PENRITH

One injury to Walsh or Kingston away from just being a team to make up the numbers imo.

 

Yeah mostly reserve graders... more so this reserve graders than last year. I think both Cuthbertson and Taumata will have it in them to play first grade. Winitana is a very strange signing IMO... correct me if I am wrong but isn't he the centre that played for the Dogs and isn't much more than solid reserve grader? I am really happy with the youth that Penrith have signed though both Seluini and Wakeman (although I don't know much about him). Overall I am quite a fan with what Penrith have done this season, have recruited depth and maybe strengthened the second row slightly as well as re-signings are top young players to long deals.

Not to bad but you can tell you don't watch much of Penrith no offence. From what I have read, it will be likely that Tighe and Gordon will be switched around which I am a fan of cause Gordon will be closer to the action. Sandor Earl will most likely be on the other wing but with Elliot who knows. Only the backline I disagreed with. I like Smith starting, he will got through a mountain load of work, defence won't be an issue but attack still is at the moment. I can agree with Seluini's selection but Iosefa should have his name there as well just as a reminder, I think it is his year to stand up and prove himself.
The number 16 jersey is wide open between Paulo/Paulo/Cuthbertson/Gordon/Weston/Laurie and Gibb IMO. Gibb will probs play for Windsor next year though.

Yeah I can agree with you here. If Walsh is injured for anything longer than 6 weeks we may have an issue. If he was to be injured Taumata and Burns would be the likely combination and that isn't very strong... on the bright side though it would give young Seijka a shot even though he is perhaps not quite ready just very eager for him to play FG, he is something special IMO.

Kingston would be just as bad. Would mean that Iosefa would start I think. Doubt Seluini will start much but I can see him getting a few bench spots throughout the year.

 

Please no. He just looks so out lost in the halves IMO. If he is needed though I guess it is fair enough but only at 5/8. The depth is the same as last season tbh though just without Graham and with Taumata instead.

 

For the time being it would be:

1. Lachlan Coote
2. Sandor Earl
3. Michael Jennings
4. Michael Gordon
5. Brad Tighe

Reserve backs: Adrian Purtell, David Simmons (both NRL standard), Tim Winitana (average), Greg Waddell and Ryan Walker (ready for FG)

There is no way I could fit Purtell into the side but I bet Elliot manages too somehow.

Yeah but he can still do it as can Burns. Just not as well as Walsh. All we can is hope that he doesn't get injured, if he does well hope that he can get back. I would rather we didn't need to debut Seijka because debutting him early could give him a pretty big shatter in confidence. Hopefully Walsh will play the whole season though.



The NRL squad I posted earlier was official as it turns out. NYC squad is: Alan Eisenhuth, Andrew Pelasio, Axton Daniels, Blake Austin, Blake South, Cameron Miller, Chris Durant, Corey Carl, Damien Cook, Darcy Horgan, Dilan Curtis, Harry Seijka, Haylen Williams, Ja Butler-Fleming, Jake Grace, John Faiumu, Josh Meehan, Joshua Butfield, Joshua Leslie, Justin Genovese, Keti Nanai, Kieran Bishop, Kurt Horton, Kyle Burkhardt, Malakai Watene, Mathew Moylan, Matt Penitani, Michael Compton, Michael Pio, Mitchell Davis, Nicholas Mataia, Robbie Mate, Sam Hollis, Shaye Moran, Simon Gregory, Tevita Feilokatau, Theodor Stewart, Tom Eisenhuth, Tom Romer, Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi, William Beale, Zion Ahu

Don't recognise a lot of those names obviously but I do recognise a few from the SG Ball, I am expecting a better result next season in the NYC, top 8 is probably on the cards.

 

They any good Hunter? What do you know about them, position, skill level, potential etc?

 

oh go them! Do you know anything about them league wise though?

 

Ahh ok. Sounds good hopefully this part of the Panthers will be a big improvement next seaosn.

 

Yeah I understand this. I am not going to delve on the past though. Graham is gone, he has already had his first training session with the Sharks. He is a Shark not a Panther anymore I don't give a rats ass about him when it comes to this subject anymore. We have to work with what we have and unfortunately it isn't much. I am actually hoping that Walsh takes a leaf out of Coote's book this season and bulks up and it will give him some more confidence as well. I am more excited about the prospect of having a more creative 5/8 outside of him next season and I hope it eventuates.

Seijka has huge wraps on him from everywhere. He is only 18/19 (so admittedly a little too young) but he is probably just as capable of controlling a first grade side as Burns. He has been playing in the SG Ball for the last couple of years and this year is his first full season in the Toyota Cup. Low on big game experience but there is obviously only one way to get it. I wouldn't be a fan of debuting him any later than round 18 or so though.