RaiderDavo wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 5:13 pm
Hey, unfortunately we are going to miss the game this weekend because we’ll be up on the Gold Coast. Where on the Goldy do Raiders fans go and watch the game?
The Cut at Benowa
Thanks for that
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The Casino is a good option. Huge screens in the sports bar, good atmosphere. The GH has done a fan meet up there before.
Got a feeling there will definitely be a rotation in play this season with all players.
The two Corey's being available will make things interesting.
Our Mounties team in 2016 was stacked with Vaughn, Fensom and Baptiste in the team.
Much like our reserves now.
Good news is that they are playing each week.
RaiderDavo wrote:Hey, unfortunately we are going to miss the game this weekend because we’ll be up on the Gold Coast. Where on the Goldy do Raiders fans go and watch the game?
Fat Freddie’s or Broadbeach Tavern are both good options
1992 wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 4:32 pm
If we lose an outside back I would put Wighton there and Hodgson to 7 with Havili at 9.
Wests have a decent team but our forwards and bench in particular should monster them.
If our centres have good years than the team will be in a prelim again.
That was my first thought. But then we've rejigged our entire spine and put the best hooker in the business and the Dally M 5/8 both out of position just to cover an outside back.
It'd have to be Young to centre and Havilii or Sutton to the edge. Leave that spine as it is.
RaiderDavo wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 5:13 pm
Hey, unfortunately we are going to miss the game this weekend because we’ll be up on the Gold Coast. Where on the Goldy do Raiders fans go and watch the game?
Depending on where you're staying, as others have mentioned the Broadbeach Tav or Casino are both good, in Surfers somewhere like the Cavill Hotel has a big screen and is a decent spot, further south the Burleigh Hotel has a pretty good sports bar as well. There is a place at the Robina Town Centre called the Sporting Globe which is perfect for watching footy, just a giant sports bar as the name suggests but maybe a bit out of the way if your staying along the beach somewhere.
Was never going to be too many surprises with the team, biggest questions were probably Crokers fitness and Havili or Starling. Happy with Kris replacing Croker and though I probably prefer Starling not unhappy with Havili getting the nod. With the talent we have in our starting team if we lose this there are bigger questions to be asked than who made up our bench thats for sure.
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. James Roberts
4. Joseph Leilua
5. Asu Kepaoa
6. Moses Mbye
7. Luke Brooks
There is some real speed and the potential for heaps of tries in that list. But I mostly see defensive liabilities and no organisational leadership.
If our forwards overpower theirs, as we hope they will, Brooks and Mbye will not be able to get them back into position to unleash their potent outside backs.
And any sustained pressure on them will see the cracks appear in their defensive decision-making.
I know our outside backs aren’t dynamite on paper but our halves are excellent defensively and CNK is safe as a house. I’d take that combo over theirs every day of the week without even factoring in Jack and George’s (and Hodgo’s) ability to set up attack.
George Williams believes the Canberra Raiders have got what it takes to win 2021 NRL Grand Final
Canberra Raiders and England star George Williams believes the Green Machine have the team "to go all the way" in this season's NRL Premiership.
"When you look around the team we've got it's now or never for us, we've got to deliver soon. We lost John (Bateman) last year but we believe we've got the team to go all the way."
1992 wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 4:32 pm
If we lose an outside back I would put Wighton there and Hodgson to 7 with Havili at 9.
Wests have a decent team but our forwards and bench in particular should monster them.
If our centres have good years than the team will be in a prelim again.
That was my first thought. But then we've rejigged our entire spine and put the best hooker in the business and the Dally M 5/8 both out of position just to cover an outside back.
It'd have to be Young to centre and Havilii or Sutton to the edge. Leave that spine as it is.
Losing an outside back with no backup is a rare occurrence.
Only reason why I brought it up.
greeneyed wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 10:24 pmGeorge Williams believes the Canberra Raiders have got what it takes to win 2021 NRL Grand Final
Canberra Raiders and England star George Williams believes the Green Machine have the team "to go all the way" in this season's NRL Premiership.
"When you look around the team we've got it's now or never for us, we've got to deliver soon. We lost John (Bateman) last year but we believe we've got the team to go all the way."
