Round 1 side , your best guess

[CRPSI eagle]

1. T Trbojevic
2. R Garrick
3. T Koula
4. T Talau
5. L Hopoate
6. L Brooks
7. D Cherry-Evans (c)
8. T Paseka
9. J Simpkin
10. J Aloiai
11. H Olakau’atu
12. B Trbojevic
13. J Trbojevic

14. J Tevaga
15. E Bullemore
16. N Brown
17. S Taukeiaho

18. C Waddell
19. C Faulalo

Good side! I would start Bully and bench Ben T.

 

[manly al]

Probably more inclined to include Saab for a wing spot if he is again running quite freely , despite Faulalo showing some good touches in the trials and with Lehi apparently slotted in for one wing spot
Also could be a better option to go with Alioia on the bench as a prop option with Bully .
If in some reasonable shape , may just have the motivation to rip in a bit and provide some helpful impetus in the middle . If this does not seem the case , no doubt then Sipps
Hard to say with either Simpkin or Tevaga likely to start as the run on 9 , then one likely on the bench . Guess that Seibold and the coaching staff will have their set reasons on this one .
Probably then Brown at this stage anyway for the remaining bench spot
Remaining spots as per expectation

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Well TLT isn’t far away now , just 5 days

The first one of the year is always the most exciting one ( for me).

 

[philasophigas]

I'd have Lehi at the back Tom in the centres and Garrick on the wing but I'm guessing this will be the team...

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Lehi
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Paseka
9. Tevaga
10. Taukei'aho
11. Olakau'atu
12. Ben T
13. Jake
14. Simpkin
15. Bullemore
16. Aloia
17. Talau

 

[Nambawan]

I'd have Lehi at the back Tom in the centres and Garrick on the wing but I'm guessing this will be the team...

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Lehi
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Paseka
9. Tevaga
10. Taukei'aho
11. Olakau'atu
12. Ben T
13. Jake
14. Simpkin
15. Bullemore
16. Aloia
17. Talau

Can't understand the love for Tevaga by so many posters. For heavens' sakes he is over 30 years old and was punted by the Warriors. Whilst at the Warriors he was never ever considered as a selected dummy-half because they almost always picked two specialists. Occasionally Tevaga did act as a dummy half to cover injuries for short periods but never on a frequent basis. In my view to now pick Tevaga in front of two specialists in Simkins and Chan Tong would send a very negative message. BTW I do concede that Tevaga is now a tough and seasoned forward who no longer is error prone with bad hands. But as Zorba mentioned last Sunday Manly have recruited a host of reserve graders who will achieve little for the club - and Tevaga undoubtedly is one of them.

 

[Phobia]

Can't understand the love for Tevaga by so many posters. For heavens' sakes he is over 30 years old and was punted by the Warriors. Whilst at the Warriors he was never ever considered as a selected dummy-half because they almost always picked two specialists. Occasionally Tevaga did act as a dummy half to cover injuries for short periods but never on a frequent basis. In my view to now pick Tevaga in front of two specialists in Simkins and Chan Tong would send a very negative message. BTW I do concede that Tevaga is now a tough and seasoned forward who no longer is error prone with bad hands. But as Zorba mentioned last Sunday Manly have recruited a host of reserve graders who will achieve little for the club - and Tevaga undoubtedly is one of them.

Tevaga doesn't turn 30 until September. Not sure what you're talking about with regards to him at hooker, in recent years, Egan has been playing close to 80, hence there wasn't much need for Jazz there. Tevaga is certainly better suited to the middle, but can cover hooker for someone like Simpkin for 20 minutes, and that's all he'll ever do here while Simpkin and Croker are fit. I think the people naming him at #9 here, are implying that he plays there for ~20m mins, before moving into the prop rotation.

Manly have recruited a host of "reserve graders" because we needed to replace the "reserve graders" of Lodge, Lawton, Condon, Dias, etc. We underachieved last year, and would've made the Top 4 had we not conceded even some of those massive leads earlier in the year. We can't afford, nor do we need marquee signings right now.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

But as Zorba mentioned last Sunday Manly have recruited a host of reserve graders who will achieve little for the club -

Zorba? Well, I'm relieved to see he's not still bitter about getting punted

 

[southsideeagle]

I'd have Lehi at the back Tom in the centres and Garrick on the wing but I'm guessing this will be the team...

1. Tom
2. Saab
3. Garrick
4. Koula
5. Lehi
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Paseka
9. Tevaga
10. Taukei'aho
11. Olakau'atu
12. Ben T
13. Jake
14. Simpkin
15. Bullemore
16. Aloia
17. Talau

Taukei'aho olakau’atu wtf and then can’t spell Bullemor. Ok difficult to spell and a Johnny come lately

 

[LittleSnake]

If he can't nake the starting side I'd love to see talau on the bench. If no backs go down he could be used as a Dylan walker style middle forward and work over tired forwards.

 

[philasophigas]

Can't understand the love for Tevaga by so many posters. For heavens' sakes he is over 30 years old and was punted by the Warriors. Whilst at the Warriors he was never ever considered as a selected dummy-half because they almost always picked two specialists. Occasionally Tevaga did act as a dummy half to cover injuries for short periods but never on a frequent basis. In my view to now pick Tevaga in front of two specialists in Simkins and Chan Tong would send a very negative message. BTW I do concede that Tevaga is now a tough and seasoned forward who no longer is error prone with bad hands. But as Zorba mentioned last Sunday Manly have recruited a host of reserve graders who will achieve little for the club - and Tevaga undoubtedly is one of them.

I'm guessing the side that will be picked. I have a feeling he will be picked a 9 in Croker's absence.