Zimply the best

[zim]

Zimply the best Round 3: Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders

Thought this might be a bit of fun:

Guidelines
1. Pick the strongest 17 you can by combining the Raiders and their opponents for this round.
2. If a player is listed in this week's 21 they can be in your 17.
3. Players can slot into any position you can realistically justify (eg played well there before / rep level / similar role already).
4. All players picked are considered fully fit. Someone coming back after being out for 6 weeks does not need to be nursed back in.
5. Having a bad 2 weeks shouldn't keep a test player making the 17.

This week's team lineups can be seen here:
viewtopic.php?p=1730016#p1730016

Clearly Strongest 17
1. Cameron Munster
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. Cameron Smith (c)
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Jesse Bromwich
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Dale Finucane

14. Ryan Papenhuyzen
15. Brandon Smith
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Backs
Vinuvalu can be a lunatic and Simonsson can be a little rough around the edges. Addo-Carr and Cotric are top level wingers that excel in defense and attack.
I was very impressed with how a busted CNK played for NZ at centre. A quality player like this has to be in your 17 somewhere and he showed he can match it there with the best of them.
There was an option to play Wighton at centre but I wanted to make use of him in the spine as there is no genuine 7 to choose.

Spine
The big question here is what do you do with the halfback position. We have 2 teams that arguably have a combined total of 4 fullbacks, 2 five-eighths and 2 hookers in the spine. Hodgson is the better runner out of dummy half. Smith is the best organizer.
It might be a hard sell for some to not have the Australian and QLD 5/8 lining up there in the strongest 17, but I felt Wighton was the better player in 2019 and had a better kicking game. CNK and RPN are great fullbacks but their games are still developing. Munster has the extra ball playing and short kicking those guys are still building.

Forwards
Papalii and Bromwich. 2 of the best props in the game. Next.

Back Row
With Bateman out NSW lock and tackle bot Finucane makes his way into the side. His job is to kill himself missing zero tackles in the first 25mins before an energetic Wombat comes on.
Kenny Bromwich had a career best year last year but he's no Elliot Whitehead. He's not even a Felise Kaufusi.

Bench
The key word here is "attack". This bench is going to make things happen. We've got the aggression and tackle breaking of Smith and NAS. The offloads of Horsburgh and the top shelf support play of RPN.

[greeneyed]

It's Bronson Xerri's Match-ups! Matt's Match-ups on steroids and in overdrive!

Cameron Smith in the No. 7!

[greeneyed]

Without messing with the position players were picked in this week, here's my attempt at the match-ups. Where I've named two, I can't split them:

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Curtis Scott
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Jack Wighton/Cameron Munster
7. George Williams
8. Josh Papalii/Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith
10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
11. Joe Tapine
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Brandon Smith
15. Emre Guler
16. Sia Soliola (was tempted to go the other way, but it is Christian Welch's first game back)
17. Max King

[zim]

Strong side.
This was the original format I had it in but then you can run into problems like leaving Nick Cotric and Jesse Bromwich out of your side.

[Northern Raider]

Smells like a segment to me.

[greeneyed]

Smells like a segment to me.

If it is footy and Raiders related... it belongs on the Raiders board.

[Sid]

Using Zim’s team as a base to work from

1. Ryan Papenhauzen
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. Cameron Munster
8. Josh Papalii
9. Cameron Smith (Ref)
10. Jesse Bromwich
11. Kenny Bromwich
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Dale Finucane

14. Josh Hodgson
15. Joseph Tapine
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Coach Bellamy

Would there have ever been a better pair of defensive halves than Munster/Wighton?


Edit I know I’ll be the only one without Kaufusi, but whenever I look at the storm or qld team list I see him as the weak link.

[zim]

That's definitely up there as a defensive pair. Next weeks raiders / knights is a strong one too.
No wombat off the bench?

[Sid]

That's definitely up there as a defensive pair. Next weeks raiders / knights is a strong one too.
No wombat off the bench?

Is Wombat B. Smith? Tough to leave out the Cheese, but when you’ve got C. Smith and Hodgson I think hooker is fairly well covered. It’s ridiculous enough that the storm can have those 2, but that’s the storms books (multiple) for ya

[Botman]

Strong seg
I like it... we’ll see if it stands up to the “Botman is a **** and you know it” standards

[greeneyed]

Jack Wighton and George Williams might well be the best defensive halves pairing in the NRL in no time at all.

