cf2 is back
Reserve Grader
Picking guys on past reputation is a massive danger.
I believe our best 17 is this:
1. Brett (NER = no explanation required)
2. Oldfield (2nd best winger in club his attack is badly needed)
3. Lyon (NER)
4. Hoppa (can't be left out - note the massive wraps by people like Gus)
5. Wolf (best winger in club)
6. Foran (NER)
7. DCE (NER)
8. King (NER)
9. Ballin (NER)
10. Robinson (2nd best prop in the squad simple as that)
11. Choc (NER)
12. Glenn Stewart (NER - Jersey 12 or 13 makes no diff)
13. Matai (what a great lock he'd make and gives Hoppa centre spot)
14. Rose (need him for 30-40 min a match charges but he MUST get fitter)
15. Buhrer (NER and unlucky not to be starting but still plenty of game time)
16. Kite (and only just - he MUST stop those soft crabby hit ups or be dropped)
17. Harrison (star of future can't be ignored)
(seriously that's one of the best benches in the NRL)
18. Robbo (he's a wonderful player but is now our 3rd best winger IMO)
19. Seu Seu (40 mins of Harrison WAY more valuable than 15 mins Seu Seu esp when Ballin more than capable of playing 80)
20. Guluvao (not in top 17 but with injuries will be used in many games)
21. Rodney (ditto Guluvao - yes he's a tackling machine but so are the young guys like Harrison and Buhrer and their attack is way stronger)
22. Mauro (ditto Guluvao, Rodney - and in fair dinkum dept he's just ok but not amazing)
23. T Rex - not a first grade back and too slow and lazy as a forward = NSW Cup. Yes yes yes the Slater fend and all the tries last year - but he concedes just as many and opposition teams know he's a turnstile. Plus he's triply lazy - 6 hit ups a game (his rd 1 stat v Melb) is unacceptable for a guy his size.
Before anyone slams me for Robbo dropping it's no criticism - he's been incredible in past and always finds the corner with those great dives - but IMO Oldfield is more of an attacking weapon in open play - and it's those kinds of dangerous wingers that change games - look at guys like Blake Ferguson, Talanoa, Tuquiri, etc etc - they scare opposition defences - but does Robbo seriously scare anyone? 2008 was 3 years ago we've gotta move forward.
I believe our best 17 is this:
1. Brett (NER = no explanation required)
2. Oldfield (2nd best winger in club his attack is badly needed)
3. Lyon (NER)
4. Hoppa (can't be left out - note the massive wraps by people like Gus)
5. Wolf (best winger in club)
6. Foran (NER)
7. DCE (NER)
8. King (NER)
9. Ballin (NER)
10. Robinson (2nd best prop in the squad simple as that)
11. Choc (NER)
12. Glenn Stewart (NER - Jersey 12 or 13 makes no diff)
13. Matai (what a great lock he'd make and gives Hoppa centre spot)
14. Rose (need him for 30-40 min a match charges but he MUST get fitter)
15. Buhrer (NER and unlucky not to be starting but still plenty of game time)
16. Kite (and only just - he MUST stop those soft crabby hit ups or be dropped)
17. Harrison (star of future can't be ignored)
(seriously that's one of the best benches in the NRL)
18. Robbo (he's a wonderful player but is now our 3rd best winger IMO)
19. Seu Seu (40 mins of Harrison WAY more valuable than 15 mins Seu Seu esp when Ballin more than capable of playing 80)
20. Guluvao (not in top 17 but with injuries will be used in many games)
21. Rodney (ditto Guluvao - yes he's a tackling machine but so are the young guys like Harrison and Buhrer and their attack is way stronger)
22. Mauro (ditto Guluvao, Rodney - and in fair dinkum dept he's just ok but not amazing)
23. T Rex - not a first grade back and too slow and lazy as a forward = NSW Cup. Yes yes yes the Slater fend and all the tries last year - but he concedes just as many and opposition teams know he's a turnstile. Plus he's triply lazy - 6 hit ups a game (his rd 1 stat v Melb) is unacceptable for a guy his size.
Before anyone slams me for Robbo dropping it's no criticism - he's been incredible in past and always finds the corner with those great dives - but IMO Oldfield is more of an attacking weapon in open play - and it's those kinds of dangerous wingers that change games - look at guys like Blake Ferguson, Talanoa, Tuquiri, etc etc - they scare opposition defences - but does Robbo seriously scare anyone? 2008 was 3 years ago we've gotta move forward.