this season, probably Sharpe as 13, Ponga as number 8. Marzhew as utility from the bench.
 
is it possible fix might be moving back to right edge? would make more sense for the gagai to left edge move imo, split up our two most experienced players to two different sides of the pitch
a tall dom outside a short best ?
 
Macca89 said:
I wouldn’t risk him round 1 seeing as how far they have to fly to play the game. Long season
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Yep just rev him up that he is going there as an ambassador so he doesn't think his missing out on the trip.

I am legit concerned, hopefully like frequently my concerns are unfounded.
 
Junior said:
is it possible fix might be moving back to right edge? would make more sense for the gagai to left edge move imo, split up our two most experienced players to two different sides of the pitch
a tall dom outside a short best ?
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I doubt there is a Gagai to left edge move, this would be a big conclusion to draw from a bit of footage of a handling drill at training.
 
Is anyone else quite relaxed about what Holbrook does with the spine? I don’t think there’s a perfect solution there … everything just feels like we’re trying to crowbar Sharpe in somewhere just to get him in the 17, to me.

So I’m just going to see what he comes up with, I’m sure it’ll be very different positionally and tactically to AOB … those tactics will hopefully give the players more chance of success … and everyone’s a year older and have hopefully developed as players that bit more.

So I really don’t have any preference … I think a big part this year will be changing things, adjusting to a new environment, and putting that puzzle together. If we become competitive again across 27 rounds, then that’ll be a win.
 
I don’t love it, but could accept Sharpe and Brown in the halves. And Sandon hooker. I’d start Crossland 20mins. Then Sandon the rest of the game. Kinda of like how Ben Hunt and Grant worked for QLD.

My only concern and I and others have mentioned this is that puts more pressure on DB having Sharpe as his partner. And the concern is warranted.

But let’s say this happens. Sharpe and Sandon need to get reps in those positions. The spanner right now is KP not training.
 
jamesgould said:
Is anyone else quite relaxed about what Holbrook does with the spine? I don’t think there’s a perfect solution there … everything just feels like we’re trying to crowbar Sharpe in somewhere just to get him in the 17, to me.

So I’m just going to see what he comes up with, I’m sure it’ll be very different positionally and tactically to AOB … those tactics will hopefully give the players more chance of success … and everyone’s a year older and have hopefully developed as players that bit more.

So I really don’t have any preference … I think a big part this year will be changing things, adjusting to a new environment, and putting that puzzle together. If we become competitive again across 27 rounds, then that’ll be a win.
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I'm extremely relaxed about it, I'm laughing actually.

But yes the only "perfect" solution is if we get to add Mitchell Moses and Harry Grant to Ponga and Brown. We don't have that, and I understand why one might have a difference of opinion over Sharpe/Smith as Brown's halves partner. That's probably why I've argued about it so much, if I thought it was ridiculous on its face I'd just dismiss it out of hand.

Only real quibble I have is that I believe putting Sharpe on the wing isn't "crowbarring him in somewhere". I genuinely believe he's almost certainly at least the 2nd best winger on the roster right now and if he outplayed Dom this year I would hardly be surprised. I legit think he's in that same basket a few other fullbacks are in where they're just much better footballers than 90% of wingers/centres in the comp and would outperform most if they moved there full time.
 
i wouldn’t be totally shocked if gagai changed sides, nearly won a comp playing left centre for rabbits. crazier things have happened but wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t change either
HarVeeGee13 said:
I doubt there is a Gagai to left edge move, this would be a big conclusion to draw from a bit of footage of a handling drill at training.
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If, If we play Sharpe at centre then can see Gags on right wing with Dom on left wing and am ok with Gags and Dom on right with Best and Sharpe on left all this assuming Ponga fit to play at F/b if not Sharpe covers and someone else plays wing.
It’s only a problem if all are fit to play
 
Saw something on Instagram today comparing kick percentages of the preferred goal kicker in each team.

Sandon Smith (82%) was 3rd behind Reynolds (83%) 2nd and Cleary (85%) 1st

And it was daylight below them with next best at 79%

He's a genuine star at conversions. An underrated feature of his game and a huge factor for any wins we may get next season
 
Which could sway the decision with him not coming off the bench. But that stat is from only FG? If so he only played a handful of FG games. So that’s kind of skewed.
 
mullenmagic said:
Entirely too much was read into an out of context clip of a training drill.
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don’t think anyone read into it too much at all, i was simply stating it was crazy to think it wasn’t an option.

i do think gags on the wing is crazy, way too slow for that these days and too important in the centres imo
 
frankLauda said:
Which could sway the decision with him not coming off the bench. But that stat is from only FG? If so he only played a handful of FG games. So that’s kind of skewed.
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In 47 first grade games he has kicked 64/78 goals at 82.05% according to Rugby League Project
 
jamesgould said:
Is anyone else quite relaxed about what Holbrook does with the spine? I don’t think there’s a perfect solution there … everything just feels like we’re trying to crowbar Sharpe in somewhere just to get him in the 17, to me.

So I’m just going to see what he comes up with, I’m sure it’ll be very different positionally and tactically to AOB … those tactics will hopefully give the players more chance of success … and everyone’s a year older and have hopefully developed as players that bit more.

So I really don’t have any preference … I think a big part this year will be changing things, adjusting to a new environment, and putting that puzzle together. If we become competitive again across 27 rounds, then that’ll be a win.
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The most important thing from Holbrook is he has them buying in, putting in and ready to bring the right attitude and enthusiasm to get over the top of the opposition.

Individual spots and where they play is secondary to that for mine.
 
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