Ryan
Journey Man
This would be MY team, and reasons why I have put people in certain positions.
01. Brett Stewart
02. Paul Stephenson
03. Steven Bell
04. Ashley Alberts
05. Chris Hicks
06. Michael Monaghan
07. Matt Orford
08. Brent Kite
09. Matt Ballin
10. Jason King
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Steve Menzies
13. Ben Kennedy
14. Shayne Dunley
15. Kylie Leuleuai
16. Adam Cuthbertson
17. Mark Bryant
A few notes. I thought Mark Lennon didn't play very well. Willie Bishop appeared to have much more X-factor. Willie Bishop took the high ball with ease, and had the Benji Marshall factor / stepping ability. That said, Brett Stewart will be our 1st grade fullback. We need more talk from him.
Unfortunately, I don't think Matai is 1st grade standard at this present time. Timana Tahu, and Eric Growthe made him look inexperienced in that 1st final last year, and in the very next game, Soliola and J. Monaghan made him look less than what one would hope for a 1st grader. I would definitely make Alberts our 1st grade Centre.
I thought Steppa looked "solid" next to Bell. Any winger will excel next to him. On the other side, Meaney looked quiet, but that's mostly in my opinion to Matai not giving / feeding him quality ball. I also believe Robertson is biting at his heals. Robertson didn't get the ball that much.
Michael Monaghan played his best football at 5/8 in this trial, standing wide of the ruck. Defensively he was great out wide, and when receiving the ball 2 from the ruck, it gave him a bit more time to weave his magic, and get the pill onto Bell.
I thought Monaghan at 5/8, would weaken our Hooking position. Not so. Matt Ballin stood up, and made me realise that letting Randall go, may NOT have been that bad a thing after all. He was awesome both sides of the ruck. He was aggressive in defence. He created options. He kicked (successfully). I have not seen a Hooker at this club this good since Jim Serdaris. I would instantly make him our 1st string Hooker. Matt Ballin is a 60+ minute player, and I believe this means Dunley could come on and just explode for 20+ minutes.
Jason Wells had a fine game in the 2nd row, but apparently he plays lock and 5/8 as well. His defence was ruthless, but his attack didn't seem to have the flare from what I have read about the guy previously. This would be due to the position he was playing though, but potentially I believe he would make a great defensive 5/8 next to Orford in the same kind of role as Scott Hill at Melbourne. I still think Monaghan showed enough at 5/8 to pip him though.
I guess my biggest ommision is Luke Williamson. Yep, he a reliable work horse, but had NOWHERE near the impact Adam Cuthbertson had on the game. Cuthbo appeared to have the ability to either play Lock, 2nd row, or Prop. He created 2nd phase play relentlessly. I said to a mate at the game, "he's like a Sam Harris, that has just had a motor service, and is now running properly".....He was by FAR, our standout in the game. Similar to how he was the standout against The Comets. Cuthbo also adds a lot of size to the bench.
I believe Rose did enough to put a LOT of pressure on King and Bryant to make sure that if they drop in form at all, he can step up. His lateral defence left a lot to be desired, but his attack, and ability to offload make him a very tough prop.
In a similar way, I think Burns did enough to put a heck of a lot of pressure on Michael Monaghan. Burns was aggresive as all get up. His defence was damaging, and his creative play fair. He has the ability to throw great inside balls, to his runners like Cuthbertson, and the like.
01. Brett Stewart
02. Paul Stephenson
03. Steven Bell
04. Ashley Alberts
05. Chris Hicks
06. Michael Monaghan
07. Matt Orford
08. Brent Kite
09. Matt Ballin
10. Jason King
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Steve Menzies
13. Ben Kennedy
14. Shayne Dunley
15. Kylie Leuleuai
16. Adam Cuthbertson
17. Mark Bryant
A few notes. I thought Mark Lennon didn't play very well. Willie Bishop appeared to have much more X-factor. Willie Bishop took the high ball with ease, and had the Benji Marshall factor / stepping ability. That said, Brett Stewart will be our 1st grade fullback. We need more talk from him.
Unfortunately, I don't think Matai is 1st grade standard at this present time. Timana Tahu, and Eric Growthe made him look inexperienced in that 1st final last year, and in the very next game, Soliola and J. Monaghan made him look less than what one would hope for a 1st grader. I would definitely make Alberts our 1st grade Centre.
I thought Steppa looked "solid" next to Bell. Any winger will excel next to him. On the other side, Meaney looked quiet, but that's mostly in my opinion to Matai not giving / feeding him quality ball. I also believe Robertson is biting at his heals. Robertson didn't get the ball that much.
Michael Monaghan played his best football at 5/8 in this trial, standing wide of the ruck. Defensively he was great out wide, and when receiving the ball 2 from the ruck, it gave him a bit more time to weave his magic, and get the pill onto Bell.
I thought Monaghan at 5/8, would weaken our Hooking position. Not so. Matt Ballin stood up, and made me realise that letting Randall go, may NOT have been that bad a thing after all. He was awesome both sides of the ruck. He was aggressive in defence. He created options. He kicked (successfully). I have not seen a Hooker at this club this good since Jim Serdaris. I would instantly make him our 1st string Hooker. Matt Ballin is a 60+ minute player, and I believe this means Dunley could come on and just explode for 20+ minutes.
Jason Wells had a fine game in the 2nd row, but apparently he plays lock and 5/8 as well. His defence was ruthless, but his attack didn't seem to have the flare from what I have read about the guy previously. This would be due to the position he was playing though, but potentially I believe he would make a great defensive 5/8 next to Orford in the same kind of role as Scott Hill at Melbourne. I still think Monaghan showed enough at 5/8 to pip him though.
I guess my biggest ommision is Luke Williamson. Yep, he a reliable work horse, but had NOWHERE near the impact Adam Cuthbertson had on the game. Cuthbo appeared to have the ability to either play Lock, 2nd row, or Prop. He created 2nd phase play relentlessly. I said to a mate at the game, "he's like a Sam Harris, that has just had a motor service, and is now running properly".....He was by FAR, our standout in the game. Similar to how he was the standout against The Comets. Cuthbo also adds a lot of size to the bench.
I believe Rose did enough to put a LOT of pressure on King and Bryant to make sure that if they drop in form at all, he can step up. His lateral defence left a lot to be desired, but his attack, and ability to offload make him a very tough prop.
In a similar way, I think Burns did enough to put a heck of a lot of pressure on Michael Monaghan. Burns was aggresive as all get up. His defence was damaging, and his creative play fair. He has the ability to throw great inside balls, to his runners like Cuthbertson, and the like.
