Predicted Round 1 team

[Western Sharkie]

Ok, challenge accepted.
I’d go with…….

3. Ronnie (I think he can really own the centre spot and Tracey isn’t really a centre IMHO. a good stop gap but not a true centre)
5. Iku
8. Rudolph
10. BHU

14. Tracey (I dont think Metcalf made a good enough impression to take a utility spot).
15. Talakai
16. Williams ( I think he can take Tolman’s spot on the bench)
17. Hunt (Fifita went well last night, but I feel Hunt is ahead)

 

[bort]

What’s a true centre?

Seems like they are all a wannabe fullback, wannabe 5/8 or young second rower who hasn’t grown enough yet

 

[Sparkles]

So, looking like no Wade. That moves Wilton off the bench to start. Finucane plays 13.

Discussion now becomes…

3.
5.
8.
10.
*
14.
15.
16.
17.

Tracey, Mulitalo and Rudolf get 3 of those spots, which means you need to decide whether Tracey is a centre or a benchie, and pick 5 from this list.

Tolman
BHU
Williams
Hunt
*
Talakai
Fifita
Pele
Ikuvalu
Berrell
Colquhoun (would need a contract)

I’ll take the first 4, and Berrell. He didn’t impress me that much in the trials, but he is a solid defender, and ideally he is only playing 10-15 minutes maximum. He is a much better option at 9/6/13 than Tracey. If Trindall wasn’t suspended I’ve have him in that spot.

Colquhoun, Fifita, Talakai and Pele I’m sure could all do the job if called in, but I’d like to see those 4 guys all rack up some big minutes in NSW Cup.

I know they're just trials... but....
I think BHU could handle a starting spot. Thought his first trial was good, and this one even better. He really was an enforcer and attacking threat. Also made 24 tackles with none missed. Didn't looked as gassed as I've seen him (because of the workload feeling much better distributed across the team? Playing smarter and harder!) so I think he could take on some extra minutes.

If that all proved true, I guess he'd take Fifs spot (based on the trial game).

Actually, checking the stats, he played 80...

 

[Sparkles]

Ok, challenge accepted.
I’d go with…….

3. Ronnie (I think he can really own the centre spot and Tracey isn’t really a centre IMHO. a good stop gap but not a true centre)
5. Iku
8. Rudolph
10. BHU

14. Tracey (I dont think Metcalf made a good enough impression to take a utility spot).
15. Talakai
16. Williams ( I think he can take Tolman’s spot on the bench)
17. Hunt (Fifita went well last night, but I feel Hunt is ahead)

Didn't see anything from Ikkie to push out Tracey

 

[Western Sharkie]

I know they're just trials... but....
I think BHU could handle a starting spot. Thought his first trial was good, and this one even better. He really was an enforcer and attacking threat. Also made 24 tackles with none missed. Didn't looked as gassed as I've seen him (because of the workload feeling much better distributed across the team? Playing smarter and harder!) so I think he could take on some extra minutes.

If that all proved true, I guess he'd take Fifs spot (based on the trial game).

Actually, checking the stats, he played 80...

View attachment 26927

According to those stats, so did Wade, Dale and Iku and we know that they didn’t.

plus got 10 in the bin.

just goes to show. Stats are misleading…..

 

[Sparkles]

According to those stats, so did Wade, Dale and Iku and we know that they didn’t.

Can't get anything past you mate

 

[BurgoShark]

What’s a true centre?

Seems like they are all a wannabe fullback, wannabe 5/8 or young second rower who hasn’t grown enough yet

Someone who is playing centre while also being happy earning their current wage

I think people get fixated on what a body shape should be for a position. I've seen junior centres carve up oppositions in rep trials and not be picked because "they are not big enough to play centre".

If he is defending well, troubling the defence, making plenty of yards out of his own and and setting up his winger occasionally - who cares what his body shape is? Defence is a work in progress for Tracey, but the bloke will run through a brick wall and he's certainly quick enough and dangerous enough with the ball to trouble his opposite number.

He's not a "strike" centre like Olam, Ramien, Staggs or Best. So what? Most blokes aren't.

 

[Sparkles]

Someone who is playing centre while also being happy earning their current wage

I think people get fixated on what a body shape should be for a position. I've seen junior centres carve up oppositions in rep trials and not be picked because "they are not big enough to play centre".

If he is defending well, troubling the defence, making plenty of yards out of his own and and setting up his winger occasionally - who cares what his body shape is? Defence is a work in progress for Tracey, but the bloke will run through a brick wall and he's certainly quick enough and dangerous enough with the ball to trouble his opposite number.

