Cronk/Pearce Watch

Brandy is now Fittlers advisor so that's the end of Fifita unless he comes out and destroys the first few rounds.

Forgot about him. I really do like Jackson and he has never let NSW down - he will 100% be there.
He prob starts with Friz on the bench. Graham becomes the utility/back rower. I would nearly even start graham or jackson at hooker for the first 20 then bring on who ever the hooker will be.

Mighty Fishes wrote:You'd drop Jackson Pieman?

I will admit that NSW have a really good prop rotation! I don't think Fifita will play for you lot again

You couldn't have Jackson ahead of Cordner, Frizz or JTurbo starting, and he offers little off the bench.

McClean and RCG have to be there you'd think on the back of the WC efforts, and Graham too, so I just don't see how he fits JJ in. Plus you've got Chrighton and Brown knocking down the door.

With Maloney moving to the Panthers, if that combo with Cleary fires early, you can pretty much pencil them in know for the halves, and I think it's a great move. Gives the likes of Moylan and Moses to build on the solid years without being thrown in deep straight away, and gives Cleary a real boost of confidence playing along side his experienced halves partner week in week out.

My side at his point in time would be

Tedesco
TTurbo
Mitchell
Bird
Mansour
Maloney
Cleary
Klemmer
Peats/Kourisau/Pearce/King
Woods
Cordner
Frizell
JTurbo

Graham
McClean
RCG
Brown/Chrighton

Qld will still have the superior spine by some Margin, and as long as Smith is there should always be comfortable favourites, as he is so far in front of our hooker it isn't funny, but. I think that side could win.

Pieman wrote:

After watching that world cup, IMO Klemmer is the best prop in the game. He has been amazing.

NSW having Klemmer and Woods starting, with RCG and McLean on the bench - we have a fucking good prop rotation. Fifita's defection might have ended his NSW career too.

Klemmer
?
Woods
Cordner
Friz
Trbo

With a bench of
Graham
Mclean
RCG
?

Far out the NSW pack is outstanding on paper. I really hope that with a new coach, we bring in new halves too. With no Cronk or JT, its the perfect time for NSW to usher in some new halves in Cleary/Moylan/Moses/Keary/ whoever else. We still might lose with Smith and Slater around but gee its a good chance to usher in some new halves.

RCG was unreal too, i was surprised at how hard he seemed to run every single time he got the ball, doesn't always do that at penny, stepped up for rep footy, a good sign

for mine, i'd defs have klem, cordner, jturbo, friz and probably RCG

Mclean still a bit un proven for mine, woods & Graham wouldn't be certainties in my books either, graham cost us dearly with stupidity in game 2 and with the forwards we have now, it might be time to move on from woods, i'd still pick him if picking the team right now but i'm not locked into him

jackson will be hard to drop with how he has played for NSW the last 2 years but it will still be on the cards, freddy is one of those guys who constantly mentioned the work done by him and jturbo that often doesn't get recognized.

Yeah I like Jackson and he has done nothing wrong, but if I was to leave someone out it would be him or Graham. After Graham's world cup performance though you would think he will be there. I mean, woods doesnt automatically make my team but he makes the real team so no point leaving him out.

Really looking forward to seeing crichton play next year.

Tedesco
Mansour
Mitchell or hayne
Bird (Walker if bird isnt right)
TTrbo
One of Pearce/Maloney/Moylan
Cleary
Woods
Peats/api
Klemmer
Cordner
Jackson
JTrbo

Friz
Graham (to possibly start at hooker)
RCG
McLean

The side would have to be pretty close to that you would think, which is a good thing because we have some resemblance of stability, with centre, halves and hooker being the biggest question marks

I personally have never beeen a big Woods fan but you can look him in, he will be picked. Might be right with Jackson also

The certainties are barring injury are:

1. Tedesco
2.
3. Dugan (had a great WC and will go well at Cronulla, will be hard to drop)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Woods
9.
10. Klemmer
11. Cordner
12. Jackson
13. JTurbo

14. Bird (possibly starting, but he will be in the side)
15. Frizell
16. Graham (Same as Dugan)
17.

Barring injury, Mansour and TTrbo are certainties for the wing spots. RCG as well IMO. There is no way they can leave him out after how he played in 2017 and after that world cup campaign

agree re the wings pieman

i personally wouldn't be against 2 specialist hookers, peats starting with api off the bench could work for mine, you'd rather an 80 minute hooker with more utility value on the bench but i think we are just so weak at the position that if we get more quality out of 2 players, it may help bridge that gap


i know picking a older player who has been dropped goes past the general idea of this forum (EG always pick the young ones) but i wouldn't be against going back to Jennings at centre personally.

