What's wrong with giving Kiraz a crack at fullback at least 1. we will know if he fits the position and 2. we will have another backup if things go pearshaped.

I think he'd  handle it OK, but, I'm  not sure he's  totally fit at the moment, so maybe not the right time. Also CC may be reluctant  to weaken one position to prop up another which he has covered with Crichton next year. Another problem, for some reason,I don't  understand, CC seems to love Perham.

I haven't seen him chase down many grubber kicks from a standing start.

Most disappointing for the first try conceded against the Warriors was, Perham wasn't in the frame,  in fact I have no idea where he was.


For the 3rd try Wilson and Alamotti had just made the covering tackle on the opposite side of the field.

This weeks line up has been named, bring Wilson into the side at fullback, shift Perham to the bench to replace Grub and it is the side I would pick. I would not put the house on it, but it might happen.

Looks like Pele is off to reserve grade to get some match fitness.

Sutton in the extended squad, he is snother guy that might squeeze into the 17.

Averillo and Kiraz are forming a good combination on the right, and we need an attacking alternative on that edge.

Pele  not picked anywhere. Is he injured again? Not confident he will ever be a effective, long term NRL player. 

Yep not in reserve grade, either is Skelton.

Jordie M on the wing in reserve grade another flyer, I can remeber the days when all of our outside backs were slow.

Put Kiraz in the centres with Averillo, Wilson at fullback Foxy and Jordie on the wings, our back 5 would win a sprint relay against most other sides, that is before Chrichton and Xeri even get here.

Burton also fast, Karl didn't look that fast.

For all the crap that Ciraldo spewed on the weekend about wholesale changes, the team list released today show absolutely nothing. The same 17 that has been smacked in the last two weeks line up again without alteration, CC is either a) very game, b) very thick, or c) playing Gus mind games with everyone.

Skelton, Pele and perhaps Casey suspended...

Reserve grade highlights didn't show an all in brawl?

When players are dropped, they are often named at this stage.

I'm with you ODF,  he's confusing the fcuk out of most of us and whilst I'm not a conspiracy theorist I can't understand why the Perham experiment is being continued.  Perham is not the only problem, our defence has more leaks than a boat made of cardboard and our forwarda are not bending the line. However Perham is almost always out of position when the opposition is attacking our line and is almost always in the way when we are attacking.  He should be the first to have a stint in reggies. 

I have to agree.
He is certainly vocal and gets out players numbering up better than others have previously but he hadn't been able to return the ball with much vigour and thwarts our attack nearly all the time.

After 11 rounds we need a change. We are already lacking in the halves and need the fullback to fill some of that deficiency. He hasn't been able to do it, so time to try something else. I would suggest Averillo as we seem to have options in the centre and wing spots to fill that void

We are all in agreement on Perham.

I just doubt that CC will move Averillo, there are other options.

What I would do is.
1. Try Wilson instead of Perham. 
2. Drop RFM, promote Sutton to starting, and move TPJ to the bench.
3. Replace Grub on the bench with Morrin, Nu Brown or Perham

I don't expect CC to adopt my plan, but I will be surpised if he does nothing.

I am trading some size in the starting pack for mobility and defensive work rate.
If our forwards can hold the line for the first 20, our bench and backline can win it.

The Tits should have lower completions and weaker defence than our recent opponents. Our main danger is their attack especially early on

Agree on Perham. Problem, CC seems to love him.

I hope that changes.

Dropping Flanno eventually happened.

Perham is a more complex case, becuase he does some good things.

But where was he for the first Warriors try?

He threw 2 dumb passes one of which ultimately cost us a try.

CC doesn't need to look any further than the video review of the last game.

If the likely replacement is a guy outside the top 30, they have only been available for selection from round 11.

The other candidate is Burns (possibly moving Averillo or Kiraz) but he was covering injuries until he got injured.
Casey didn't look anywhere near good enough.

We will find out if the issue was a love for Perham, or a lack of options.

