Back 5 with Koula returning ?

[manly al]

Lehi is just doing too many good things on the wing at present to warrant missing out .
Koula would just be generally wasted there , of course still more then capable of playing there but the type of rare talent where centre or one is his real go .
Probably going to come down to either Koula or Talau in the centres and on balance and Toula at his best again , would assume to get the nod
Then the versatility factor and again personally would not rule out a quite handy 13 role for Talau at some future time .
Doubt if Koula will ever find himself closer to the ruck area positionally wise but guess can not rule anything out with gifted type players Probably just like the notion once of Turbo eventually transitioning to the backrow , never was really going to happen
Dylan Walker played a fair bit as a 6 [ and i liked him there ] and pretty robust there so a move to a loose position type 13 , not that big a change

 

[Peter C]

Tom's cemented in as FB now. It's doing my head in, backline selections, great problem to have at this time of the year. Lets talk about backline positions after the Warriors game.

Whilst he lacks the speed of all our backs, I feel that Talau is a more natural footballer than Garrick, Koula or Saab, something that Jamie Lyon was.

 

[Andyvb88]

What about Talau to bench and play a role similar to Dylan walker at warriors. Replace Brubo

 

[Stewbojevic]

What about Talau to bench and play a role similar to Dylan walker at warriors. Replace Brubo

I like it. Very hard to leave him out of the 17

 

[BOZO]

Whilst he lacks the speed of all our backs, I feel that Talau is a more natural footballer than Garrick, Koula or Saab, something that Jamie Lyon was.

Talau has been tough and admirably acceding acceptations preforming at his best version but he does not have the finesse of a Jamie Lyon . Seriously ?
It is like some on here that seriously thought that Parker and Harper where serious premiership winning centres

The moral of the story ...
We are all blinded by our self imposed subconscious standards

Our most formidable five backline flyers
Tom
Hoppa
Rueben
Koula
Sabb

 

[LeonardCohen]

Whilst he lacks the speed of all our backs, I feel that Talau is a more natural footballer than Garrick, Koula or Saab, something that Jamie Lyon was.

Have you seen him try and set up a winger? Nothing natural about it. Garrick is much more natural in setting up support and reading the defence to make effective attacking plays. Talau is a good yardage carry and a sturdy defender. Natural footballer he ain’t!

Not attacking you personally but I just cannot fathom what I perceive to be an overstated rating of Talau’s prowess. He has been very solid and a great bargain buy but geez, he hasn’t been braking games open or torching sides…something we all know Koula has and can do.

 

[Pete W]

Whilst he lacks the speed of all our backs, I feel that Talau is a more natural footballer than Garrick, Koula or Saab, something that Jamie Lyon was.

With no offence intended, one of the most absurd statements I've read on here in a while. To even put him in the same sentence as Killer is almost laughable.

Without a doubt, the sixth player to drop out of the backline would be Talau, despite his good form in 2024. But as I and many others have said, his attitude, versatility and grit could easily earn him a spot in the forwards/bench. Personally, I reckon he'd be a great mobile edge forward in the mould of a Lawton.

Re the others, Lehi and Tolu first picked after Turbo. Saab also a must when fit. Garrick v Talau? That's an easy one for the coaches...

 

[danny-boy]

Whilst he lacks the speed of all our backs, I feel that Talau is a more natural footballer than Garrick, Koula or Saab, something that Jamie Lyon was.

I agree, he has got the footy smarts. Always seems to be in the right spot for a try, defuses bombs so effortlessly, defensively good, seems to have a knack of winning possession by stealing the ball or an intercept. The bloke gets on with his footy and never complains.

There’s a reason he’s our leading try scorer, the guy is an all round natural footballer.

 

[Ohgeez]

Lehi has been really good & should be up top for rookie of the year but no way he should be selected over Talau who’s been our best outside back all season. Hopoate is only 19 & will be targeted all game when it comes to finals, Talau is the bigger body, better defender & has a lot more experience.

Don’t get me wrong Hoppa is looking like a future rep player with way more skills/upside then Talau but at this stage of their careers who are you choosing to mark up on To’o in a GF?

 

[LeonardCohen]

Hoppa is an excitement machine. Already a favourite of mine. Geez he is good to watch. What a pass again this week after catching a bomb?!

