First Qualifying Final, 2012 NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Canberra Raiders @ Canberra Stadium, Sunday 9th September @ 4:00pm

[Gards]

It's probably to keep the opposition guessing more than anything. He'd probably be better off naming 101 backs though, if that's his aim.

Do teams really care if we are undecided on blokes like Stapo,Ike, Taga ect. It's not going to send them shivering in their boots to change their game plan.
That's the joke of it all, if you have a team of superstars ok, mess with the opposition but we dont

"Ok guys the Sharks have brought in Nathan Stapelton over John Williams, now we need to prepare for them to drop one more ball per half out wide"

 

[ragzouken]

"Ok guys the Sharks have brought in Nathan Stapelton over John Williams, now we need to prepare for them to drop one more ball per half out wide"

:cheers

 

[Super Impose]

Ben Pomeroy has been named and will contest his charge at the judiciary on Wednesday night. The Sharks are also boosted by the return of Wade Graham and Mark Taufua on the bench, while Sam Tagataese is another new face in the squad.

| ELIMINATION FINAL TEAM LIST |
1. Matthew WRIGHT
2. John WILLIAMS
3. Ben POMEROY
4. Colin BEST
5. Nathan STAPLETON
6. Todd CARNEY
7. Jeff ROBSON
8. Bryce GIBBS
9. Isaac DE GOIS
10. Ben ROSS
11. Jeremy SMITH
12. Anthony TUPOU
13. Paul GALLEN ©
Bench:
14. Andrew FIFITA
15. Mark TAUFUA
16. John MORRIS
17. Jayson BUKUYA
18. Tyson FRIZELL
19. Sam TAGATAESE
20. Wade GRAHAM
Coach: Shane FLANAGAN

I think Ike will play fullback and Wright will go to Hot Dogs wing.

The fact that Taga is named tells me there is a couple of injuries in the forwards, quite possibly Smith.Hope i am wrong.

 

[ABshark]

Do we even have a #21?

And will it fit Gards?

Big questions.

 

[sharkyboy]

Nerves of team selections and the game itself are going to kill me

 

[Born&bred]

Do teams really care if we are undecided on blokes like Stapo,Ike, Taga ect. It's not going to send them shivering in their boots to change their game plan.
That's the joke of it all, if you have a team of superstars ok, mess with the opposition but we dont

"Ok guys the Sharks have brought in Nathan Stapelton over John Williams, now we need to prepare for them to drop one more ball per half out wide"

Stapo should be nowhere near this side. Wright shouldn't be anywhere either.

 

[JimBob]

As I said I wouldn't mind a bench of;

14. Fifita (Currently our X factor and my god he is in some tremendous form)
15. Taufua (We need to our muscle their pack and Taufua's the man for the job, nothing flashy, just a hard worker)
16. Morris (I'd prefer him to start but if he can continue his recent form he will be a key asset)
20. Frizzel (He's been in to good of form to be left out of the team)

AND before you all bitch saying "where's Wade idiot!?!" I would have Wade starting with Toops dropping off.

 

[JimBob]

Stapo should be nowhere near this side. Wright shouldn't be anywhere either.

Who would you replace them with then?

It's easy to bitch about them but they're the best we have.

 

[Born&bred]

Who would you replace them with then?

It's easy to bitch about them but they're the best we have.

You think they're the best we have?

I was halfway through posting a response to that, but OMG - you actually think they're good apparently.

I apologise for interfering with your wet dream.

 

[josh11223344]

As I said I wouldn't mind a bench of;

14. Fifita (Currently our X factor and my god he is in some tremendous form)
15. Taufua (We need to our muscle their pack and Taufua's the man for the job, nothing flashy, just a hard worker)
16. Morris (I'd prefer him to start but if he can continue his recent form he will be a key asset)
20. Frizzel (He's been in to good of form to be left out of the team)

How could you possibly leave toops out?

AND before you all bitch saying "where's Wade idiot!?!" I would have Wade starting with Toops dropping off.

