HaroldBishop
Megalodon
We had attack all over the park in that team, not sure that's the case now.
Predicted Round 1 team
- Thread starter andrew's_sharks
- Start date
Barba - Kennedy
Feki - Ronnie
Leutele - Tracey
Bird - Ramien
Val - Katoa
I'd say advantage 2016 but not by a huge margin
Maloney - Moylan/Trindall
Chad - Hynes
Hopefully advantage 2022
Gallen - McInnes
Lewis - Nikora
Graham (working) - Graham (broken)
Fifita (working) - Finucane
Ennis - Brailey
Prior - Rudolf
Advantage 2016 but the big difference is we are actually paying more for broken versions of Graham and Fifita now than working versions then.
If we could get value from or spend that money we probably should have comparable attack around the park. Maybe 2023...
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
I reckon you're being pretty generous there mate.
Barba - Kennedy - No knock on Will but 2016 Barba is way superior at this stage
Feki - Ronnie - Not much in it
Leutele - Tracey - Not much in it
Bird - Ramien - 2016 Bird for mine much better than what Jesse has produced since returning
Val - Katoa - I like Katoa but 2016 Val far superior
I'd say advantage 2016 but not by a huge margin - advantage 2016 by a fair way imo
Maloney - Moylan/Trindall - Maloney way better
Chad - Hynes - We're in trouble if Nicho isn't better!
Hopefully advantage 2022 - Hopefully
Gallen - McInnes
Lewis - Nikora
Graham (working) - Graham (broken)
Fifita (working) - Finucane
Ennis - Brailey
Prior - Rudolf
The 2022 forward pack doesn't even come close to 2016 imo.
Keep in mind we are comparing the best of 2016 to 2022 which hasn't happened. Yeah Kennedy and Katoa won't match their opponents but hopefully Ramien can and the other two can even surpass. As far as 'attack all over the park' Tracey and Ronnie should be more likely to generate attack than Feki/Lutes.
Halves Maloney way better but as you said hopefully Hynes way better so hopefully balance means better pairing in 2022, but even more than backs 2022 has a lot of questions vs known quantity of 2016 (and they had better forward pack).
Forwards yeah I agree we are well behind, as I said a lot of that is the Graham Fifita thing. Put peak them back in the side and we'd be a far stronger team. Lewis and Ennis also much better than their counterparts but 2022 bench has potential to be stronger than 2016 bench so I have it a bit closer (like most of the other assessments, on 'potential'). Gallen and McInnes and changing role of lock I think (hope) probably even-ish. Prior D was great but from an attack perspective Rudolf probably not significantly worse than Prior.
If most of the 2022 guys only play as well as 2021 or worse then yeah, they are well and truly smoked by the 2016 side.
And we will probably not make the 8. If you want to compare the best of 2016 to average form of 2021 then they get swept pretty hard.
I think, optimistically, there is a realistic possibility we have comparable 'attack all over the park' even if total strength of team is still likely lower.
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Gards
Jaws
Hard to squeeze everyone I want in but providing all fit. Not a prediction as Fitz side will not look like this in many ways.
1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Ramien
4. Ronnie
5. Ikavalu
6. Hynes (can cut out Ramien and feed Katoa like SJ did)
7. Trindall (Goal Kicker)
8. Finucane (Captain)
9. Brailey
10. BHU
11. Wilton
12. Wade
13. McInnes
14. Talakai
15. Hunt
16. Jack Williams
17. Tracey
18. Rudolf
19. Tolman
20. Metcalf
21. Moylan
Rudulf hasn't been that special of late and his defense isn't where it should be. Moylan likely gunna get injured and disrupt the team otherwise I might find a spot for him.
I'm still a big BHU fan, he wasn't as bad as some fans said last season. Still has so much upside and Fifita like potential. Gets his fitness and consistency right he is a weapon and still put together some strong stints last season. Adds more size to our pack, Dale & Rudolf bit on the lighter side of Prop forwards and when you factor in the forwards on our bench
1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Ramien
4. Ronnie
5. Ikavalu
6. Hynes (can cut out Ramien and feed Katoa like SJ did)
7. Trindall (Goal Kicker)
8. Finucane (Captain)
9. Brailey
10. BHU
11. Wilton
12. Wade
13. McInnes
14. Talakai
15. Hunt
16. Jack Williams
17. Tracey
18. Rudolf
19. Tolman
20. Metcalf
21. Moylan
Rudulf hasn't been that special of late and his defense isn't where it should be. Moylan likely gunna get injured and disrupt the team otherwise I might find a spot for him.
