2024 Round 2 v Tigers: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[Rick]

Hoppa over Cotric confirmed.

Nil other changes


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[Rick]

If the Tigers pick Starford Toa we should run Sebastian Kris at him all day like a hammer.

The dude is allergic to contact, a complete turnstyle

He is in at 3


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[IBG]

Well at least he didn't drop Savage.

Hoppa did run a gazillion times last week and setup 2 tries so it would've been hard to drop him.

Can't be too upset with it.

[-TW-]

Aidan Sezer off the bench.. why bother picking him

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[dubby]

Aidan Sezer off the bench.. why bother picking him

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Probably to rest Galvin

[-PJ-]

Sezer off the bench.

It’s like Bunji expects to hook one of his halves.

[Dusty]

I'm ok with Hoppa over Cotric.

Hoppa is more effective carrying the ball out of trouble... Cotric crabs sideways and gets dominated.


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[-PJ-]

Happy with our 17.

Seb was always straight back in.

Ball control, kick to corners and strangle them.

Rinse, repeat.

[radicalraider]

Cotric so hard done by

[Rickmando]

If the Tigers pick Starford Toa we should run Sebastian Kris at him all day like a hammer.

The dude is allergic to contact, a complete turnstyle

He is in at 3


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Good. Game plan should be sorted then. Send the crash balls at him!!

[IBG]

Their forward pack is actually pretty good, he's picked 3 big boppa's on the bench to counter us I reckon.

But our backs will destroy them (Bula very good though).

[BJ]

I’d have gone Cotric, but it’s not a clear cut a call as I would have originally thought. Hoppa did a couple of good things last week.

[Canberra Milk]

Lol Hoppa. Oh well he does have his strong points, and I'm not big on Cotric anymore. I think Schiller easily better but ok, it's a small thing

[LimeGreenMachine]

Sezer has experience playing dummy half .

Ricky's favourite Hoppa still gets a jersey.
I get what Hoppa offers . Which is metres but as I've posted before , if we get the forwards to take that carry then we can have another player who is more of a threat.

[Canberra Milk]

Sezer has experience playing dummy half .

[dubby]

The Toyota Forklift Raiders have named their squad for the round two match against the Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

Sebastian Kris returns to the side in the centres after serving his suspension, shifting Albert Hopoate to the wing.

Nick Cotric has been named as 18th man

https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2024/03 ... -v-tigers/

[Canberra Milk]

The main thing is that Savage is there for some speed. Feels much more balanced/dangerous with him there

Great to see Seb Kris back, top tier

[Ruben Daley]

Cotric so hard done by

Disagree.

I prefer Cotric to Hoppa as a player overall but Hoppa played better in the trials and last week, and it’s been a long time since Cotric properly demanded a first grade spot.

I’m hoping Cotric returns to his best but this was the right decision this week based on form.

I just hope Savage keeps his spot when Chevy comes in and Rapa moves back to the wing. Having Hoppa on the right bodes well but lots will happen between now and then.

[Rick]

Glad Stick has given up on the Kris to fullback idea.

I would have preferred Cotric over Bert but there is not much in it. Hopefully this is the firecracker that Cotric needs. If he goes back to Cup and is outperformed by Asomua and or Schiller then that might be the end of it, especially with the coin he is on.

(Likely) Strong back 5 for Cup;

1 - Stewart
2- Asomua
3- Schiller
4- Waitere
5 - Cotric


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[radicalraider]

Cotric so hard done by

Disagree.

I prefer Cotric to Hoppa as a player overall but Hoppa played better in the trials and last week, and it’s been a long time since Cotric properly demanded a first grade spot.

I’m hoping Cotric returns to his best but this was the right decision this week based on form.

I just hope Savage keeps his spot when Chevy comes in and Rapa moves back to the wing. Having Hoppa on the right bodes well but lots will happen between now and then.

Cotric safer under the high ball, more tackle busts and always scores against tigers!

[radicalraider]

Cotric so hard done by

Disagree.

I prefer Cotric to Hoppa as a player overall but Hoppa played better in the trials and last week, and it’s been a long time since Cotric properly demanded a first grade spot.

I’m hoping Cotric returns to his best but this was the right decision this week based on form.

I just hope Savage keeps his spot when Chevy comes in and Rapa moves back to the wing. Having Hoppa on the right bodes well but lots will happen between now and then.

Cotric safer under the high ball, more tackle busts and always scores against tigers!

[zim]

They're quite weak defensively on both edges now with Sezer on the bench.

[Ruben Daley]

Cotric so hard done by

Disagree.

I prefer Cotric to Hoppa as a player overall but Hoppa played better in the trials and last week, and it’s been a long time since Cotric properly demanded a first grade spot.

