Sounds like a Joey Manu type then?

Will be interesting to see how Kiks slots into the side.

I am optimistic that Hethro will go well im the backrow.

It is a long time since we have had 3 big powerful 2nd rowers.

Looking forward to the season, I like the look of our side,

Lower grade highlights are available, similar to Manu, keeping in mind Manu is snart and skillful.

I believe the appropriate reply is 'do your own fekking research...

Bring it on ....

A trail after a long off season is like a luke warm beer after 14 days in a hot  dry wilderness..... bloody great...

I  hope the young pups get an extended run in the 2nd half.

Well, Dufty looked good. The rest I’ve seen before… for the past 3 seasons.

But…. it’s only a trial…

I may be stupid, but do I wonder if Burton #7 and Dufty #6 is our best halves in the club.

I guess you can say neither is an “organiser” Dufty’s a ball player, Burton primarily a runner.. who can ball play, and kick.

Correction… maybe BBO. Maybe.

But I doubt this year.

I've only got the highlights and stats to go on.

Newcastle seem closer to a full strength side?

The stats say plenty of dropped ball.

Players are rusty?

A draw was appropriate.
Still concerning that we cannot manufacture anything. Our calibre of players will be the reason we will win more games in 2022 but F ME, we must be the lowest IQ team in the game....

Positives were Dufty, Better go-forward, Josh Cook, Credence Toia.

Negatives were the halves MIA, poor kicking game, low IQ overall, inability to manufacture points no matter how much posession we have.

Lots of work to do im afraid. Need a halfback. A good one. Not a "potential". A proven one. 

Id love for us to have the brains of a DCE or Hunt or similar experienced and top shelf half.

Id like to see Averillo with Burton before i right him off but he was really disappointing tonight. Looked to have no time. Looked premeditated and had no plan B. You cant have a halfback with no plan B. Forwards maybe but not from your halves.

Rusty, humid, pushing passes in trial... knockonbur lived up to his name...
JMK some solid runs at the right time...
Max King had a serious crack...
We will make better use of TPJ as the season plays out...
Wakeham was the better of he and the Armadillo...
Starting forwards aimed up...
Three of our best not running around...
There is hope!!!...

The Revival has some moves...
Let's see what we look like with Burto before letting us anywhere...
Duffy creates a decent amount of space and opportunity when sweeping...
Big week next is for BBO, Wakes, and the Armadillo...

There’s a lot to be happy about.. and a lot not.

The defensive line speed seems a lot more urgent, we were running up, not jogging.

Of players we expect to make a difference - 

Dufty is a very gifted ball player and runner, we know his defensive issues but there were none tonight, best player on the field for his 40 mins. TPJ imposing. Same for Max King, played himself into the 17 pending 2nd trial. JMK looked sharp, Cook looked as sharp and a talker and leader. Vaughan strong, 

Schoup agro.. Mention for Alomoto who had a shocker first few involvement both defensively… especially… and offensively but subsequently was involved and physical, almost intimidating. Forget him being run down by whatever his name is - he’s not meant to run 80 and outrun them, he’s meant to run 40 and smash his way there.

The not lot to be happy about is whoever is gonna be #7. Averillo, Wakeham - they’re not it, don’t take a trial to know they never were. BBO maybe one day, but not soon enough - he’s #14.

I’m still thinking as Dufty is a gifted, very gifted, ball player and runner if our best bet is him at #6. We will go close to scoring every time he has ball in hand inside the 20, every single time.

Until and if someone puts a case otherwise, Burton #7, Dufty #6 is the best way to unleash the pints we got elsewhere all across the park.

Or they just sit there catching colds.

Averillo is more of a 5/8, centre or fullback, but has played lower grade halkback.

Wakeham is more of a natural half.

Looking at the stats, it was stop/start with lots of dropped ball.

Seems like when we had more ball towards the end Flanno was on, Newcastle also playing youger players.

We might even need to purchase a halfback for 2023?

I forgot to mention that Declan Casey did himself no harm to pushing his stakes for a wing spot, possibly at the expense of JOK.

The other one that impressed me and could be a smokey is Credence. He has an RTS shimmy and go and could be eased into first grade on the wing in the same way RTS and Turbo were when they started in first grade.

Moving Dufty to the halves isn't a bad idea, but he would defend in the front line.

Perhaps if The Revival is #1...
Though HD will have The Foxx there...

Plus Credence is a cool name.

The Foxx will be there brother, and I have the winning numbers for this weeks lotto.

#TimeMachine.

Very strong performance... The hit on Ponga was a cracker...
But... Naden, Foxx, Alla, SChopper Rd 1... The Revival and Casey Jnr looking reasonable depth/pressure...

I think he’d do better, defensively.

While not exclusively, #6 is more technique than positioning at #1. The offensive player tends to be more in front of you.

And he can have a wingman.

Offensively, he’s a natural #6. Run through you or pass around you.

I was originally against BBO moving away from hooker, as i thought we lose too much with him not rotating JMK. But Cook really impressed me. To the point where i think BBO can actually be considered for halfback. He was easily the best of the halves out there today. 

I dont discount your suggestion for Dufty at half, but i think we should first give Avo a chance with Burton next week, as well as BBO- Burton combo.

Dufty moving away from fullback should be a hail mary play with potentially Credence or someone else at fullback. Averillo is at risk of falling out of this team if he doesn't make a position his own.

We need to see how much composure and organisation the team has with Burto playing.

Averillo's strong point is his running game, but he can pass and kick.

Trying BBO at half isn't a bad idea.

I would play Averillo off the bench if we can't squeeze him into the starting lineup, he is too good for reserve grade.

Who's your #1 with Duffman in the halves???...

I have an awful feeling 'innovators' have been watching this weekend thinking 'geez this unlimited interchange is great, let's change thexrules'.... And 'quarters are gold, let's change the rules'....

Don’t know really.

I know a lot would say Averillo, but I’ve never really been sold on him. I see him as a head down footballer, as opposed to heads up.

He just seems to lose his confidence… early, and drops his head,

 So maybe Allen, who can ball play, didn’t show it so much last year but certainly did the year before. If not him well let someone put their hand up.

Or next year we look for someone who can. And I’ve said it before I think Gus has his eye on someone, named Latrell.

But worry about that next year.