Pick Your Team Pick Your Team 2018 Rnd 5 - Warriors vs Cowboys

[Miket12]

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck might not be too impressed by all this Green and Shaun Johnson nonsense

Last time I checked he was Captaining the ship

There’s a number of reasons I feel Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has improved as a captain but one of them is that he’s no longer a lone wolf.

Last year, he had “senior” players around him who weren’t leaders. Mutts and Lillyman would do their roles but didn’t take on or even really show leadership. The Hoff was too much, do as I say cos I can’t do. Brodene was never going to step up. And Simon, was just too jaded trying to do the role for so long.

Now, through the pre-season, and into the season proper, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been joined by leaders such as a re-born Luke, Harris, Green and Blair who have the intelligence, experience and mana to stand up and support Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in his role as captain. Their leadership in support of their captain is something we haven’t seen since 2011.

The growth over the off season of him as a captain is, at least in my opinion, as remarkable as the change in fitness, game plan and culture.

 

[Makasene]

I cannot find a spot for Beale at the moment.

I will happily put my hand up and say Kata and Maumalo have quite simply played exceptional to date. I couldn't drop either.

 

[Beastmode]

There’s a number of reasons I feel Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has improved as a captain but one of them is that he’s no longer a lone wolf.

Last year, he had “senior” players around him who weren’t leaders. Mutts and Lillyman would do their roles but didn’t take on or even really show leadership. The Hoff was too much, do as I say cos I can’t do. Brodene was never going to step up. And Simon, was just too jaded trying to do the role for so long.

Now, through the pre-season, and into the season proper, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been joined by leaders such as a re-born Luke, Harris, Green and Blair who have the intelligence, experience and mana to stand up and support Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in his role as captain. Their leadership in support of their captain is something we haven’t seen since 2011.

The growth over the off season of him as a captain is, at least in my opinion, as remarkable as the change in fitness, game plan and culture.

Well said

It’s all about confidence in my opinion

The boys have all the physical tools to succeed

Get the right ingredients together, breed confidence and this team will be unstoppable

The key question is how long can this last????

 

[Sammyw11]

assuming everyone is fit i would go

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Fusitua
3. Hiku
4. Kata
5. Maumalo
6. Green
7. Johnson
8. Gavet
9. Luke
10. Paasi
11. Pulu
12. Harris
13. Blair

14. Tavega
15. Afoa
16. Lisone
17. Mannering

18. Lino
19. Satae
20. Sao

quite hard to fit everyone in, satae was good but lisone was better pre-suspension, sao has been good but mannering is mannering and deserves a run, no need to disrupt the starting side, let simon cruise back in off the bench. experience off the bench is never bad thing too.
Gelling was also pretty good i thought, but we dont need to carry a back on the bench. tavega has been surprisingly good, massive engine and tough as. keep lino around the squad just incase johnson breaks down but otherwise if Shaun Johnson is fit then he should start.

 

[CHURCUZ]

THE DEPTH IS DEEP...

ID LIKE TO SEE LINO GO ANOTHER ROUND BUT IF JOHNSON IS AVAILABLE ITS HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

MY TEAM:
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck FUSS HIKU KATA KEN
GREEN LINO
BUNTY LUKE PAASI
PULU HARRIS
BLAIR
GAVET LISONE MANNERING JAZZ

 

[Gizzyfan]

I thought last week showed that Blair should be no 13. He was a clear leader of the forwards in playing direct. His direction and defense was near perfect. I don't think he can provide the same from Prop. Further our other Props gain more metres. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the Captain but Blair is the Field Marshall so to speak.

The other person who is making opposition teams lose major contact metres is Tevaga, no stat for that. His low sure tackles are slowing the opposition down big time, no post contact metres with no legs. As long as someone else is wrapping the upper body up to stop the offload, all good. Unfortunately my prediction is he will have an HIA this week against these big Cowboy forwards.

Shaun Johnson back in if fit, Lino did a fine job, and Shaun Johnson can learn from that, but if the team plays direct his very presence will have the opposition in two minds. If everyone is fit my team:
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Fusitua, Hiku, Kata, Ken, Shaun Johnson, Messiah, Luke, Gavet, Paasi, Pulu, Harris, Blair, Tevaga, Afoa, Lisone, Mannering.

 

[Tragic]

I thought last week showed that Blair should be no 13.

What about if Simon comes back?I wouldnt be dropping Pulu or Tohu Harris , so unless you move Blair to prop you would have to have a back row rotation. Tohu Harris is an 80 minute man for me so the only way this works is giving Pulu, Blair and Simon a 25ish minute

So maybe:
Start to 30 minute - Blair/Pulu/Tohu Harris
30 -55 minute - Mannering/Pulu/Tohu Harris
55 - 80 minute - Mannering/Blair/Tohu Harris

 

[Gizzyfan]

SK has already said Simon will play on the left. That is not to say he can rest Blair at Lock and Pulu and/or Blair can help the Prop rotation.

Tohu Harris can even be given a break if needed, not ideal but it is doable. As far as the Bench it would be nice to have another big bopper, but I can see the logic of Gelling.

Personally I would have Luke go to the Halves in a back injury and have Shaun Johnson in the outside back position required. His D is good enough now. Against a big pack like the Cowboys another bopper will be handy.