An indescribably heartbreaking and hard to believe loss to the North Queensland Cowboys and the streak is already at an end. Now the Raiders head to Lang Park to take on the Brisbane Broncos. This is the thread where you can speculate on the team makeup for Round 14, and see how you go when the official team is announced. Plus all the previews for the match!
The official team:
1. Nathan Massey
2. James Stuart
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Reece Robinson
6. Josh McCrone
7. Sam Williams
8. Dane Tilse
9. Alan Tongue
10. Brett White
11. Joe Picker
12. Bronson Harrison
13. Shaun Fensom
14. Glen Buttriss
15. Josh Miller
16. Tom Learoyd Lahrs
17. David Shillington
18. Josh Papalii
Massey
Ferguson
Croker
Thompson
Robinson
McCrone
Williams
Fensom
Picker
Thurling (should never of been dropped in the first place)
Tilse
Waddell
White
Bench: TLL, Papalii,Shillington, Tongue
Harrison needs to be dropped and should of been some weeks ago. Would of moved Thompson to the bench but Vidot is out for a couple of weeks, I believe. Went for Waddell as he appears to be going well at Souths Logan and would like to see him get a couple of weeks in the starting position. Really impressed with the start our front rowers gave us so no need to change. Thurling deserves to be in the 17 and I am sick of seeing him coming off the bench in the second half. Give him a start!! We should beat the Bronco's and with the bye the following week we will still have a remote chance of staging a late charge. Have reluctantly left Tongue in the 17.
One thing is for sure, we need to sort out the hooking role and if the finals become out of our reach (if they aren't already) then McIlwrick needs to be given a shot. Should he not prove the answer then we need to make a quality no. 9 our No.1 priority. In fact I would be happy for this to be our only recruit for 2012. Whilst he has been a great servant, I too think Alan Tongue should be moved on, if possible in 2012.
1. Massey
2. Drury Low (seeing as Vidot is injured)
3. Croker
4. Ferguson (this gets the ball in his hands more often and puts some distance between him and the sideline. Unlike Thompson, he has been known to pass to a winger).
5. Robinson
6. McCrone
7. Williams
8. Tilse
9. Tongue
10. White
11. Picker
12. Thompson (Harrison did some good things, but it's been too long coming)
13. Fensom
Bit of a moot point because I doubt Harrison will be dropped (even though he should), but I'd also go something similar to this - maybe just Galea in for Thurling, but that doesn't matter a damn thing really.
Funny that almost everyone had a Dugan, Campo, Orford, Buttriss spine to start the year and we'll probably never ever see that combo play together. Just a thought.
David Shillington – Pectoral Injury – due back between Round 14 - 15
Mark Ioane – Knee Injury – Round 16
Mark Appleton – AC Joint (Shoulder) – due back Round 16
Daniel Vidot – Ankle Injury – due back Round 16
Sam Mataora – Finger Injury – has undergone surgery for the fracture and is due back Round 16 - 18
Drury Low – Hamstring Injury – due back between Round 17 – 19
1. Massey
2. Ferguson
3. Croker
4. Thompson
5. Robinson
6. McCrone
7. Williams
8. White
9. Tongue
10. Tilse
11. Picker
12. Galea played for Souths Logan yesterday so should be fit enough to swap with Harrison, Should give us better D having both Galea and Picker covering the fringes
13. Fensom
14. Mcllwrick need to know ASAP if he's ready or we need to sign someone else ASAP
15. Shillington/Thurling
16. TLL
17. Papalli
anyone who has harrison in their team should give themselves an uppercut. ive been calling for his dropping for at least 6 weeks, now everyone jumps on the bandwagon after his performances just go from bad to worse. A clear genuine reason why our right side defense is so flimsy, if DF had half a f***ing brain, he wouldnt be in the side.
F*** loyalty to players on based who they are, how about F***ing loyalty to the fans who really make this game, by fielding the best possible team!!!!! (breathsssss)
1. Massey
2. Robbo
3. Croker
4. JT (If injured, James Stuart, had a shocker in his only performance but is better than that)
5. Fergo
6. McCrone (Genuine 2nd receiver. How much better did he look with his RUNNING game exploited. Ive been saying this for ages!)
7. Williams
8. Tilse
9. Butthead
10. White
11. Picker
12. Galea
13. FENSOM (C) (Ill always put him in capitals as no one should ever, EVER take this number from him. Until next year when he is lock for NSW)
Regs Revolution wrote:anyone who has harrison in their team should give themselves an uppercut. ive been calling for his dropping for at least 6 weeks, now everyone jumps on the bandwagon after his performances just go from bad to worse. A clear genuine reason why our right side defense is so flimsy, if DF had half a f***ing brain, he wouldnt be in the side.
