So after last night, I would assume we would be looking at something like this for rd 1:
1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Kepaoa
4. Naden
5. Maumalo
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue
14. Pole
15. Twal
16. Bateman
17. Simpkin
Obviously a bit more of a lottery for the bench spots, depending on whether Bateman ever makes it over etc.
So after last night, I would assume we would be looking at something like this for rd 1:
1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Kepaoa
4. Naden
5. Maumalo
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue
14. Pole
15. Twal
16. Bateman
17. Simpkin
Obviously a bit more of a lottery for the bench spots, depending on whether Bateman ever makes it over etc.
It will definitely be very close to that. I'd like to give Matamua another shot at 13 in the next trial as I don't think Joe O is suitable at lock. He's far better as a bench middle.
So after last night, I would assume we would be looking at something like this for rd 1:
1. Laurie
2. Nofoaluma
3. Kepaoa
4. Naden
5. Maumalo
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Blore
13. Ofahengaue
14. Pole
15. Twal
16. Bateman
17. Simpkin
Obviously a bit more of a lottery for the bench spots, depending on whether Bateman ever makes it over etc.
It will definitely be very close to that. I'd like to give Matamua another shot at 13 in the next trial as I don't think Joe O is suitable at lock. He's far better as a bench middle.
Agreed re Joe O, I would have him as starting prop with Klemmer. I think you bench Stefano and rotate him with Klemmer. Twal and Pole to share as substitute props.
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i think centre is a terrible weakness for us, i woukd go with
1. Staines
2. Nofoaluma
3. Doueihi
4. Naden
5. Maumalo
6. Laurie
7. Brooks
8. Utoikamanu
9. Koroisau
10. Klemmer
11. Papali'i
12. Bateman
13. Matamua
14. Pole
15. Twal
16. Jofa
17. Blore / talau
Bateman if he ever arrives can move into centre if we needed him to, and an injury in halves Douihie can move into halves
I’d be keen on giving Stains a go at centre for the next trial. I do think To’a and Maumalo would be a good edge. They played alongside each other for a number of games last season. When it comes to combos. It’s a tough one though. Reilly impressed me with his D the other night.
You’d think it’s Kepaoa, Talau and To’a fighting it out for the other spot (presuming Naden goes ok in next trial).
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Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
Strong side, but I’d swap Bateman and Blore around. Also, I reckon Joe O starts and Stefano off the bench. Tupou would feel disappointed to miss out as well.
So, for me (thinking what Sheens will do):
Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Tupou
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Papalli
Blore
Klemmer
Korisau
Ofahengaue
Bench
Twal
Bateman
Stefano
Simpkin
18th man Staines or Kepaoa
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What do you do if any of the backs are injured?Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
Strong side, but I’d swap Bateman and Blore around. Also, I reckon Joe O starts and Stefano off the bench. Tupou would feel disappointed to miss out as well.
So, for me (thinking what Sheens will do):
Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Tupou
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Papalli
Blore
Klemmer
Korisau
Ofahengaue
Bench
Twal
Bateman
Stefano
Simpkin
18th man Staines or Kepaoa
Pretty much how I see it.Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
What do you do if any of the backs are injured?Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
Strong side, but I’d swap Bateman and Blore around. Also, I reckon Joe O starts and Stefano off the bench. Tupou would feel disappointed to miss out as well.
So, for me (thinking what Sheens will do):
Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Tupou
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Papalli
Blore
Klemmer
Korisau
Ofahengaue
Bench
Twal
Bateman
Stefano
Simpkin
18th man Staines or Kepaoa
Bateman can play in the centres.
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What about a half? For me it’s Staines versatility that gives him the nod right now. He could shift to fullback and a Laurie to half. With Staines and Bateman there you can cover all problems if any should occur. Not ideal but gives you the best options unless you have a back like Kepoa on the bench but I don’t see that happening. Suspect he goes 4 forwards and another for HIA.What do you do if any of the backs are injured?Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
Strong side, but I’d swap Bateman and Blore around. Also, I reckon Joe O starts and Stefano off the bench. Tupou would feel disappointed to miss out as well.
So, for me (thinking what Sheens will do):
Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Tupou
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Papalli
Blore
Klemmer
Korisau
Ofahengaue
Bench
Twal
Bateman
Stefano
Simpkin
18th man Staines or Kepaoa
Bateman can play in the centres.
What's interesting too Joel is that the players have a 3 day weekend now. I think it's fair to expect at least 2 or 3 days of intense training this week, a fair bit of repetition under fatigue. Given there will be a few pretty warm days ahead I think that'll help Sheens decide on whether or not Bateman starts. And the forecast right now for Sunday is a cool kind of day, 22 degrees, of course that could change but you'd assume that would help Bateman as well. And I don't know if you saw the Titans last trial but they look to have a few quick guys there so it's another reason I'd include Staines. But with Shifty you just never can be sure.What do you do if any of the backs are injured?Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Staines
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Bateman
Papali’i
Klemmer
Koroisau
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue, Twal, Blore, Simpkin, Matamua (18)
Strong side, but I’d swap Bateman and Blore around. Also, I reckon Joe O starts and Stefano off the bench. Tupou would feel disappointed to miss out as well.
So, for me (thinking what Sheens will do):
Laurie
Nofoaluma
Naden
Talau
Tupou
Doueihi
Brooks
Pole
Papalli
Blore
Klemmer
Korisau
Ofahengaue
Bench
Twal
Bateman
Stefano
Simpkin
18th man Staines or Kepaoa
Bateman can play in the centres.
I’d go with
1 Daine Laurie
2 David Nofoaluma
3 Brent Naden
4 Thomas Talau
5 Junior Tupou
6 Adam Doueihi
7 Luke Brooks
8 Joe Ofahengaue
9 Api Koroisau (C)
10 David Klemmer
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Shawn Blore
13 John Bateman
14 Charlie Stains
15 Fonua Pole
16 Stefano Utoikamanu
17 Jake Simpkin
others Kepaoa Twal Matamua Seyfarth