Very difficult to understand at times! However... George says he wants to leave the NRL as the greatest English half to ever play in Australia... and to win the 2021 premiership.
Ruben Daley wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 9:05 pm
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. James Roberts
4. Joseph Leilua
5. Asu Kepaoa
6. Moses Mbye
7. Luke Brooks
There is some real speed and the potential for heaps of tries in that list. But I mostly see defensive liabilities and no organisational leadership.
If our forwards overpower theirs, as we hope they will, Brooks and Mbye will not be able to get them back into position to unleash their potent outside backs.
And any sustained pressure on them will see the cracks appear in their defensive decision-making.
I know our outside backs aren’t dynamite on paper but our halves are excellent defensively and CNK is safe as a house. I’d take that combo over theirs every day of the week without even factoring in Jack and George’s (and Hodgo’s) ability to set up attack.
Yeah, it's a cliche, but against the Tigers possession is the key.
We win a ton of games despite having less than 50% of the ball, but I think the Tigers are equipped to make us pay if we turn over cheap possession. Laurie, the Leilua boys and Nofoaluma are all quality players - especially if they can get quick PTB's.
We should dominate them in the middle though. I think they will struggle to contain us if we get more than 50% of the ball.
Botman wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 6:41 pm
The edge question is interesting
If we do need to replace Young or Whitehead, who is it?
There are no good options at all. And further more, if we need to replace an outside back or halves, the go to option would be to Whitehead goes to centre or 5/8th and everyone else shuffles around... so really if we lose anyone of the back 5, the halves or edges, we're basically going to need James to defend out wide
For this reason I reckon we’ll see HSS come into the 17 for maybe Sutton.
RaiderDavo wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 5:13 pm
Hey, unfortunately we are going to miss the game this weekend because we’ll be up on the Gold Coast. Where on the Goldy do Raiders fans go and watch the game?
The Cut at Benowa
Thanks for that
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’ve had beers with some of the GH members at the pub at Broadbeach mall.
It’s been done up recently though and haven’t checked it out yet
I'm one of those members!
The best place now to watch footy is the Sporting Globe in Robina. Hands down my favourite establishment on the planet, let alone the Gold Coast.
* CHN has left the team in a horrible position with second rower depth. Sutton and Havilii are not realistic options, and Tapine is far better suited to the middle (though he has to be the fallback if Young or Whitehead go down). I am very interested in how Rushton and Esera go in reserve grade as the season progresses.
* I have seen some talk of moving Hodgson to halfback if there is an injury to the backs. If Stuart ever does this (he shouldn’t), I really hope he has the sense to keep Hodgson in the middle defensively. He is far too slow laterally to defend on an edge (also the problem with putting Havilii or Sutton in the second row position). Speaking of Hodgson - the signs of his combination with Williams and Wighton were really promising in the trial. With the new rules, I think having two “run first” halves and an organiser at dummy half will really suit. Just hope Hodgson doesn’t overplay his hand in the red zone.
* I feel sorry for Guler, and think he has been a little hard done by. He will get his run in first grade soon, but I can’t help but feel you take one of James and Soliola, not both. Sutton deserves his spot. I would have preferred Starling, but can see why Stuart would pick Havilii, if he expects Hodgson to play 80.
* Kris is still a surprise, but played NSW U-16 and U-18, he has the talent to do very well. Happy for him.
I have to say this isn't the 17 I'd 100% pick (pretty close) but it isn't really surprising. Since 2019 the Coach has based the majority of his decisions on defensive impact (i.e. moving Wighton to 6) and that has played the biggest part in getting us into the positions we have been recently. I think these selections tell us Ricky rates Kris a better defender than HSS or Timoko, Havili better than Starling and James/Soliola/Sutton better than Guler. Which is all probably true.
I can understand the team named. In my view, the Havili selection ahead of Starling is the only poor choice. I too would have Guler in the team ahead of Soliola but I can see Ricky Stuart's thinking here with wanting some additional leadership while Croker is injured. I'm not sure he would make it with Croker fit. I'm glad to see Ryan James named although some thought he wouldn't make the cut. He looked good in the trial game and at his best he's one of the better props in the game.