F*** loyalty to players on based who they are, how about F***ing loyalty to the fans who really make this game, by fielding the best possible team!!!!! (breathsssss)
1. Massey
2. Robbo
3. Croker
4. JT (If injured, James Stuart, had a shocker in his only performance but is better than that)
5. Fergo
6. McCrone (Genuine 2nd receiver. How much better did he look with his RUNNING game exploited. Ive been saying this for ages!)
7. Williams
8. Tilse
9. Butthead
10. White
11. Picker
12. Galea
13. FENSOM (C) (Ill always put him in capitals as no one should ever, EVER take this number from him. Until next year when he is lock for NSW)
Regs Revolution wrote:anyone who has harrison in their team should give themselves an uppercut. ive been calling for his dropping for at least 6 weeks, now everyone jumps on the bandwagon after his performances just go from bad to worse. A clear genuine reason why our right side defense is so flimsy, if DF had half a f***ing brain, he wouldnt be in the side.
F*** loyalty to players on based who they are, how about F***ing loyalty to the fans who really make this game, by fielding the best possible team!!!!! (breathsssss)
1. Massey
2. Robbo
3. Croker
4. JT (If injured, James Stuart, had a shocker in his only performance but is better than that)
5. Fergo
6. McCrone (Genuine 2nd receiver. How much better did he look with his RUNNING game exploited. Ive been saying this for ages!)
7. Williams
8. Tilse
9. Butthead
10. White
11. Picker
12. Galea
13. FENSOM (C) (Ill always put him in capitals as no one should ever, EVER take this number from him. Until next year when he is lock for NSW)
This is going to sound super out there but I wonder how McCrone would defend at fullback. He'd be brilliant in attack in that role IMO.
Just after Dugan got injured and Campese came on to play in the halves I thought we'd be ok and I was pretty bloody keen to see McCrone play in that role as a third roving playmaker as Dugan does.
McCrone is having a great year, bit shakey at times, but he definately makes up with it in enthusiasm and he tried his guts out every week for 80 mins...up there with the likes of Fensom I think personally...and Fergo
julian87 wrote:This is going to sound super out there but I wonder how McCrone would defend at fullback. He'd be brilliant in attack in that role IMO.
Just after Dugan got injured and Campese came on to play in the halves I thought we'd be ok and I was pretty bloody keen to see McCrone play in that role as a third roving playmaker as Dugan does.
couldn't be any worse than ferg. See Sims walk around him yesterday? Embarrassing.
julian87 wrote:This is going to sound super out there but I wonder how McCrone would defend at fullback. He'd be brilliant in attack in that role IMO.
Just after Dugan got injured and Campese came on to play in the halves I thought we'd be ok and I was pretty bloody keen to see McCrone play in that role as a third roving playmaker as Dugan does.
I was thinking the exact thing Julian, with Campese coming on it would have meant much less disruption by just moving Mccrone to fullback and not worrying about shifting ferguson and having a half on the wing, like you say McCrones a hole runner which is a common trait for fullbacks he has the pace and i'm not sure his defense would be any worse than Fergo's there.
G'day all, Victor the Viking cartoon is now posted and ready for viewing (just click the"victor the viking" thread below). You can also view him in enlarged format on my flickr gallery or by visiting the Raiders site. After such a horrible result, I hope it at least brings a half smile or momentary distraction in your day...............feedback, suggestions and ideas always welcome to make a better victor cartoon.
GreenSoul wrote:I would never want McCrone to start a game at fullback. But it would have made sense to move him back there when Dugan went down and Campo came on.
I think they had him there in attack after duges went off but it was short lived as campo went off 7 minutes later
1. Massey (Good Luck, Hopefully he as a good game the youngster)
2. Robinson (Showing why he should have started at the start of the season)
3. Croker (Hopefully plays like that more to the end of the season)
4. Thompson (Has to play here because of our backrow depth)
5. Ferguson (Use your brain son)
6. McCrone (Had a good season, but just some little annoying mistakes)
7. Williams (Needs to control the game like he did for about 10mins)
8. Tilse (If he continues his form next year will be HIS year)
9. Tongue (Sorry everyone but Tonguey is a leader, OUR leader)
10. White (Hopfully continues his form)
11. Picker (I Just lovey Joey)
12. Galea (His defence is what we need)
13. Fensom (Player of the Year so far)
14. TLL (Impact off the bench, will be angry he didn't make NSW)
15. Thurling/Shillington (Thurling should never had been dropped in the first place, If Shillo is back he will be in though)
16. Papalli (This guy has impressed all of us)
17. McIllrick (I would be suprised if he gets selected but this kid needs a chance)