I'd add to that his ability to maintain peak intensity for the full 80 (which is pretty intense!). The try he almost scored/setup (I don't think he knew which it was going to be either!) late in the game came about because he was still at top speed. Granted he had a break this time around, but it's crazy how he can start and end the game at that level. Would love to see his tracker stats

 

[Gal The Goat]

I actually thought Tracey looked more the part now, I think he has put a little bit of weight on.

Had some good powerful runs too

 

[bort]

I'd add to that his ability to maintain peak intensity for the full 80 (which is pretty intense!). The try he almost scored/setup (I don't think he knew which it was going to be either!) late in the game came about because he was still at top speed. Granted he had a break this time around, but it's crazy how he can start and end the game at that level. Would love to see his tracker stats

Yeah if that ball rolls a fraction more backwards it's an awesome effort and a try for Sharks.

Ronnie looked good there and I am happy to consider him at centre, just not because Tracey 'doesn't look like a centre' when he just played a game where he looked perfectly fine at centre to me.

The question is almost not Ronnie vs Tracey but whether we want Ikuvalu in the side.
2 Ikuvalu 3 Ronnie 14 Tracey vs 2 Ronnie 3 Tracey 14 Trindall/Berrell/Prop

 

[Sir Chadley]

Yes it's a real interesting situation and a good one for Fitz to have.

I was ready to put Ronnie in the 3 jersey with Ikavulu on the wing but he wasn't overly impressive when he came on so perhaps Connor deserves to retain the number 3 jersey for Round 1. Then it will be his to lose. It's good there are options so that the pressure is on to play well and there is good competition for all spots.

 

[Rob]

Tracey didn’t get many chances to impress or disappoint. But was very solid in what chances he got.
I like his speed of the mark and some of the fastest play the balls in the comp that lead to great momentum.
It’s his to lose imo.
Nothing against Ronaldo who I think will make a great Center as well.

 

[BurgoShark]

Yes it's a real interesting situation and a good one for Fitz to have.

I was ready to put Ronnie in the 3 jersey with Ikavulu on the wing but he wasn't overly impressive when he came on so perhaps Connor deserves to retain the number 3 jersey for Round 1. Then it will be his to lose. It's good there are options so that the pressure is on to play well and there is good competition for all spots.

The way the refs are going, someone will be suspended by round 3 anyway so the decision will be out of Fitz's hands. Some of the stuff getting put on report in the trials wouldn't see a penalty blown in the local under 10's.

 

[Sparkles]

Yeah if that ball rolls a fraction more backwards it's an awesome effort and a try for Sharks.

Ronnie looked good there and I am happy to consider him at centre, just not because Tracey 'doesn't look like a centre' when he just played a game where he looked perfectly fine at centre to me.

The question is almost not Ronnie vs Tracey but whether we want Ikuvalu in the side.
2 Ikuvalu 3 Ronnie 14 Tracey vs 2 Ronnie 3 Tracey 14 Trindall/Berrell/Prop

There's also Tracey taking Ronnie's wing spot, which could also work. Ronnie can still get out wide to bat kicks back to Kennedy as needed.
Based on seeing a full 30 seconds of Ikkie, I couldn't put him on the field ahead of anyone else

 

[HaroldBishop]

The way the refs are going, someone will be suspended by round 3 anyway so the decision will be out of Fitz's hands. Some of the stuff getting put on report in the trials wouldn't see a penalty blown in the local under 10's.

It's ridiculous, hopefully it doesn't last.

 

[bort]

There's also Tracey taking Ronnie's wing spot, which could also work. Ronnie can still get out wide to bat kicks back to Kennedy as needed.
Based on seeing a full 30 seconds of Ikkie, I couldn't put him on the field ahead of anyone else

You definitely could do that although I'd assume that's option 3.
If I remember correctly there was some comment about Tracey and Ronnie doing some switching around during games to give different looks

 

[Super Impose]

You definitely could do that although I'd assume that's option 3.
If I remember correctly there was some comment about Tracey and Ronnie doing some switching around during games to give different looks

Yes I read this too and like the option …

 

[Gumby]

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronnie
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Tolman
9. Brailey
10. Uele
11. Nikora
12. Williams
13. Finucane

14. Talakai
15. Frudolph
16. Hunt
17. Wilton

I’d go with that for round 1.

 

[Sparkles]

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronnie
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Tolman
9. Brailey
10. Uele
11. Nikora
12. Williams
13. Finucane

14. Talakai
15. Frudolph
16. Hunt
17. Wilton

I’d go with that for round 1.

Wouldn't be surprised if you get bingo there Gumby

 

[Rob]

I thought Williams could be out for a week or 2?