Your round 1 line up

[Spiral]

Baptiste hasn't really played big minutes the last few years (or ever, really) so imagine he'll be used in 15-20 minute bursts, but would love to see Granny running the ball a hell of a lot more this year. No idea if it's to conserve energy but it's not like he has a crisp passing game to really make up for it. If it means Baptiste upping those to 25-30 min stints, make it happen.

Last year may have been a bit of an anomaly as our forwards did not get us over the advantage line as well as they have in previous years. Hookers tend to benefit from a forward pack that is rolling forward really well so Granville may return to form if that happens.

Fair call. Sometimes a quick dart from DH when the forwards are under pressure can be massive, but too often we resorted to one-out stuff that got us nowhere. Granny needs to take charge in those instances.

 

[MPW_Fanboy]

Baptise is a great signing for us. In the past when Granville has gone off for a spell, we’ve lost that ability to take advantage of fatigued markers and hold them accountable. We’ll now have that for the complete 80 minutes, which with our world class pack is a dangerous weapon to have in the armoury.

 

[rexy]

Yes to Baptiste on the bench because Granny struggles under fatigue. Most teams push a second rower to center to cover injury it's not an issue. 90 percent of our utility's utilisation is at hooker so put a specialist there. Going into a season without a top line Nrl fullback worries me , I feel we will struggle against the better teams whoever we pick , maybe Hampton if I have to choose.

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[Beaves NQ]

Yes to Baptiste on the bench because Granny struggles under fatigue. Most teams push a second rower to center to cover injury it's not an issue. 90 percent of our utility's utilisation is at hooker so put a specialist there. Going into a season without a top line Nrl fullback worries me , I feel we will struggle against the better teams whoever we pick , maybe Hampton if I have to choose.

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Don’t stress mate. The rightful 9th immortal has the fullback issue completley covered.

 

[Heart]

1. Hampton
2. Macdonald
3. Tuala
4. O’Neill
5. Feldt
6. Morgan
7. Clifford
8. McGuire
9. Granville
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Baptiste
15. Bolton
16. Asiata
17. Scott

I like the look of our forward pack on paper. Guys like Cooper, Scott and Bolton may have played on too long though. We’ll see I guess.

 

[CC]

1. Anderson
2. Macdonald
3. Tuala
4. Hampton
5. Feldt
6. Morgan
7. TMM/Clifford
8. McGuire
9. Granville
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Baptiste
15. Molo/Dunn
16. Asiata
17. Scott

 

[TowtruckTronc]

1. Kahu
2. Feldt
3. O’Neill/Tuala
4. Hampton
5. Macdonald
6. Martin
7. Morgan (c)
8. McGuire
9. Granville
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Baptiste
15. Asiata
16. Scott
17. Bolton

18. Jensen
19. Clifford
20. Tuala/O’Neill
21. Molo

If we get Kahu he goes straight to fullback and kicks goals (although i was ok with Hampton having first shot there). Im torn about the centres, i feel like if we had Hampton and Tuala starting there they might get run through in defence. So that’s why i’ve got O’Neill starting.. banking on him being fired up and fighting for his NRL career this season. I wouldn’t be mad if Opacic got a run either. Left field option would be Macdonald in centres and GGM on the wing which again i would be perfectly happy with. We appear to have a lot of depth in the outside backs i just hope one or two of them really take their game to the next level - we need it.

I really really really wanna see Clifford in the halves but i think TMM has earned the first shot there just looking at what he and Morgs did in 2017. The suit each other more in the halves than Morgs and Clifford do. In the future maybe Clifford can play 7 and Morgs can be 6 but for the next year or two at least i think we need Morgs at 7.

The forwards sort themselves out IMO. I’m a big fan of lowe but i can’t find room for him.. he is either 80 mins on an edge or nothing. Baptiste is a lock for the 14. He is a very underrated signing, will help jakey play better (because he’ll have less mins) and help us be a threat around the ruck for 80 mins. Last bench forward spot will be a fight between Bolts, Jensen and Molo.

#cows2019

 

[Dream]

My round 1 team if it was up to me, I think this is the best for balance.

1. TMM
2. Feldt
3. Tuala
4. Kahu
5. Macdonald
6. Clifford
7. Morgan (c)
8. McGuire
9. Baptiste
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Granville
15. Asiata
16. Scott
17. Jensen

Dunn to come in if we need more variety in attack.

