snowman
Total gronk
Both my predictions will be based on the assumption of team selection going the way I hope it will go.
#1 David Fifita.
I'm backing David in for a huge year and for him to fully cement his spot in the team week in week out. To me, the whole Taga starting experience is past it's used by date. David has much more natural talent as an out and out prop and with a lot of our forwards being able to play big minutes, I think we can afford to have David in the team as a luxury who only punches out 40 or so minutes a game. Big Dave is just as damaging as a runner as Andrew is but in a different style. More so powerful rather than the finesse and x-factor Andrew can bring.
I can see Dave being a wrecking ball through the middle of the field, gaining huge chunks of metres for us and in turn will help Maloney/Chad/Ennis feed the backs quickly off fast play the balls. Our pack is small, but with both the Fifitas fit and firing, that isn't so much of a problem. For mine, I can't see how anyone leaves David out of the top 17 for round 1. All he needs is consistent playing time and the bloke will become a very viable option for us.
#2 Gerard Beale
I'm making the premise of this pick based on the hope he will be left centre outside of Maloney/Wade. With Maloney hopefully straightening our attack, I can see a big year for that left hand side attack, especially Gerard. Beale has always struck me as a player who is good, but plays at a rep level when surrounded by superior talent inside him and that's exactly what he will have with Maloney. I mean there no coincidence that even when struggling for form Beale still would get picked in the NZ side, it's because he needs the quality around him to really lift his game.
At times last season Bird really stifled Beales chances to make the most of opportunities out wide. With a half that plays so direct as Maloney, holes will open up for Beale and I think we will see many more tries out of him this season. The 'Specialist Try Assist' label will be taken off and some of you guys will realise how good a player he is. Well, I hope so anyway.
just on the bolded, but chad was playing left side at the warriors, but i really hope we dont play left side/right side bull**** and just let our halves do their thing