Strongest 17. : Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:02 pm  

What is everybody's thoughts on our strongest 17? Plenty of time for things to.change as the pre season progresses and regular season approaches.

I missed the game yesterday but from the signings we have made and the players previous reps I would say the following 17 is my strongest at this point.

Smith
Grant
Gibson
Oakes
Ryan
Chisholm
Keyes
Crossley
Hallas
Kirk
Garside
Davies
Minichella

Peltier
Goodall
Hodgson
Johnson

Does anybody know if Kear likes to carry and extra hooker on the bench?

Re: Strongest 17. : Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:59 pm  

Bulls4Champs wrote:

What is everybody's thoughts on our strongest 17? Plenty of time for things to.change as the pre season progresses and regular season approaches.

I missed the game yesterday but from the signings we have made and the players previous reps I would say the following 17 is my strongest at this point.

Smith
Grant
Gibson
Oakes
Ryan
Chisholm
Keyes
Crossley
Hallas
Kirk
Garside
Davies
Minichella

Peltier
Goodall
Hodgson
Johnson

Does anybody know if Kear likes to carry and extra hooker on the bench?

If James Davies is amongst our best 3 back rowers, we need to sign more back rowers.

Incidentally, I don't think he is. But I haven't seen enough of the three loan boys to make a judgement on how good or bad those players are. Sufficed to say I'm not sure where I fit in Lee Smith at the moment. He's not fit enough to be a fullback any more IMO, and is he a better centre than Gibson or Oakes? The only way to fit him in is to play Oakes on the wing, and then you're leaving out a natural winger in the likes of Grant or Brown to do that. I don't think I'd have Smith in as he currently is (I've seen a lot suggesting from Boxing Day that he still looks overweight).

I'm guessing a little on the loan boys, but my current 17 would be:

Pickersgill
Grant
Gibson
Oakes
Ryan
Keyes
Chisholm
Milton
Hallas
Crossley
Garside
Johnson
Minchella
SUBS
Kirk
Wood
Peltier
Butterworth

I'd like to see Pickersgill & Butterworth given plenty of game time as I think they could become very good players and long term spine players. They're ready for a bit more than the odd game here and there. Regulars, but make sure you rest them every few games as to not burn them out, with likes of Lee Smith & Halafihi taking their place.

I haven't included Bustin because I genuinely have never seen him play. I've seen Wood & Johnson a LITTLE, and they're surely better than Davies. If they aren't performing though, give Evan Hodgson some game time.

I should say I don't see this happening, no doubt Smith will be in there somewhere. But this is fantasy footy

Re: Strongest 17. : Wed Dec 27, 2017 9:35 pm  

i think you have hit the nail on the head HC, Kear I am sure will have been told to bring the younger talents on but not overstretch them. By the same logic this therefore means Davies and Smith will play their part during the season.

Re: Strongest 17. : Wed Dec 27, 2017 10:09 pm  

I like Davies personally. I think he is.a strong runner and big hitter. Probably not as mobile as other back row options though.

Re: Strongest 17. : Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:05 am  

Given his position as captain, I'd be surprised to not see Lee Smith on the field most weeks.

Re: Strongest 17. : Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:07 am  

roofaldo2 wrote:

Given his position as captain, I'd be surprised to not see Lee Smith on the field most weeks.

And me too, that's why I say I don't see it happening. But personally if I was picking my strongest team, I don't think he'd be in it unless he shifts some of that gut and starts to move a bit quicker.

[Bullseye]

Re: Strongest 17. : Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:15 am  

I'm not bothered if he's got a gut if he can still play. However fullback is a position that requires a bit of speed and agility so perhaps that is not going to be his position. The days of lardy fullbacks like Ian Wilkinson and Mick Burke are long gone.

If Smith has to play I think he's a centre.

Ryan
Grant
Gibson
Smith
Brown
Keyes
Chisholm
Kirk
Hallas
Crossley
Garside
Hodgson
Minchella

Butterworth
Peltier
Oakes
Wood

Re: Strongest 17. : Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:48 am  

Hard to say at this point as a couple more could still come in. Performances in pre-season will also have an impact. Pickersgill sounded like he had a great game at FB yesterday. Smith's an interesting one. Obviously not the most mobile, and had a mare last time he played FB, but his experience is invaluable. I'd like to see how he fares at FB in a couple of our friendlies as Oakes & Gibson are our best centres. Definitely want to see the Oakes/Ryan partnership flourish even further.

Smith
Grant
Gibson
Oakes
Ryan
Keyes
Chisholm
Kirk
Hallas
Crossley
Johnson
Garside
Minchella

Butterworth
Wood
Peltier
Milton

Re: Strongest 17. : Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:29 am  

It was interesting to hear John Keys saying he believes Kear will bring in a couple of grizzly forwards rather than any more backs as this is Kears way.
I hope he is correct. i think our back line is fine for Division 1 but it would be lovely to get two big nasty forwards to calm the opposition down.

Re: Strongest 17. : Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:37 am  

Wouldn't be surprised to see smith playing in halves a bit early in season to give Chisholm and Keyes the odd week off while there coming back from injury.