I’m hoping Cotric returns to his best but this was the right decision this week based on form.

I just hope Savage keeps his spot when Chevy comes in and Rapa moves back to the wing. Having Hoppa on the right bodes well but lots will happen between now and then.

Cotric safer under the high ball, more tackle busts and always scores against tigers!

Oh yeah. Cotric has Hoppa covered on everything bar work rate and hit-ups. But overall Hoppa contributed way more last week (even though I liked what Cotric did).

Everyone scores against the Tigers. Not sure you can use that.

[Sid]

Kris, Savage would have to be the quickest centre/wing combination Raiders have had in some time. Shame they won't get ball if we have the same game plan as last week

[dubby]

Kris, Savage would have to be the quickest centre/wing combination Raiders have had in some time

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Colin Best and Phil Graham?

We have had some very fast wingers like Eddy Lee and Reece Robson, but our centres have never been extremely fast. Except maybe a brief Mullins stint

[Ruben Daley]

Just on Hoppa, I wonder what the forum’s thoughts would be if someone else came into the team and got 166m, 1 try assist,1 line break assist and 2 offloads from centre and whether we wouldn’t be a touch more positive in our reviews of his performance.

Sure, we’ve got to take Hoppa’s previous performances into account but he demonstrated more ball-playing ability against the Knights than we’ve seen pretty much ever before, which might just be a one-off or a sign he’s increasing his repertoire.

Personally, I’m okay if Hoppa holds his spot for a few more weeks if he keeps playing like last week.

[NoMan]

Hoppa played in the centers last week and was good, I don't think many are arguing he wasn't. That has nothing to do with his ability as a winger though. Even Ricky eventually saw his shortcomings last year as a winger and dropped him.

[Botman]

We’re playing 3 outside backs in cup who are better footballers than Hoppa
But there is always one with Stuart and I’m afraid we’re going to have to live with this one until Asomua or Chevy takes the spot

Hope and pray that occurs before round 10

[Seiffert82]

Yeah, based on last week's game I guess you have to be content with the side being picked on form if there is genuine competition for spots.

If I'm playing a Grand Final I want Cotric over Hopoate based solely on defence, but if Stuart is genuine about his approach to rewarding form and effort then it's hard to argue.

Hopefully it's all in the margins for what is otherwise a very good team.

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[dubby]

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

Nothing personal against Hoppa, I just think Cotric is a better player. Well, has a higher level.

It's Hoppas lack of agility that concerns me. He reminds me a bit of Leilua but a poorer version.

Like Botman said, we have other arguably better players in NSW Cup.
But that's the fun of the forum; open discussion

[zim]

Just on Hoppa, I wonder what the forum’s thoughts would be if someone else came into the team and got 166m, 1 try assist,1 line break assist and 2 offloads from centre and whether we wouldn’t be a touch more positive in our reviews of his performance.

Sure, we’ve got to take Hoppa’s previous performances into account but he demonstrated more ball-playing ability against the Knights than we’ve seen pretty much ever before, which might just be a one-off or a sign he’s increasing his repertoire.

Personally, I’m okay if Hoppa holds his spot for a few more weeks if he keeps playing like last week.

If he looks at video of how he was competing for bombs while at centre and thinks to himself "Hey, why can't I do that elsewhere on the field instead of taking a nap?" then I'll start being more positive towards him as a winger.
He was far better in round 1 than he was in the trials.

[-PJ-]

Looking forward to seeing how Paki Parkinson goes.

[Billy Walker]

I'm ok with Hoppa over Cotric.

Hoppa is more effective carrying the ball out of trouble... Cotric crabs sideways and gets dominated.


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I agree with you Dusty

[greeneyed]

Shock drop for Tigers clash as Raider returns and 'rejects' shine



Homegrown Canberra star Nick Cotric has been dropped from the Raiders' starting lineup to make way for Sebastian Kris as the Green Machine gear up for a home clash against the Wests Tigers where 'rejects' are eyeing another winning performance. Emre Guler and Hudson Young both escaped suspension for grade one dangerous contact charges, but the former admitted he was sweating bullets before the NRL match review committee slapped a fine on him.

"I really was [nervous] for second there," Guler said. "I thought I might be gone because they've been cracking down on the leg lifts. But once I heard that I was fined I was pretty relieved."

Canberra Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Albert Hopoate, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Josh Papali'i, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Joe Tapine (c), 11. Hudson Young, 12. Zac Hosking, 13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Ata Mariota, 17. Pasami Saulo

18. Nick Cotric, 19. Kaeo Weekes, 20. Simi Sasagi, 21. Zac Woolford, 22. Trey Mooney.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

[papabear]

Cotric is a very good defensive winger

I don’t know why our back up winger is starting over a superior player, hopefully being the tigers we still have enough juice..