 

[ABshark]

Looking at the team list. And the Raiders one.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one J. Bukuya line up at right centre. Wouldn't be the first time a coach has gone with his most mobile backrower in the threequarters for a big game. Lewis Brown last year, Alex Glenn for the Broncs... I remember David Stagg playing in the centres for in the '06 granny.

Tupou starting in the second row, bench of Fifita, Morris, Graham and Frizell/Taufua/Tagataese.

Hope it happens actually. I think he would mash Croker.

 

[stevekneen10]

Looking at the team list. And the Raiders one.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one J. Bukuya line up at right centre. Wouldn't be the first time a coach has gone with his most mobile backrower in the threequarters for a big game. Lewis Brown last year, Alex Glenn for the Broncs... I remember David Stagg playing in the centres for in the '06 granny.

Tupou starting in the second row, bench of Fifita, Morris, Graham and Frizell/Taufua/Tagataese.

Hope it happens actually. I think he would mash Croker.

That could be worth a try, i don't think it weakens the side any, but he's barely changed the side all year, would he be brave enough to do it?

 

[ABshark]

My side:

21) Gardner
1) Wright
3) Best
17) Bukuya
2) Williams
6) Carney
7) Robson
8) Gibbs
9) De Gois
10) Ross
11) Smith
12) Tupou
13) Gallen (c)

14) Fifita
16) Morris
18) Frizell
20) Graham

I'd ask my 7 ruck players for 80 minutes of their very best vintage. I'd look for an up-tempo game with plenty of DH running and lots short passing targeting the Williams/Croker edge. I'd target TLL in D and work him over. Give Graham and Best early ball on the left and let them take on Fergo. Gal to run at McCrone all night and try and draw a brainsnap from him.

Otherwise- same plays, same kicking areas, same tight sets out of our end. If its an arm wrestle we win.

 

[Opeth]

Looking at the team list. And the Raiders one.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one J. Bukuya line up at right centre. Wouldn't be the first time a coach has gone with his most mobile backrower in the threequarters for a big game. Lewis Brown last year, Alex Glenn for the Broncs... I remember David Stagg playing in the centres for in the '06 granny.

Tupou starting in the second row, bench of Fifita, Morris, Graham and Frizell/Taufua/Tagataese.

Hope it happens actually. I think he would mash Croker.

yeah i wouldn't mind if it happened as i have a lot of faith in JB. It's not a massive change in position for him either he's got good foot work and is hard to tackle.

 

[DeathMoth]

with such an abundance of excellent backrowers i'm surprised he hasn't experimented with them at center throughout the year. then again, Pom is pretty much as big as some of those blokes anyway. we'll need some muscle this week that's for sure.

 

[JimBob]

You think they're the best we have?

I was halfway through posting a response to that, but OMG - you actually think they're good apparently.

I apologise for interfering with your wet dream.

You just proved my point.

It's easy to bitch about them but like it or not they're the best we have available.


1. Wright
2. Williams
3. Best
4. Leutele (assuming Poms is suspended)
5. Stapleton

That's the best backline we can use on Sunday.

Or would you prefer

1. Gardner (Just returning from injury, no idea what form he will be in)
2. Mills (Same as Gardner)
3. Best
4. Leutele/Pomeroy
5. Gordon (Play good one week, sucks for the next 5)

 

[A.Snowden]

Lets just hope he doesnt say "well Taga has played centre so we will put him in"

 

[Thresher]

Do teams really care if we are undecided on blokes like Stapo,Ike, Taga ect. It's not going to send them shivering in their boots to change their game plan.
That's the joke of it all, if you have a team of superstars ok, mess with the opposition but we dont

"Ok guys the Sharks have brought in Nathan Stapelton over John Williams, now we need to prepare for them to drop one more ball per half out wide"

well if they had a brain in their head they should, they're all different players, what planet are you from?

 

[Matty C of the Shire]

I was thinking maybe tupou at centre, if Pom is suspended.

 

[CHOGM]

Can we assume poms replacement will come from the squad of 20 when he is suspended?