No Nicho… disappointing…

I do think that if we dominate that is how it will happen, our line speed and mobility will frustrate the Sharks in attack.

We will have high completions the Critter, Foxy, Xerri and Wilson will make our chances count.

I will be pumped if I see that.

I don't know if he has. 

Not 100% certain to happen and we will find out soon enough.

I would love us to dominate for the full 80, just trying to have realistic expectations.

Unless Critter has trained at fullback there is absolutely no reason to give him a run there tonight…

That’s the spirit!!!..

I think a win in the first half or overall could really give the boys some confidence. But the players don’t care much about the result. 

What I am expecting is that CC will test out the forwards rotation for at least the first 60 mins. Sexton might get a chance earlier and Chrichton might shift to fullback after 40-50 giving Clark a run.

Most of the reserves will get no more than 20 mins, some perhaps less.

The side for round 1 is fairly well set, Sexton having a big game or Critter doing great at fullback might change that if they get a run in those positions. 

I am looking forward to it, I just want to see us be competitive which mostly means not leaking a lot of points in the first half.  Sharks are a side we have struggled with recently, I am happy to have a genuine test.

If the reserves do get a run for the last 20, I don't really care what happens but I expect them to do well and press their claims.

My prediction-
Half-time - Dogs 6 Sharks 14.
60 mjns - Dogs 18 Sharks 24
Full time - Dogs 28 Sharks 30.

I would be happy with that, more happy if we do better.

And reasonably confident about the Slimeys round 1.

A bad loss would not be terminal but it is a hit to our confidence that I want to avoid.

Surprisingly nervous before this trial. 

Tonight will tell us a lot. 

What I really like about Critter is his instincts and reading of the game.

Mortimer and Lamb had that they knew when to concede a penalty,  when to talk to the ref, when the side needed a lift, when the opposition were vulnerable.

Yep Critter is one guy who will be here for a few years....

Hutch, Salmon and Mann closer to the end of their careers.

Lou was an option, but last season the captaincy didn't seem to work for him and Burto, both struggled with their form.

And the 2 captains + club captain didn't seem to translate into good results. At the time it seemed like a good idea.

Overall captaincy did make that much difference either way last season.

A good leader does what Critter described, lifts the team when they need a lift. A spray behind the goal line is often counter-productive IMO. A better message is "let's get that back", good kick chase, good energy, let's force an error and then score.

Players who missed tackles don't need a reminder. 

And even better rally the side, or slow down the game before the opposition score. That might be a verbal message, a good tackle or simply knocking the ball down and diving on it.

The article confused the hell out of me in the first instance… was thinking he was taking RFMs role until it got to the bot about about Lou and Burto…

No complaints here… as you say utter professional… also no baggage… and will let the other two focus on their footy…

Funny how you single out Burto when it was abundantly clear who was the ‘main’ captain on game days…

Hutch isn’t even guaranteed a spot in the 17 the next two years…and very very unlikely to be here beyond that…

As for ‘falling out of position’, hopefully it’s a case of once bitten twice shy for the refs with us…

Not the worst choice. He can't be any worse than Burton in that role.

I would have made Hutch the captain for the next year or two and the selected a long term after the players settled into the team and proven they are here for the long run.

I just feel that someone in the middle of the field can discuss things with the ref without falling out of position. I also feel Hutch is well liked and speaks well. He would have been my choice but Chrichton certainly can do a good a job. 

Crichton captain. Didnt see that coming but… an inspired choice.

The most professional player in the club, bit of a no-brainer really.

Fitness, speed, positioning, communication, ability to read the game are important attributes fora fullback, Taaffe has them.

In the past Perham, DWZ and Hoppa were lacking positioning and speed in particular, .

Averillo was lacking communication, but had speed.

One key thing I noticed in that first trial (which I hope continues) is that Taaffe was thereabouts when our forwards took hitups. He didn't get provided with an offload, but if he keeps doing it (support) someone will get their arms free and set him on his way. 

This is a key reason why I like Taaffe at FB. He supports well. I just hope he doesn't get wasted with that support play to the point he gives up on it.

We become very one dimensional and easy pickings when our forwards cart the ball up, one out with no players in motion or in support.

I'm not sure he is underrated.
It's just that he has never really held one position.
Once he became a utility and journeyman, people couldn't associate him with dny one position and therefore didn't give him credit when he played there.

I can see Hayward mostly playing hooker/ half in reserve grade, 

BBO might be used as an attacking shock weapon off the bench.

