Bench

[1978]

At full-strength, I don't seek how Hopoate can be left off bench, for a few reasons:

1. He has been among best players each week
2. He is versatile
3. All teams should have a specialist back on bench for backline cover due to HIAs

Thus, my full-strength team for finals looks like:

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Talau
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Jake
9. Croker
10. Alolai
11. Haumole
12. Lawton (also back-up hooker)
13. Brown

14. Hopoate
15. Paseka
16. Sipley
17. Lodge

18. Burbo

 

[JakeyB789]

Lodge isn't even close to the 17 for mine. Looked slow and almost washed up when he returned from the ACL this year and that's not even factoring in the 12 or so weeks he's missed since doing his bicep. Bullemor absolutely has to be on the bench over him and I'd even have Navale over him at this point.

Agree that Lehi needs to be there permanently now and whichever back doesn't start from 1-5 should be the #14. That might even be Koula when he returns if we miraculously avoid any injuries there in the next 5 weeks!

 

[Rocky]

At full-strength, I don't seek how Hopoate can be left off bench, for a few reasons:

1. He has been among best players each week
2. He is versatile
3. All teams should have a specialist back on bench for backline cover due to HIAs

Thus, my full-strength team for finals looks like:

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Talau
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Jake
9. Croker
10. Alolai
11. Haumole
12. Lawton (also back-up hooker)
13. Brown

14. Hopoate
15. Paseka
16. Sipley
17. Lodge

18. Burbo

I like the starting team but too many lumbering props on the bench.

Prefer to have two out of Burbo, Bully and Navale rather than Lodge and Sipley

 

[madmax]

At full-strength, I don't seek how Hopoate can be left off bench, for a few reasons:

1. He has been among best players each week
2. He is versatile
3. All teams should have a specialist back on bench for backline cover due to HIAs

Thus, my full-strength team for finals looks like:

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Talau
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Jake
9. Croker
10. Alolai
11. Haumole
12. Lawton (also back-up hooker)
13. Brown

14. Hopoate
15. Paseka
16. Sipley
17. Lodge

18. Burbo

Trbo
Saab
Garrick
Koula
Talau
Brooks
DCE
Paseka
Simpkins
Aloiai
Olakau’atu
Lawton
Jrbo
Res: Hoppa, Brown, Sipley, Bully
Simpkins has been great & can play 80, Lawton has been a standout in the back row & can fit in as hooker, Jrbo can play middle if required, Brown & Sipley come on & kick butt, Bully has to be there. His form has been great! Unfortunately Croker’s return is unknown, Lodge will not have match fitness in time, Brbo becomes 18th man!

 

[Eagles4Life]

At full-strength, I don't seek how Hopoate can be left off bench, for a few reasons:

1. He has been among best players each week
2. He is versatile
3. All teams should have a specialist back on bench for backline cover due to HIAs

Thus, my full-strength team for finals looks like:

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Talau
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Jake
9. Croker
10. Alolai
11. Haumole
12. Lawton (also back-up hooker)
13. Brown

14. Hopoate
15. Paseka
16. Sipley
17. Lodge

18. Burbo

I have a similar team @1978 The main differences are in the bench, where I believe we need more mobility and leg speed through smaller more agile forwards. Secondly, I would keep Hopoate at wing, as this worked very well for us last week. I would also put Talau onto the bench instead of Hopoate. The reason for doing this would be to utilise Talau as a key point of difference through the middle. He also covers the outside backs in the event of an injury, but I would love to see him given a D Walker type role when Jake goes into the prop rotation after 20 minutes. Talau has a similar height and weight to Dylan, and I believe he could play 60 minutes effectively in that position. I would almost swap Sipley for Navale as well.

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Hopoate
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Paseka
9. Simpkin
10. Aloiai
11. Haumole
12. Lawton
13. Jake

14. Talau
15. Brown
16. Bullemor
17. Sipley

18. Burbo/Navale

 

[Eagle 1]

At full-strength, I don't seek how Hopoate can be left off bench, for a few reasons:

1. He has been among best players each week
2. He is versatile
3. All teams should have a specialist back on bench for backline cover due to HIAs

Thus, my full-strength team for finals looks like:

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Talau
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Jake
9. Croker
10. Alolai
11. Haumole
12. Lawton (also back-up hooker)
13. Brown

14. Hopoate
15. Paseka
16. Sipley
17. Lodge

18. Burbo

Would be good to be at full strength, but this rarely happens. Maybe by the second last rd when Koula is due back, fingers crossed.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Lodge? No thanks.

What is really disappointing for me at this point is Lawton’s impending departure to the Cowboys. Now that he has strung some games together injury free, he is just type of footballer this team needs; leg speed, mobility, energy and some ball skills.

What a shame he hit form after we told him to look elsewhere.