I think we'll probably see the following:

1. Kahu
2. Feldt
3. Tuala
4. O'Neill
5. Macdonald
6. TMM
7. Morgan (c)
8. McGuire
9. Granville
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Baptiste
15. Asiata
16. Scott
17. Bolton

 

[MPW_Fanboy]

My round 1 team if it was up to me, I think this is the best for balance.

1. TMM
2. Feldt
3. Tuala
4. Kahu
5. Macdonald
6. Clifford
7. Morgan (c)
8. McGuire
9. Baptiste
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Granville
15. Asiata
16. Scott
17. Jensen

Dunn to come in if we need more variety in attack.

I think we'll probably see the following:

1. Kahu
2. Feldt
3. Tuala
4. O'Neill
5. Macdonald
6. TMM
7. Morgan (c)
8. McGuire
9. Granville
10. McLean
11. Cooper
12. Hess
13. Taumalolo

14. Baptiste
15. Asiata
16. Scott
17. Bolton

Feels so weird seeing Kahu and McGuire now in our 17 given my strong dislike for the donkeys.

 

[Moggy]

Feels so weird seeing Kahu and McGuire now in our 17 given my strong dislike for the donkeys.

At least we can agree on that point

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[bundy bear]

1) TMM
2)Feldt
3)ET
4)Hampton
5)McDonald
6)Morgan
7)Clifford
8)Scott
9)Granville
10)Mclean
11)Cooper
12)Hess
13)JT
14)Baptise
15)McGuire
16)Asiata
17)Bolton

18)Mitch Dunn / Jensen / Ethan Lowe

 

[MPW_Fanboy]

Where does Kahu play for us? Hoping Hampton gets the fullback jersey and Kahu slots into either Tuala or O’neill’s spot in the centres. Think we probably have no choice but to play a relatively full strength side in terms of what we want our spine to look like this weekend in our trial. Should have a clearer picture come Saturday anyway.

 

[Dream]

When talking about Kahu today, Green mentioned centre first, not that that means much.

“He gives us depth at a number of positions, he’s a very good centre and he’s played wing and fullback as well."

Reading BHQ, a lot of fans there rate him at fullback, played really well there when he got a run apparently. They love him too, seems like he's a great club man.

 

[MPW_Fanboy]

When talking about Kahu today, Green mentioned centre first, not that that means much.

“He gives us depth at a number of positions, he’s a very good centre and he’s played wing and fullback as well."

Reading BHQ, a lot of fans there rate him at fullback, played really well there when he got a run apparently. They love him too, seems like he's a great club man.

I’ve never really disliked Kahu despite playing for the donkeys. I remember I discovered a new found respect for him last year I think it was, watching his Vlogs documenting his recovery through his broken jaw. Hard to get attached to him knowing the likelihood that he’ll only be with us for 1 season. That’ll all likely change though once he puts on a massive hit on jack “macdonalds 3 meals a day” bird in the opening exchanges of our round 2 clash.

 

[BDR]

Is the presumption that he will be playing rugby after this year?

 

[MPW_Fanboy]

Is the presumption that he will be playing rugby after this year?

That’s my understanding.

 

[Heart]

Kahu and Macdonald on one side and O’neill Feldt on the other side looks a pretty solid NRL centre- wing line up to me and you are preserving the long term Feldt-O’Neill combo. TMM or Hampton at fullback. I’ve seen worse Cowboys backlines. It’s actually pretty solid and borderline good imo. Depth of ET, Opacic, GGM. We are building nicely.

 

[Spiral]

I’ve seen worse Cowboys backlines.

They'll never reach the heights of Round 16, 2008:



Leading 28-4 after 50 mins at home and got run down by the Bunnies. Glory years!

 

[Dream]

They'll never reach the heights of Round 16, 2008:

View attachment 1245

Leading 28-4 after 50 mins at home and got run down by the Bunnies. Glory years!

The sad thing is Sione's performance in the halves that game was one the better ones of the year.

 

[Prince Ernst of Hanover]

Kahu and Macdonald on one side and O’neill Feldt on the other side looks a pretty solid NRL centre- wing line up to me and you are preserving the long term Feldt-O’Neill combo. TMM or Hampton at fullback. I’ve seen worse Cowboys backlines. It’s actually pretty solid and borderline good imo. Depth of ET, Opacic, GGM. We are building nicely.

Unfortunately this line-up pretty much focuses on established first graders.

Does not allow our younger talent to come through. Just waiting for injuries to occur to established first graders before giving the younger guys a go is one of the reasons we are in the position we are now. Goodness knows how much talent we have lost due to 'remaining loyal' to the established first graders.