We are so weak at hooker we should be picking a half

I dont hate jennings there, wouldnt mind if he got picked if he is the form centre. Personally, I want Mitchell to get a start sooner rather than later.

And I agree - I think Mitch Pearce is our best option at hooker and would be starting the game with Jackson or Graham then bringing pearce off the bench to play 9. The big risk there is obv going into the game with no hooker but at this stage, its just about the best option IMO. But yep, I also dont hate the idea of having 2 hookers but I cant see us doing it. Both Peats and Api could do a job, but neither can do it for 80 without totally sacrificing their attack. Pearce should be the utility, with plans to play hooker and back row - and he is there for cover if a half goes down. Starting halfback - never again for NSW but I dont hate the idea of him as a utility/hooker or even starting 6 again.

i think if you were gonna have a forward play hooker for 20 mins (jackson was the guy who was training there if needed this year and has played there at club level), i actually think you're better off starting that way and then let pearce or whoever play the last 60

but we do need to do somthing different, peats tried hard and did his job but i think we need do something else with it, hooker is to critical a position to just have tackle sponge their for 80 minutes, we need some help for our halves.

mitchell needs to grow up, which may happen this offseason, especially playing with cronk. he has brilliant moments but his lapses would be caught out so easily at this level, he could be due for a more consistent approach this year tho.

yeah mate thats what I said, start Graham or Jackson and have pearce on the bench to play most of the rest of the match at hooker, or have a hooker to do it like Api. Totally agree with Peats, the bloke tried hard but had literally no attack. Might as well just play a forward there if the job is to just tackle and tackle and never run the ball.

And yep, I agree r.e Mitchell. He was amazing in moments then had some lapses, generally though he was heaps better after his stint in reggies. I would prob prefer to have him on a wing with TTrbo at centre the more I think about it.

Pieman wrote:Barring injury, Mansour and TTrbo are certainties for the wing spots. RCG as well IMO. There is no way they can leave him out after how he played in 2017 and after that world cup campaign

I don't think you can leave them out but given none played the recent series, none are certainties, even though I agree it is highly likely.

In Peats defence, I'm almost certain Daleys instruction was "give good early service to Pearce, it's his team and his show to run". I'm confident if Fittler says "I want you to p,at what's in front of you and look to run regularly in order to keep the markers honest" I think Peats can do the job. Not to Smoths level, but a better level than having no specialist hooker.

James Roberts. Nothing beats pure speed. Give him a crack

Ice wrote:In Peats defence, I'm almost certain Daleys instruction was "give good early service to Pearce, it's his team and his show to run". I'm confident if Fittler says "I want you to p,at what's in front of you and look to run regularly in order to keep the markers honest" I think Peats can do the job. Not to Smoths level, but a better level than having no specialist hooker.

If that was the instruction, and it was to not run the ball, then it was a fucking stupid instruction.

Did you watch peats play this season? The guy never runs it. He use to have a decent running game when he was younger but over the last season or 2, he has really lost that part of his game. He is still prob the most logical option for NSW though. I am sure Peats can run more if told, but I dont think he can do it while playing 80 and making 50 hard tackles the way he does. If he is to be the hooker again, fine, but we need someone to give him a rest.

Its crazy, Peats, Api, Mcinnes and prob cam king are the front runners for the NSW hooker jersey. Thats not exactly confidence inspiring. Pearce is a better player than all of them and has the skill set to be a very very good hooker.

Ice wrote:

I don't think you can leave them out but given none played the recent series,  none are certainties, even though I agree it is highly likely.

TTrbo at the very least would have been there if he wasnt injured. Mansour may have been picked before TTrbo if he wasnt injured too. Considering the wingers were Brett Morris who is now rep retired, and Fergo who most likely wont get picked again - at least one of them is a certainty, and the other is highly likely. I'll meet you in the middle RCG is 100% going to be there IMO, his impact off the bench is just unreal for the Panthers and was for Aus.

And yep, roberts wouldnt look out of place thats for sure.

A couple of points on all this NSW team dribble from an unbiased QLDer:

- I know he is going to a shit club this year but until his inevitable decline, why would you play your best half (Pearce) at hooker?