I'm still a big BHU fan, he wasn't as bad as some fans said last season. Still has so much upside and Fifita like potential. Gets his fitness and consistency right he is a weapon and still put together some strong stints last season. Adds more size to our pack, Dale & Rudolf bit on the lighter side of Prop forwards and when you factor in the forwards on our bench
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Sparkles
Jaws
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Even if it works
Sparkles
Jaws
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Have to agree. Though would we say the same thing if we looked at those players with just their history up to the start of 2016 to compare? Guess I'm trying to say that hopefully we'll look at this crop of players through the lense of a GF win at the end of this year and that comparison will be more like for like
stormshark
Jaws
Still our forwards for mine cld be Brittle, I'm ok with the crop of backs. Probably 4 players short plug and replace for a tilt-2 yrs away, and luck, from a 4th spot IMHO
CrazyMatt
Jaws
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.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Agree but that was Gards' team, not what he thinks it will be.
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
Gards
Jaws
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.
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
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CrazyMatt
Jaws
Sir Chadley
Jaws
Does anyone think Metcalf is any chance of getting a run? I know he has signed elsewhere but surely his speed would help. He also has a good passing game, he threw a couple I remember in the few games he played.
stormshark
Jaws
Definitely, i can see him in within the first 6 games. Risk/Reward footy player, good if we look like short on points after the first few games. Especially with Moyzas injury history.
Thanks Gards
Just making a convo of it as I'd have to see them train there myself to really have a proper guess as which way around I'd play them.
I think from an outside perspective pretty hard to judge.
Sounds like you are interested in hiding Ronnie's deficiencies more than anything, and I don't know that shifting to centre will inherently fix defensive decision making.
For reference Iku does make some terrible reads and have periods of shocking handling also. Roosters fans used to hope he'd score more than he leaked, with the expectation he would leak some. He was more like a Hiroti for Roosters than someone they 'stuck with' and have since actually released him.
This is prime Iku right here, keep an eye out he is pretty prevalent
I do also think Ronnie doesn't take hitups as well as he kick returns as he can tend to run too upright which is a concern for me for him as centre, we are taking some of his best runs off him. But Iku also does some of his best work as a kick return meter eater which may not carry through to centre as well.
A tough choice I expect if Tracey doesn't just lock it down for himself.
Just making a convo of it as I'd have to see them train there myself to really have a proper guess as which way around I'd play them.
I think from an outside perspective pretty hard to judge.
Sounds like you are interested in hiding Ronnie's deficiencies more than anything, and I don't know that shifting to centre will inherently fix defensive decision making.
For reference Iku does make some terrible reads and have periods of shocking handling also. Roosters fans used to hope he'd score more than he leaked, with the expectation he would leak some. He was more like a Hiroti for Roosters than someone they 'stuck with' and have since actually released him.
This is prime Iku right here, keep an eye out he is pretty prevalent
I do also think Ronnie doesn't take hitups as well as he kick returns as he can tend to run too upright which is a concern for me for him as centre, we are taking some of his best runs off him. But Iku also does some of his best work as a kick return meter eater which may not carry through to centre as well.
A tough choice I expect if Tracey doesn't just lock it down for himself.
Backup fullback, 4th choice half
May be named in 21 a lot but will take injuries to get games I think
Although I'd be tempted to strongly consider him for a 14 jersey if Trindall was starting. I don't love Moyza as a 14
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Tiger Shark
Jaws
Perhaps but I think it's going to take injuries or poor form before it happens.
Not only because he's not part of our future plans but I think Moylan and Tracey are a head of him for that 14 jersey. And I don't him cracking the 13 again unless there is injuries.
BurgoShark
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2017 - Centre
2018 - Split about 50/50
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Start of 2019 in Flegg.
That settles it then. We know how trustworthy they are.
About as trustworthy as my other source, 'roosters fans'