[Botman]

I’d go Scott over CNK at centre but I think that is close enough that I wouldn’t quibble too much with it. As you rightly say, CNK was pretty strong there for the kiwis

Hors on the bench over Tapine is pretty egregious imo. It’s not even close between those guys as for the best player. And both add the same element of attacking football and some middle/edge versatility

[zim]

That's definitely up there as a defensive pair. Next weeks raiders / knights is a strong one too.
No wombat off the bench?

Is Wombat B. Smith? Tough to leave out the Cheese, but when you’ve got C. Smith and Hodgson I think hooker is fairly well covered. It’s ridiculous enough that the storm can have those 2, but that’s the storms books (multiple) for ya

Yeah the man with many faces (Wombat, Hectic Cheese, Fat Smith). My thoughts were to play him at lock instead of hooker with Hodgo and Smith both playing 80.

[zim]

I’d go Scott over CNK at centre but I think that is close enough that I wouldn’t quibble too much with it. As you rightly say, CNK was pretty strong there for the kiwis

Hors on the bench over Tapine is pretty egregious imo. It’s not even close between those guys as for the best player. And both add the same element of attacking football and some middle/edge versatility

CNK's intensity and work rate is what got him in there for me. The Tapine one was a harsher call but Hors has the better offload (safer, happens far more often) and in my side that's what I wanted off the bench. Someone that can dump it back to RPN, Smith or Hodgo.
Although I'm probably boned if a 2nd rower gets injured.

[Northern Raider]

Strong seg
I like it... we’ll see if it stands up to the “Botman is a **** and you know it” standards

That title is a blatant rip off. Don't pretend you've never heard of "Pigman is a **** and you know it". Expect to hear from Pigman's lawyer's very soon.

[afgtnk]

1. Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Addo-Carr
3. Wighton
4. Scott
5. Cotric
6. Munster
7. Williams
8. Papalii
9. C Smith (c)
10. J Bromwich
11. Kaufusi
12. Whitehead
13. Finucane

Interchange
14. Hodgson
15. Welch
16. Soliola
17. Papenhuyzen

Hardest one is having Hodgo there tbh. He and Cameron Smith are much of the same in terms of style - Bradon Smith brings something completely different, but it just doesn't feel right to keep a legitimate top 10 player in the comp out of a 17.

[julian87]

Clearly Strongest 17
1. Cameron Munster
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. Cameron Smith (c)
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Jesse Bromwich
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Dale Finucane

14. Ryan Papenhuyzen
15. Brandon Smith
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
.

Agree with most of this but think the team would be better with Vunivalu in for CNK and Cotric to centre.

[zim]

1. Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Addo-Carr
3. Wighton
4. Scott
5. Cotric
6. Munster
7. Williams
8. Papalii
9. C Smith (c)
10. J Bromwich
11. Kaufusi
12. Whitehead
13. Finucane

Interchange
14. Hodgson
15. Welch
16. Soliola
17. Papenhuyzen

Hardest one is having Hodgo there tbh. He and Cameron Smith are much of the same in terms of style - Bradon Smith brings something completely different, but it just doesn't feel right to keep a legitimate top 10 player in the comp out of a 17.

I'd forgotten about Welch. He was playing well before he got injured.

[zim]

Round 3 The Fallout

What a game. Incredible win by the Raiders, and boy o boy was it an error leaving Williams out of the strongest 17. He was the best spine player on the field. Joseph Tapine also with a fantastic performance. Cameron one year too long Smith, booted.

Adjusted for game day 17:
1. Cameron Munster
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Jarrod Croker (c)
4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson (c)
10. Jesse Bromwich
11. Joseph Tapine
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Dale Finucane

14. Ryan Papenhuyzen
15. Brandon Smith
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Sia Soliola

[bonehead]

has your last screw rattled out?

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[zim]

You'll have to be more specific.

[Cranky Old Man]

Guler instead of Horse!

[zim]

Zimply the best Round 4: Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights

Guidelines
1. Pick the strongest 17 you can by combining the Raiders and their opponents for this round.
2. If a player is listed in this week's 21 they can be in your 17.
3. Players can slot into any position you can realistically justify (eg played well there before / rep level / similar role already).
4. All players picked are considered fully fit. Someone coming back after being out for 6 weeks does not need to be nursed back in.
5. Having a bad 2 weeks shouldn't keep a test player making the 17.

