Rabbitohs v Sharks Round 1, Sat 14 Mar 2020 @5.30pm NRL Telstra Premiership ANZ Stadium

[Tatus]

My line up looks a little like this
1 Moylan/Morris/Kennedy
2 Morris/Katoa
3 Xerri
4 Ramien
5 Ronaldo
6 SJ
7 Chad
8 Fifita
9 Brailey
10 Woods
11 Nikora
12 Graham
13 Williams

14 Tracey
15 Billy
16 Uele
17 Rudolf

I like both Tracey and Billy as cover. Gives us a bit more breathing room with injuries or players not performing.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Congrats mate, almost as good as starting the gf thread :borat

 

[bort]

Hunts trial form could get him over Billy.
Royce, Toby and Braden are a nice big bench. Toby looks like he might be the bench lock at the moment.

But Billy over Royce does bring more utility and mobility.

Question is how do we play Latrell given we have no good kickers? Maybe lose some distance for height and don’t let him wind up/make takes under pressure

 

[HaroldBishop]

Hunts trial form could get him over Billy.
Royce, Toby and Braden are a nice big bench. Toby looks like he might be the bench lock at the moment.

But Billy over Royce does bring more utility and mobility.

Question is how do we play Latrell given we have no good kickers? Maybe lose some distance for height and don’t let him wind up/make takes under pressure

No good kickers?

 

[Gards]

Woods had some strong games coming off the bench last season IIRC. but who do you start over him? maybe carry another power forward along with Rudolf on the bench over Billy

that number 13 should still be up for grabs if Williams doesn't perform early season. not convinced it should even be his yet but he has some experience on his side over some other prospects

as for kicking to latrell, well Shaun showed last season he is capable of putting up some monster bombs that land just outside the try line. do that and swarm mitchell with defense

I think we will get out coached and outscored in this one but I am actually open minded for getting a rare early round win to kick of 2020. no doubt our youth is a shining light among the mediocrity
need to manage that bench better than 2019 though and bring our A game in defense or it will just be academic

 

[bort]

No good kickers?

Who in our team do you think can reliable pressure a fullback with well place long kicks?

Johnson is our best and he rarely takes any most games.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Who in our team do you think can reliable pressure a fullback with well place long kicks?

Johnson is our best and he rarely takes any most games.

For the most part SJ's long kicking game last year was absolutely outstanding. Let's not talk about the final though.

 

[Gumby]

I did like having woods on the bench but no idea who you could start instead of him?

 

[bort]

I did like having woods on the bench but no idea who you could start instead of him?

Toby I think if he was playing prop not lock. Hunts style could work to start but also too inexperienced and also... doesn’t actually have an NRL contract yet to our knowledge...

As much as I love his impact I’d be tempted to start BHU one game alongside Fifita and see if how Fifi reacts to that.

For the most part SJ's long kicking game last year was absolutely outstanding. Let's not talk about the final though.

To many games we’d be losing field position battles and he would be nowhere to be seen though. Would be good if that changes

 

[snowman]

Who in our team do you think can reliable pressure a fullback with well place long kicks?

Johnson is our best and he rarely takes any most games.

odd isnt it, sj has one of the best kicking games in the comp yet out 9 last year kept giving the ball to chad

hopefully things change this year

 

[kiwishark]

odd isnt it, sj has one of the best kicking games in the comp yet out 9 last year kept giving the ball to chad

hopefully things change this year

that was a major problem a long with going to the short side kicker with no space.

 

[snowman]

agreed mate, brailey gave the ball to our kickers in the worst possible spots

one of the many reasons i am glad he has left

 

[bort]

odd isnt it, sj has one of the best kicking games in the comp yet out 9 last year kept giving the ball to chad

hopefully things change this year

As much as I know you’d like to blame Jayden and/or Chad, and maybe it was either of them, but also could have been directive from coach or SJ not making the effort to shout for it.

Whatever the reason I agree, hopefully more long kicks from SJ this year

that was a major problem a long with going to the short side kicker with no space.

Short side often the winger has to stay in the D line so kicking down that side can be a good tactic. But we definitely tried to go down a very busy short side a few times

 

[Sparkles]

If Chad and SJ are running opposite sides, you might find the 4th tackle option goes SJ's way more often than not. In that case you'd imagine Chad would be ready to receive the ball on the last than SJ.

It's my made up theory and I'm sticking with it...

 

[Patrick]

7 years since we last won a round 1 clash. We gunna win this one?

 

[stormshark]

7 years since we last won a round 1 clash. We gunna win this one?

Yep I reckon, we ambush Rabbits, straight up the middle we go. Low scoring 14-12.

 

[slide rule]

I reckon the 2016 Premiers will take this one easy.

Souths 60-0.

 

[slide rule]

agreed mate, brailey gave the ball to our kickers in the worst possible spots

one of the many reasons i am glad he has left

Maybe he thought he’d pull a hammy if he swung his leg.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

we're gunna get pumped

 

[Tiger Shark]

I think we'll get them. Due a Rd 1 win and with Latrell learning FB I think Souths might take a while to warm up. Though they often start well so what the hell do I know.