If we are to go all the way in 2025 who is in our 17?

[Bearfax]

Can't believe it took me this long to get involved in a YART thread ! We need to get faster all round. Here's what I would run out round one (nothing some favourites aren't there):

01. Tom Trbojevic (picks himself)
02. Jason Saab (best winger at the club)
03. Tolu Koula (needs an improved 2025)
04. Lehi Hopoate (has to be there)
05. Reuben Garrick (back to his best spot)
06. Like Brooks (more consistency required)
07. DCE (picks himself - last year?)
08. Taniela Paseka (best prop at club)
09. Jake Simpkin (we just win when he plays)
10. Ethan Bullemor (2nd best forward st the club)
11. Haumole Olakau'atu (best forward at Manly)
12. Tommy Talau (Dane Halatau mach 2)
13. Caleb Navale (leg speed, intensity, agility)

14. Jake Arthur (can play 3,4,6,7,9,13)
15. Josh Aloiai (needs way more consistency 25)
16. S. Taukeiaho (needs to be forward leader 25)
17. Jazz Tevaga (need to play him)

Depth: Croker, Waddell, Brown, Burbo, Jurbo, MCK, Sipley, Potalo, GCKT, Vaega

Players who shouldn't really get game time: Walsh, Matterson, Condon, James, Faulalo, Schoupp

Where's our best defender, Jurbo.

 

[Ryan]

Where's our best defender, Jurbo.

Too slow. Too heavy now mate. Need to get with the 2025 style of play to break into that top 4. Some tough decisions need to be made.

 

[Ryan]

Hasn't Condon gone to Super League?

Backflip.

 

[Pete W]

View attachment 28913

 

[Pete W]

Too slow. Too heavy now mate. Need to get with the 2025 style of play to break into that top 4. Some tough decisions need to be made.

Yeah....nah

 

[Ryan]

Yeah....nah

The exact mentality that has steered us to an average of 10th-11th for the past 11 years.

 

[manly al]

Jake , inadvertently or otherwise , had a pretty torrid 2024 on the field and understandable that he may have appeared just a little jaded towards season 's end .
Still did not diminish his overall and important value to the side and really can not see that changing in 25 if he can be used in a more measured way and one would think , primarily as a prop .
Just too resilient , competitive and dedicated player not to continue to be a vital cog in the forward line up

 

[Pete W]

The exact mentality that has steered us to an average of 10th-11th for the past 11 years.

I wholeheartedly agree with you re our mobility, speed and creativity issues plaguing our middle third. Whilst I believe Jake's role should be tweaked, to suggest that his selection in our team has been the reason we have regularly missed the finals, is absolutely ludicrous. If anything, without him, we probably would have picked up a spoon by now.

 

[Ryan]

I wholeheartedly agree with you re our mobility, speed and creativity issues plaguing our middle third. Whilst I believe Jake's role should be tweaked, to suggest that his selection in our team has been the reason we have regularly missed the finals, is absolutely ludicrous. If anything, without him, we probably would have picked up a spoon by now.

Not saying his selection by any stretch. But if you look at say Croker, Woods, Brown, Condon etc etc etc it's the culmination (different players at different times) - and even in them, some power forwards are perfectly okay, as long as you get a healthy and balanced mix. By all means, put Jake in there, but surround him with say agile, explosive forwards.

Next year, if we have Jake there, 2-3 of Burbo, Brown, Tevaga should be in NSW Cup.

That's just my view of course in order to speed us up, not just in attack, but also in defense.

 

[sheridanstand78]

Yeah , i think that Burbo can more then hold his own this season and hopefully can even be a bit more influential overall on an edge .
Can 't underestimate his ability to cover centre if the need arises in games but ideally on the lower scale

Everytime Burbo plays centre, he gets totally exposed and we concede far too many points. At best a backrower or bench but please not at Centre!!

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

12. Tommy Talau (Dane Halatau mach 2)

Dene was quite zippy and TT2 would be quick for a forward, but 2 times the speed of sound would be a bit of a stretch 😉

 

[manly al]

Everytime Burbo plays centre, he gets totally exposed and we concede far too many points. At best a backrower or bench but please not at Centre!!

Did try and refer any Burbo to centre situation as strictly cover and in case a starting centre may unfortunately go down .
Really no different to the previous roles of guys like Jetski, Tom Symonds , Beaver and so on .
Could be a difference next season if maybe T T 2 or Lehi are on the bench but not inclined to think that this will eventuate at all or maybe just in some very limited instances

 

[Rocky]

Too slow. Too heavy now mate. Need to get with the 2025 style of play to break into that top 4. Some tough decisions need to be made.

I get your push towards young and mobile...but the disrespect towards Jake is pretty insane. He was picked as NSW captain only 6 months ago.