This week's team lineups can be seen here:
viewtopic.php?p=1731431#p1731431

Clearly Strongest 17
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Jarrod Croker (c)
4. Jack Wighton
5. Nick Cotric
6. George Williams
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. David Klemmer
9. Josh Hodgson (c)
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Joseph Tapine
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Josh Papalii

14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
15. Corey Horsburgh
16. Sia Soliola
17. Emre Guler

Backs
The Knights just don't have the quality in the outside backs that we do. Bradmen Best looked very promising. Hunt is a solid player. Lee can come up with a big play but has too many errors in his game although being able to kick people in the face and avoid suspension could come in handy.
The long term plan for the Raiders looks to be Simonsson on the left wing, but for me Rapana is still the better player.
Wighton finds himself in the centres where he has performed well at rep level.

Spine
Ponga is a big talent. He edges out CNK because of his superior passing game. Usually his biggest problem when he lines up is dealing with expectation. In a club team like this that's not an issue.
We've got a proper halfback this week, and while he's had his issues at rep level, Mitchell Pearce is one of the best club level halfbacks.
We're still feeling out how good George Williams really is. Before last week's performance Wighton would have been an automatic lock for the 5/8 but I feel Williams needed to fit in here somewhere. With Wighton's versatility we can have George at 5/8 and Wighton at centre.
Even if the Knights were at full strength the best hooker in the game is still being picked.

Forwards
The forwards see a little bit of a shuffle due to Bateman being out. Klemmer and Saifiti have been in great form since last year's origin. They both have big motors and are good defenders.

Back Row
Normally we'd see Papalii lining up at prop to complete the Australian starting prop pair. While he's the best prop in the team he's capable of playing lock and the backrow is weaker than the front row in this week's combined teams if he stays put.
The knight's second rowers played above their grade last week. Aidan Guerra could have snuck into this team if Tapine was moved to lock and Papalii at prop. Tim Glasby destroyed himself at lock trying to get the win. He just doesn't have the skill set to match his efforts.
Tapine and Whitehead are the best second rowers.

Bench
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad grabs the utility spot on the bench. He's a quality player with experience slotting in all over the back line.
These forward bench spots would have been more hotly contested if the Knights were at full strength. Connor Watson, Mitch Barnett, Lachlan Fitzgibbon can all add something from the bench.
Horsburgh has the offloading we are after later in the game. Soliola and Guler ran with purpose and have higher ceilings and impact than Jacob Saifiti or Guerra and Glasby who rely on bigger minutes to affect the result.

[greeneyed]

Like last week, I'm going to select on the basis of the stronger player in the specific position selected.

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Jarrod Croker (C)
4. Curtis Scott/Bradman Best
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams/Mitchell Pearce
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson (C)
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Joe Tapine
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Tex Hoy
15. Emre Guler
16. Sia Soliola
17. Jordan Rapana

Difficult in some cases, as the players are very different (especially on the bench) and I've struggled to split some as they are different centres/halves.

[zim]

Strong side and Best is looking good but I can't really agree with Scott and Best being on par. Best has just started his career. Scott has had favourable matchups against some of the strongest sides in the comp and appeared in 2 grand finals, winning 1.

[Seiffert82]

Zimply not the Best as it were.

[greeneyed]

Last week’s form was pretty impressive.

[julian87]

Like last week, I'm going to select on the basis of the stronger player in the specific position selected.

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Jarrod Croker (C)
4. Curtis Scott/Bradman Best
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams/Mitchell Pearce
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson (C)
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Joe Tapine
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Tex Hoy
15. Emre Guler
16. Sia Soliola
17. Jordan Rapana

Difficult in some cases, as the players are very different (especially on the bench) and I've struggled to split some as they are different centres/halves.

You can’t exclude Klemmer. You just can’t. He’s an absolute gun and a tough nut.

[greeneyed]

You can’t exclude Klemmer. You just can’t. He’s an absolute gun and a tough nut.

Yeah, I probably should have split him and Papalii.

[zim]

Last week’s form was pretty impressive.

Yeah Best is looking real good. If he handles the mental side of the game well he'll be huge for them this year. Not icing that last pass might play on him a bit this week.
It's been a while since they had a real threat at centre.

[zim]

Zimply not the Best as it were.

I can't believe I missed that when doing this week's team.

[zim]

Round 4 The Fallout

Disappointing game to say the least. While we shot ourselves in the foot a few times with simple errors, we were beaten through the middle of the park and then burned on the outside while on the back foot by Kalyn Ponga. Best got room to do his work and is proving to be a very good young player.