- Woods and particularly Klemmer were brilliant in the WC and in general you really have a big advantage over us in the forward pack and should be planning your team around a gameplan of steamrolling us. Wouldn't surprise me if someone like Kasiano has a big start to the year at the Storm and works his way into the team.

- Wade Graham. Fell over the line for 4 tries against a hapless France but did he play another game after that? Not sure why his World Cup 'form' is being spruiked. He's highly talented but until his game matures, I'd have Josh Jackson over Graham every day of the week.

- I like Peats but agree he needs to work on his attack. Sadly (not really) there isn't too many other players putting their hands up. Maybe Wallace will get a shot because he's playing for Freddy's Panthers (even though Freddy somehow seems to like the Roosters more??).

Kasiano had to pick between NZ and QLD (not nsw) and chose NZ (where he did spend the first 14 years of his life). so he won't be playing for the blues

i think RCG just needs to maintain form to wrap up one bench prop spot to me, 4th spot looks wide open


i agree on wade graham, i didn't really notice him in either of games against the poms. he is obviously got enough ability but his brain farts can be costly and did cost us in game 2 directly


i also think we overplay his versaility a bit because he came into grade as a half, he isn't that guy anymore, could maybe still play there at a pinch but you'd think both cordner and jackson are more likely to fill in at other position (hooker, centre etc) if injuries did occur


i think korisau was awesome for manly last year, i think if he keeps playing like that, then he is qualifies as putting his hand up but i'm just not sure he is an 80 minute origin hooker, tho i don't think peats is either which is why i would be open to 2 hookers

Creighton is a special to go to the Roosters now. Apparently three clubs in the running. Souths, Sharks and Roosters and Creighton has said money isn't everything (yeah right) and that whoever presents the best opportunity for him to p,at for NSW and Aus will get the gig, so that is Roosters for sure out of those three.

Oz Sport Mad wrote:A couple of points on all this NSW team dribble from an unbiased QLDer:

- I know he is going to a shit club this year but until his inevitable decline, why would you play your best half (Pearce) at hooker?

- Woods and particularly Klemmer were brilliant in the WC and in general you really have a big advantage over us in the forward pack and should be planning your team around a gameplan of steamrolling us. Wouldn't surprise me if someone like Kasiano has a big start to the year at the Storm and works his way into the team.

- Wade Graham. Fell over the line for 4 tries against a hapless France but did he play another game after that? Not sure why his World Cup 'form' is being spruiked. He's highly talented but until his game matures, I'd have Josh Jackson over Graham every day of the week.

- I like Peats but agree he needs to work on his attack. Sadly (not really) there isn't too many other players putting their hands up. Maybe Wallace will get a shot because he's playing for Freddy's Panthers (even though Freddy somehow seems to like the Roosters more??).

No one wants to put Cleary at hooker? Because he is clearly next in line. Pearce shouldnt get another shot at starting halfback. 6, possibly. Utility, possibly. Starting 7, no. Is cleary ready? Prob not, but with no Cronk or Thurston - this is the best time for him to start what will be his very long rep career. We have played "our best half" at hooker before when we didnt have many options for 9, and I think we should do it again. If he is the best option at 9, and we have another very good (or possibly better) option at 7 - and have very little to pick from in regards to genuine hookers - then we would be silly not to give it a go. I mean, QLD's best half has been playing 6 for years now and no one bat's an eye lid.

With a bench of Graham, RCG, Mclean and Frizzell - what else would you possibly think we would be getting at? Its a massive bench, with Woods and Klemmer starting - there so no other possibility than to play up the middle and try and outmuscle the QLDers, which is what happened in game 1 and for 3/4 of game 2.

Kasiano lol

Graham's defence and intensity was great throughout the tournament, and in the final in particular. I too dont overly rate him as an automatic selection but they seem to like him so you would think he will be there. And yep, cordner would be more likely to go into the centres and jackson would be more likely to go into hooker if there were injuries but graham would be more likely to go into the halves. They like him because he offers that wide kick and a bit of ball playing, which doesnt seem to suit origin that well.

He and Hayne out on the left cost us dearly.

Wallace would be a fine selection, but he too wouldnt have 80 in him at origin level. He is clearly the best attacking hooker out of all of them though. Peats the best defender. Api the best runner, and a very good defender. Pearce however, would be better than all of them playing 9 IMO.