Breakout/Standout Year

snowman

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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
 

snowman

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ABshark

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Flano has already gone and said he sees Maloney playing left and Chad being better suited to the right. Which is entirely the wrong way around for Chad IMO.
 
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Looks like we now have a squad more than capable of winning the comp, but is there something missing still?

I sometimes wonder if everyone on here would be even more excited if we had someone else other that Flanno at the helm steering the ship?
 

HaroldBishop

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Looks like we now have a squad more than capable of winning the comp, but is there something missing still?

I sometimes wonder if everyone on here would be even more excited if we had someone else other that Flanno at the helm steering the ship?

A strike centre. I have a feeling we will still see Poly ET there unfortunately.
 
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A strike centre. I have a feeling we will still see Poly ET there unfortunately.

God, I hope not HB. It has to be Bird and Beale. Period. Barba has to be fullback as there's nowhere else to play him. On the bench is a waste. I like Ricky but I feel we'll be more potent with Bird and Beale.
 

ABshark

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Obviously, we still need a harmen. DF and JSL look a good bench combination to me with Heighno adding experience but we only have one bona fide starting prop (unless Gal pulls his head in). Otherwise Prior is the best but not ideal option.

Also concerned that our old forwards will struggle with injury. Heighno and Gal have both had calf trouble - the classic old man injury. Lewy is barely held together by all that strapping tape.

Not awfully enthused by our edge defence either. Chad and Maloney aren't great tacklers. A lot of traffic will go down the Chad/Lewy channel. And even though I was one of the earliest talker-uppers of Chad on here I'm still to be convinced that he does enough. Or, more precisely, does it quick enough.

With Holmes and Barba at the back there's a lot of pressure on Feki (or Gagan/Brown) to get our sets started well. Wonder if we might eventually pay for having short wingers. Might happen in a big game too.

Overall, things are looking pretty good though.
 

shark 101

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Bird at fullback.

I don't think Barba suits our style at all. He is at his best when receiving the ball out the back from sweep plays. Our edge forwards Graham and Lewis don't run those inside shoulder decoy lines. They like early ball to use their footwork and ballplaying ability. Bird will be a beast on kick returns and can rove all over the field.

I also think Feki would kill it at left centre but I cant see him getting a run there
 

ABshark

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Fair points shark 101. I agree that Bird would/will be suited to fullback.
 
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I think Feki is going to go to another level, while I know wingers rarely get MOM awards I think he is ready to be noticed by the general rugby league fan outside of us sharks fans.
 
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