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Hoppa stays on the wing for me
Koula plays for Blacktown unfortunately
Till he replaces Talau in the centres if Koula gets back to his best
He replaces Talau cause of his speed
It’s a good thing for the team but not for the individual

 

[Dion Johnson]

Seibold said today Koula is back this week and will be in the team, as he should in my view very talented.

The final 17 this week will be interesting, Hoppa has taken a few of the coaching staff by surprise on how easily he has progressed and to the level he plays at each opportunity, I think Seibold will go with speed on the left wing.

 

[manly al]

Seibold said today Koula is back this week and will be in the team, as he should in my view very talented.

The final 17 this week will be interesting, Hoppa has taken a few of the coaching staff by surprise on how easily he has progressed and to the level he plays at each opportunity, I think Seibold will go with speed on the left wing.

That "s going to make it interesting but no mention on Alioai "s availability ?
Would have to expect Talau to drop out of the backs but not sure how the bench would shape up then even with Brown possibly starting .
Gordy , Burbo ,Bully , Talau , Sipley vying for a bench spot
Then if Alioai is available .
Some delicate selection options there .
Talau has a good case to be in the game day 17 but let"s see how it goes

 

[Dion Johnson]

That "s going to make it interesting but no mention on Alioai "s availability ?
Would have to expect Talau to drop out of the backs but not sure how the bench would shape up then even with Brown possibly starting .
Gordy , Burbo ,Bully , Talau , Sipley vying for a bench spot
Then if Alioai is available .
Some delicate selection options there .
Talau has a good case to be in the game day 17 but let"s see how it goes

It will be a difficult choice the coaching staff now they have good options, no mention of Alioia on the SEN Seibold interview, spoke of Croker, Guaca, the back 5 and Hoppa.

I think this is what Seibold will go for, though most likely wrong.

1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hoppa
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Tent
9. Croker
10. Alioia
11. Guaca
12. Lawton
13. Jake

14. Talau
15. Brown
16. Ben T
17. Bully

It’s a small bench that covers a few areas,

 

[Stewbojevic]

It will be a difficult choice the coaching staff now they have good options, no mention of Alioia on the SEN Seibold interview, spoke of Croker, Guaca, the back 5 and Hoppa.

I think this is what Seibold will go for, though most likely wrong.

1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hoppa
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Tent
9. Croker
10. Alioia
11. Guaca
12. Lawton
13. Jake

14. Talau
15. Brown
16. Ben T
17. Bully

It’s a small bench that covers a few areas,

I actually think Gordon has had two of the best games of his career the last couple of weeks. I like his impact off the bench. But I also like Simpkin.

Hard to fit everyone in!

 

[Ohgeez]

I think Siebs will take a page from Bellamy’s book & put Hoppa on the bench like Bellamy has done with Fa’alogo. Always good to have cover when we have Turbo in the team anyway

 

[Scorpio]

Koula could be an interesting bench option... he may be more effective in the middle against tiring defenders than he is at centre where he often just makes a lot of hit-ups.

 

[Phobia]

All I know is that these are locks:
1. Turbo
2. Saab
3.
4. Garrick
5.
15.

Figure out an arrangement of Hopoate, Talau, Ben and Koula in those remaining three places. Honestly I have no idea what Seibold should do. Someone mentioned Talau once played 13 in juniors? Running him in the middle like Dylan Walker is an interesting prospect if true, just don't know if he has the mass for it just yet. Don't want him to undo the weight loss that has put him in such great form.

I did not see any of this coming at the start of the season.

Winger/Lock would be quite the interesting resume for Talau.

 

[danny-boy]

Seibold ain’t dropping our best player
Seibold ain’t dropping our goal kicker
Seibold ain’t dropping our leading try scorer
Seibold ain’t dropping our fastest player
Seibold ain’t dropping our best rookie

man what a dilemma.

 

[Sheikheagle]

I think Siebs will take a page from Bellamy’s book & put Hoppa on the bench like Bellamy has done with Fa’alogo. Always good to have cover when we have Turbo in the team anyway

Yeah agree.he will possibly carry a back. Between Hoppa & Talau.