Wiki Special wrote: ↑March 10, 2021, 8:03 am
I have to say this isn't the 17 I'd 100% pick (pretty close) but it isn't really surprising. Since 2019 the Coach has based the majority of his decisions on defensive impact (i.e. moving Wighton to 6) and that has played the biggest part in getting us into the positions we have been recently. I think these selections tell us Ricky rates Kris a better defender than HSS or Timoko, Havili better than Starling and James/Soliola/Sutton better than Guler. Which is all probably true.
Yep. The team selection definitely smacks of this.
I thought our defence regressed a bit last year, but it's impossible to get a decent handle on that given the rule changes. I have no doubt Stuart has emphasised a focus on defence to start the season.
With regards to Havili, I though he had some really strong carries in the trial (although his ball security was a bit shaky). Stuart will expect Hodgson to play the full 80. He obviously doesn't see a need to have Starling on the bench as an x factor substitute. As a coach, I wouldn't be planning to play both Hodgson and Starling on the field at the same time. However, Havili can come on to give Taps a spell and give us a few quick PTB's or give us another dimension at lock. He also covers Hodgo if he blows out. I'm more than OK with that.
Given we have James as a veteran presence off the bench I'd have Guler in over Soliola, but that just shows the quality depth we have right now.
-TW- wrote: ↑March 10, 2021, 12:06 pm
Our defence in 19 was very storm like, wrestle and slow the PTB down and give away penalties to reset our line.
It's not surprising that we leaked more points given the rule changes were to counter exactly that.
Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
Yeah, we definitely leaked more in the middle - which I mostly attribute to the changes. Our defence on the edges sucked at times though, which had more to do with the form of certain players, the introduction of rookies and others playing out of position.
RaiderDavo wrote: ↑March 9, 2021, 5:13 pm
Hey, unfortunately we are going to miss the game this weekend because we’ll be up on the Gold Coast. Where on the Goldy do Raiders fans go and watch the game?
The Cut at Benowa
Thanks for that
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’ve had beers with some of the GH members at the pub at Broadbeach mall.
It’s been done up recently though and haven’t checked it out yet
Oi, who the **** are you and why did you steal my lastname?
-TW- wrote: ↑March 10, 2021, 12:06 pm
Our defence in 19 was very storm like, wrestle and slow the PTB down and give away penalties to reset our line.
It's not surprising that we leaked more points given the rule changes were to counter exactly that.
Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
Yeah, we definitely leaked more in the middle - which I mostly attribute to the changes. Our defence on the edges sucked at times though, which had more to do with the form of certain players, the introduction of rookies and others playing out of position.
Anybody able to fact check this claim, before the guy peddles another unproven narrative?
-TW- wrote: ↑March 10, 2021, 12:06 pm
Our defence in 19 was very storm like, wrestle and slow the PTB down and give away penalties to reset our line.
It's not surprising that we leaked more points given the rule changes were to counter exactly that.
Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
Yeah, we definitely leaked more in the middle - which I mostly attribute to the changes. Our defence on the edges sucked at times though, which had more to do with the form of certain players, the introduction of rookies and others playing out of position.
Anybody able to fact check this claim, before the guy peddles another unproven narrative?
I’d be surprised if we were in the bottom half for number of tries leaked in the middle.
Opposition players, coaches and media commentators often remarked how strong our middle was defensively. The missed tackle stats for blokes like Papa, Lui and Soliola were very very low from memory.
There was a stage mid season when someone highlighted that Papa and Lui had less missed tackles for the season than Moses had in a single game.
-TW- wrote: ↑March 10, 2021, 12:06 pm
Our defence in 19 was very storm like, wrestle and slow the PTB down and give away penalties to reset our line.
It's not surprising that we leaked more points given the rule changes were to counter exactly that.
Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
Yeah, we definitely leaked more in the middle - which I mostly attribute to the changes. Our defence on the edges sucked at times though, which had more to do with the form of certain players, the introduction of rookies and others playing out of position.
Anybody able to fact check this claim, before the guy peddles another unproven narrative?