It will be interesting to see how well our attack works this game, hopefully we are a threat on both edges and later in the game up the middle.

Agree with all  but another but… I can’t see a place for Hayward and BBO without injuries this year… and we’ve had more than our fair share in recent memory’s…

the other issue for Lou  was he knew his 6 was a marked man cos there was absolutely nothing doing on the other side of the park… 

No need for a back in the bench… Manncrush can definitely cover centre… I’ll say it again… one of the most underrated players in the game by all but his coaches…

I think we can try some interesting rotations.

1. Lock - Salmon -> Mann
2. Hooker Reed off - Curran on at lock, Mann to Hooker.
3.Second row - Kicks off, Curran to the edge - Salmon on.
4. Hooker Mann off- Reed on
5. Kicks on, Curran to prop

I am not sure if this is too many changes but it gives the hard working middle players a rest.

HIA is another opportunity- Salmon can cover HIA for a half, Mann can cover Reed.

Due to HIA we probably want a back on the bench.

The trail side is close to that with Morrin on the bench, and he is yet another mobile high workrate middle.

If we go that way Mann or Salmon probably fill in for an outside back HIA.

Strategy and style wise I like our recruitment and retention and game plan.

We couldn't get some big dynamic props, but we got the best that we could and backed you guys to improve.

The we added a lot of mobile high workrate competitive players, Curran, Salmon and Mann.

We added Hutch for a older more experienced head and a stronger defender at half.

We added Turpin for a good backup hooker option.

So the plan is to be a mobile high workmate team with good completions and to move the ball to move the opposition big guys around. It might always work but at least it is a plan.

Last season Reed had too much to do tried too hard and didn't get enough help in the middle.

This season Salmon, Mann and Curran can help Reed with some of the work in the middle. Mann, BBO or Hayward can come off the bench and give Reed a spell. We probably have the fitness and workrate to give Reed a spell.

Fair point, we are just saving this trail is more of a test.

Only the first 40-50 minutes count, but I always like to win even when the game isn't important.

I agree with Gus Broncos and Panthers were well ahead of other clubs last season, that is a big gap to close.

We are aiming to make the 8 and positions 6-8 are fairly wide open. 

More importantly we just want to see good entertaining competitive footy and an improvement on last season. 

I’m cool with nearly all of that except for “the next trial is the real deal”… it’s a trial… as a bush psychopath err psychologist I contend it ain’t even close to the real deal…

Yeah bloody Burto.. that bloke that in a injury ravaged side that had more TAs than Moses, Brown and Munster last year with only a couple more games… 

Im sure CC has said nothing to Burto… Burto is in charge…

Bloody hell… Steve’s conspiracy is panning out like most do.. 😂

Willow though small has the footwork to make metres returning the ball without needing power…

Gotta see what Curran brings ( he’s my preferred until further notice)… Manncrush and The Fish on the bench is not as dire as it may seem if we can get our kicking game right and play up tempo… with Max fit and the Farmer and Hughes meeting/exceeding expectations…

TTAAFFEE has more runs on the board at 1 than Critter for mine… Our edge defence desperately needs the likes of Critter… and I don’t see Tracey stiffening that D up…

I’ll start worrying about CC come round 10… we have points in us… CC allegedly the defensive guru at Panthers so if we get that bit right it will go a long way…

and never apologise… that’s the only lead out of the Mocks book you should take…

Don't read too much into the trial team or even the round 1 team.

Salmon at lock doesn't surprise me, he gets through a lot of defensive work, which was our primary problem last season.

Wilson is pretty good at making yards running the ball. 

The only thing that caused me to question Cirro was the selection of Perham at fullback.

Jason Taylor is apparently on board and contributing to our attack, it seems improved and players are just forming combinations.

Defence is mostly down to Cirro, it seems to be improved and I understand many of the recruitment and retention decisions.

However, that game against the Storm was more of a warm up and a chance to give some young guys more experience.

This next trial is the real deal.

Taaffe has work to do to cement the fullback position, he is a substantial upgrade from Perham.

Since most of the really good players at the Panthers came through their lower grades, they also didn't have instant success. Our really good young players are 1-2 season away from NRL and 3-5 years away from their peak.

This current team is transitional/rebuilding, much better so far than this time last season. But we still have more work to do and might need better options in a few positions .

At least with this year's squad if things are not working the coach has a few good options to pick from.
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