It will be interesting now that Walker will be ready to go for our next match. Will Barrett drop Uate and keep Suli in the run on side?
We know Uate is gone next year, we know this year is lost, is there any point keeping Uate in the side? I’d rather give Suli his spot when Dylan comes back. If The NRL continues to block Fainu, will Barrett put Hodko in the 9 and play Dylan in the 6 again?
You would expect to see Tom Wright stay in the side or will he give M Wright the utility spot? With Tanginoa coming back, you’d expect him to take a spot on the bench meaning we won’t carry two backs on the bench surely.
Very interesting team selection for round 16.
I'm not convinced we should even be thinking about Suli as a winger. We'd be replacing one winger with grease like hands, no aerial ability, some bad defensive reads, but still has speed and isn't lazy.....with a centre who is basically exactly the same, but slower and is lazy.
Regardless that Uate is going, I would rather have him than Suli out there. We're still trying to avoid the wooden spoon here. And unlike the AFL with their draft, there is no incentive like first draft pick to want to finish last in the NRL.
Personally, when Walks is back I wouldn't actually have Suli even in the 17 right now. I don't think he's done anywhere near enough to justify keeping him in first grade. Lets be honest, while Tom Wright's defence needs a lot of work, he did more in 60 or so minutes on Saturday night than Suli has done in 6 games filling in for Walker at centre.
The NRL will only continue to block Fainu while they say we still have a full squad. That is why everyone is hoping like hell that Hastings and Huddersfield join hands in holy matrimony before the Penrith game, freeing up a spot so that Fainu can be brought in.
All things going well, Walks back, the rep players coming through this weekend uninjured, and Hastings replaced by Fainu, if I was selecting the side for the Penrith game it would be:
T. Trbojevic, Taufua, Walker, Kelly, Uate, Hodkinson, Cherry-Evans, Fonua-Blake, Fainu, Taupau, Thompson, Lane, J. Trbojeivc. Bench - T. Wright, Paseka, Sipley, Winterstein (Frank only if Tanginoa is still out).
Tom Wright, who offers more than Suli, Parker and Matt Wright, can cover the backs and halves while if needed, Hodko or even DCE can cover dummy half.