I know a lot af fans love him but I think the Josh Reynolds PR experiment has run it's course. Unfortunately grub is not delivering near enough value to warrant further selection. His heart and soul is with us but the game has evolved beyond his capacity to keep up.

AND at least when he retires he will fulfil a lifelong dream and retire as a Bulldog.

With KO starting we are missing an opportunity  to bolster the bench.

Calling it a PR exercise can’t be right… if you think Gus and Cc picked a bloke for some nice stories you’re kidding yourself….

He added value in game one, off the bench where the pack was on top… not so much when starting and the pack was dominated…

Dont forget any Brown had that spot but got injured… and will likely jump ahead of JR again…

When I say bolster do you mean another forward or a different utility???…

Our forwards are getting dominated. Maybe "dominated" is a bit strong. In the absence  of forwards that can do the job I thought that spreading the workload  is another  alternative. Use players we can get good  minutes  out of on the bench.  The likes of Morrin or Brown come  to mind.

That is how I  see it.

That bench spot covers hooker, but Lou normally plays 80, so it is more of a lock position.

JR was a worthwhile experiment and allowed us to ease KO into NRL.

With KO now ready to start, it comes down to who is the better lock.

Brown is very good defensively, and a good passer.

Morrin is a bit small, but is a good defender, runs hard, and has some skill.

For where the team is at, I think Brown is the best option, he impressed me earlier in the season.

Dominated is fair…

Thats the question for mine though,.. utility or muscle…  any tichs one box… though I am a fan of Mortons effort, he ain’t really muscle…

Beer…

I think most of our forwards can do the job for a period of time but can't  sustain the effort. That's  why I  don't  think we can carry a half and small minute players  on  the bench. We of all teams need to get maximum value from the  bench. 

You are right Dman, a hangover might give our forwards some much needed aggro.

If only we could find a couple of vounteer fans to help steer the pub crawl....

What could go wrong?

Sharks pack has some smaller players, but they are mobile enough to get bodies in all of the tackles.

Panthers have a fast linespeed,  and all work together.

We need a starting pack with these attributes, mobile, fit, fast linespeed and work together.

After the first 20, we can give some guys a rest, guys coming off the bench don't need to be as mobile and fit, the game will slow up.

D. Fifita is the major danger, get defenders in the frame, gang tackle.

So you don't think that giving JR a top 30 spot was maybe a little over adventurous?

All decisions are made in the prism of time and without making a judgement on whether  the decision was  correct  or not it was  a valid option at the time

I doubt that we had the cap space to sign anyone else.

Grub was additional cover in the halves in case Flanno didn't deliver and Karl wasn't ready.

The option was promote someone like Rajab who can cover half and fullback, Wilson who can cover wing and fullback and / or Edwards in the forwards.

After round 11 all of the young guys can play now so it makes no difference.

If Grub was capable of playing a bit smarter he might have been a good addition.

Mostly our problem so far this season is injuries, in particular injured forwards, that puts pressure on the rest of the side abd exposes the weak links.

With a dominant forward pack even average spine players  can look ok.

Hughes beat the NSWRL judiciary rap on a hip drop and is free to play. It doesn't help teams with injuries if players are being suspended for minor and questionable offenses, especially when others are not.

If it is any consolation the standard of refereeing, inconsistency, ridiculous justification and total lack of a clue, is even higher in English soccer than in the NRL. I'm sure Dman is onto this.

In both cases the problem started with the idea that the refs need extra guidance and assistance to prevent inconsistency. Then that extra guidance and assistance turned out to be more inconsistent and seemed to favor some clubs over others

Referees appointments very strange. Todd Smith relegated to linesman  due to error with Olam knock on. Fair enough. Sutton to be on field referee despite multiple errors as bunker official. Totally ridiculous. Bunker decisions should be the easiest to make due to multiple angles and time being available.

Very good point. Although we do have Burton who can kick us out of trouble on most occassions which should allow us to still win games even if we lose the territorial battle.