Adjusted for game day 17:
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Edrick Lee
3. Jarrod Croker (c)
4. Bradmen Best
5. Nick Cotric
6. George Williams
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. David Klemmer
9. Josh Hodgson (c)
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Aidan Guerra
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Josh Papalii

14. Kurt Mann
15. Joseph Tapine
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Herman Ese'ese

[greeneyed]

Strong side and Best is looking good but I can't really agree with Scott and Best being on par. Best has just started his career. Scott has had favourable matchups against some of the strongest sides in the comp and appeared in 2 grand finals, winning 1.

I got it wrong too I guess! I had them on par.

[zim]

Strong side and Best is looking good but I can't really agree with Scott and Best being on par. Best has just started his career. Scott has had favourable matchups against some of the strongest sides in the comp and appeared in 2 grand finals, winning 1.

I got it wrong too I guess! I had them on par.

Touche. If his form holds up he's a lock for rookie of the year.

[zim]

Zimply the best Round 5: Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders

Guidelines
1. Pick the strongest 17 you can by combining the Raiders and their opponents for this round.
2. If a player is listed in this week's 21 they can be in your 17.
3. Players can slot into any position you can realistically justify (eg played well there before / rep level / similar role already).
4. All players picked are considered fully fit. Someone coming back after being out for 6 weeks does not need to be nursed back in.
5. Having a bad 2 weeks shouldn't keep a test player making the 17.

This week's team lineups can be seen here:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34055

Clearly Strongest 17
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Jarrod Croker (c)
4. Nick Cotric
5. David Nofoaluma
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson (c)
10. Emre Guler
11. Joseph Tapine
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Alex Twal

14. Benji Marshall
15. Corey Horsburgh
16. Sia Soliola
17. Josh Aloiai

Spine
Charnze has had to take a back seat in recent weeks as he's been matched up against some of the best players in the NRL. He was under a lot of pressure last week and coughed up some ball, but still ran for 219m. He always defends well, positions well, and offers more all-round quality than Adam Doueihi.
Jackie boy had a bit of a horror game last week. Even when he's playing badly he still competes and runs hard and has shown the ability to bounce back from bad performances. Josh Reynolds competes as well but his body usually can't back it up. The big story this week is Marshall being dropped. Madge certainly isn't about holding anyone's hand.
Luke Brooks always seems to be on the verge of taking the next step up but his consistency just isn't good enough for him to be trusted. He drifts in and out of games and just doesn't have the control you want from a number 7.
Grant has been one of the Tigpies better players but there's no place for him in a side with an 80min Hodgson.

Backs
David Nofoaluma has been the Tigpies best player. It was pretty obvious against Newcastle that we were missing something from that left side with Rapana back to the bench. The shuffling at centre has him grabbing the second wing spot.
The available centres for this week's team are a bit of a dog's breakfast (outside Croker). Leilua is overweight and off his game. Scott really didn't perform like a first grader last week and origin centre Mbye is just not getting involved like he should be. Nick Cotric to the rescue.

Forwards
Josh Papalii + 1. Guler is finding his front well when hitting it up and in this side we want to start with his size to complement the work horse we have protecting the ruck at lock. Josh Aloiai wouldn't have looked out of place here either if you wanted to go with a more up tempo start.

Back Row
They were subpar last week but Tapine and Whitehead are once again the best second rowers in this week's lineup. Lawrence is solid and all heart but just doesn't have the x-factor we like in a combined 17. Luciano is all x-factor, which is a problem in itself.
With the faster pace of the game players that can defend and protect the ruck like Alex Twal are becoming more valuable. He doesn't offer you a highlight reel like a Victor Radley but he has a huge motor, doesn't miss and can get a quick play the ball.

Bench
Some might think there's no obvious stand outs for the utility spot this week but they'd be wrong because The Canberra Destroyer is a shoe in. If he's with us, he can't be against us. If that still hasn't got you convinced then he gets the spot because I've always wanted to see twinkle toes in the lime green so **** you.
Horsburgh put the offloads completely away last week. It was an over correction. I think we'll see some balance in his performance this week.
Josh Aloiai is a high energy, big attitude player. He doesn't have the size of other forwards but that just seems to make him more determined.
When you've got a high minute lock like Twal there's an argument for including the super sub Michael Chee-Kam to work in tandem with Tapine. This gives you some more energy on that right edge and some flexibility with Tapine's role. I've opted for Sia Soliola to come off the bench to put on some hits and set the defensive tone.

Edit: Had the wrong lineups link.