Rudolf will be in the team mate. Just cant see him being left out. I think BHU’s best work came off the bench, i’d leave him there with Williams and either Talakai or Hunt.
Agree, Rudolf will start but it's not my predicted team that I put down. I like Rudolf I think he is going to get better and really don't mind him starting but I just like BHU more as a big dynamic forward and felt Rudolf was a let down alot of last season though could also argue same about BHU.
They both have defensive issues, especially under fatigue but while BHU can get lazy and arm grab Rudolf can flat out just be caught out of position or fall of tackles although he does play more minutes typically than BHU.
BHU can be good from the bench but has also shown in the past he can be a good starter too provided his fitness and discipline is there.
Hopefully the Fitz pre-season does both of them a world of good attitude, fitness and execution wise.
Can def make a good argument for BHU to start but I'm with you, impact off the bench was hard to contain at times last year.
@Gards what's the deciding factor for Ronnie centre and not Ikuvalu?
My understanding from roosters fans is most of his NSW Cup games were played at centre (before last year), and he has played trials for Roosters at centre just last season, and Fitz would have known centre was questionable for us when he poached him over from Roosters.
Ronnie hasn't played as much centre against men I don't think, and probably not played there at all for a few years.
Additionally Sharks have labelled Ikuvalu a centre on their website (Ronnie still listed as a winger)
Don't take this as me attacking your opinion, just looking for what elements of his game and/or other factors have formed it
My understanding is that Ikuvalu was played as a winger for the Roosters and that is the position he bagged his try's in.
Ronnie is a good finisher as well but rushes in too often leaving an overlap and makes the wrong reads in defense or doesn't effect a tackle - areas Katoa has improved on as a reference. Ronnie is a bit weak in the air on the jump defending as well though like Katoa he can take an absolute speky on occasion but I don't think his hands are as good.
Not sure how Ikuvalu goes in defense on the wing but surely he is better, doubt Roosters would have stuck with him if he is a liability, depth being stretched or not
Ronnie has showed me signs and attributes that he could be a handy centre with time.
He has footwork, energy and an ability to break a tackle and although defending at centre is still a big challenge will have another player around him and won't be the last line of defense on shifts out wide to his side of the field. He will have another player he needs to communicate with though.
Ronnie can sum up a line break and throw the right pass but will still have improvements to be made as he can be hit or miss with passing. Maybe some grubbers on occasion too, something we don't really get from Ramien.
Ronnie will need to work out some lines to run with his playmakers
Drawback is we see less of Ronnie on kick returns though will see less of his spilled balls or dodgy PTB's coming out of trouble as well
Centre might just mature his game a bit too.
I am happy for the 2 of them 2 chop and change during the game provided they don't confuse themselves and maintain a workable combo/comms in attack and defense