Team Talk with Marcho: Rd 1
Welcome back to Team Talk 2016. Team lists are out with injuries, suspensions, debuts and a few round one shocks as well. 2016 will be an unknown for NRLCEO coaches, with reduced interchanges, plus the shot clock and the possibility of Meter Eaters set to affect certain players more than others.
Parramatta v Brisbane
The Eels have bought well in the off season. Michael Gordon and Kieran Foran form part of a new look spine and Michael Jennings and Clint Gutherson will help add some real fire power in the outside backs. Beau Scott has moved over as well but I can’t see any reason to pick him up as he just doesn’t play the minutes, nor get involved enough to be WH relevant. I’m a huge Nathan Peats fan and love to slap the NRLCEO captaincy on him, especially when he is set to play 80 minutes.
Brisbane managed to grab the best centre in the off season in James Roberts. He will be quality on NRLCEO. Josh McGuire returns to the front row after an achilles injury last season and Greg Eden will make his NRL debut on the wing, despite being listed as a fullback only. Sam Thaiday has been named on the bench.
Manly v Canterbury
The Sea Eagles are another who have recruited large numbers in the off season. Dylan Walker will play five-eighth, Apisai Koroisau and Nate Myles will both start in the front row, while Lewis Brown, Nathan Green and Marty Taupau complete the forward pack overhaul. Livewire hooker Matt Parcell will come off the bench and share the hooking role with Koroisau. There is some doubt surrounding whether or not Brett Stewart will play.
The Dogs have welcomed Will Hopoate into the kennel and with Brett Morris expected to be sidelined for four months, he will get a positional update by round four. Chase Stanley will play in the centres and Moses Mbye will be the new halfback. Danny Fualalo will make his debut off the bench. Tony Williams is back from injury and I’m expecting T-Rex to produce* this year as he is coming off contract.
*by produce I mean 40-50 NRLCEO points.
Canberra v Penrith
The Raiders big offseason recruit is Aidan Sezer, who will partner Sam Williams in the halves (which comes as a shock) with Blake Austin coming off the bench, I can only see this happening for a few weeks to help ease Austin back into the swing of things. Elliot Whitehead is the other surprise starter at backrow, Iosia Soliola drops back to a powerful bench which includes Paul Vaughan. I expect the Raiders to do this one pretty easy, heat will be a factor with the mercury tipped to hit 35 degrees!
The Panthers will be without new skipper Matt Moylan for a few weeks, Will Smith will fill in. Peta Hiku starts in the centres where he is joined by Waqa Blake as Dean Whare has a calf complaint. The arrival of Trent Merrin has pushed Elijah Taylor back to the bench, but I don’t see a problem as Taylor will still grab a workhorse.
Balmain-Wests v New Zealand
This has potential to be the highest scoring game of the round. The Tigers have three potential hookers injured at the moment leaving Manaia Cherrington most likely to play big minutes, if you’re looking for someone who will jag a workhorse in the opening few round, take a punt on this kid and pick him up. Up front Tim Grant has been brought in to replace Keith Galloway while Jordan Rankin takes Pat Richards vacant wing spot. Jack Littlejohn will place at halfback with Luke Brooks suspended for this game. Not really sure who will kick for the Tigers this year, Jordan Rankin is the front runner, but Mitch Moses might still get the tee.
North Queensland v Cronulla
Both teams will enter 2016 with a fair bit of expectation, The Cowboys will take the same side which won the grand final out in round one, a truly rare feat in the modern era. You know what to expect from the premiers but they did lose to the Sharks twice in the regular season last year and lost their opening three games to start the 2015 season.
The Sharks finally have some halves again and for the first time in a long time people are excited to see what the outside backs will be can produce, a lot will rest on how quickly combinations are struck up, the bulk of which will rest on the shoulders of James Maloney and Chad Townsend. Ben Barba has earned back his fullback jersey meaning Jack Bird will shift to the centres. Valentine Holmes will have to do with a wing spot for now.
Sydney City v South Sydney
The Roosters have had some rotten luck with injuries to start the season with Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves both out until round 11. Kane Evans will start up front and Mr Fix It, Mitch Aubusson will play in the backrow. Latrell Mitchell will play on the wing with Jayden Nikorima and Jackson Hastings forming a new look halves. Dale Copley joined late in the offseason and will slot into the centres. Ian Henderson is on the bench as hooker cover but captain Jake Friend won’t sit on the pine for too long in this blockbuster.
Sam Burgess, the messiah has returned to the Rabbits, but at what cost? Some premiership winning players have exited the club to accommodate his huge wages. Hymel Hunt gets as start over Kirisome Auva’a and Cody Walker will make his debut while Luke Keary is suspended. Cameron McInnes has won the race for the starting hooker spot with Damien Cook on the bench. George Burgess is also suspended for the opening round, brother Tom is out injured until round seven. Zane Musgrove will also make his debut via the bench.
Gold Coast v Newcastle
This looks like the wooden spoon battle right here (and I’m a Knights fan!). Gold Coast have recruited a few solid players in David Shillington and Nathan Friend along with Chris McQueen and Zeb Taia to strengthen the forward pack, but have a pretty average looking backline. Knights reject Tyrone Roberts will get a chance to extract revenge on his old club as he and Ash Taylor will start in the halves together. Nathan Davis will make his NRL debut in the centres.
The Knights have had a massive overhaul of their 2015 wooden spoon team and new coach Nathan Brown has opted for youth with some experienced halves to start round 1. Jaelen Feeney, (fullback) Pat Mataútia, (centre) Jacob Safiti, (backrow) David Bhana (bench) and Daniel Safiti (bench) are all making their NRL debuts. NSW halfback Trent Hodkinson was recruited on big money while Pauli Pauli will play off the bench. I could continue but most of this guys aren’t really fantasy relevant, so I’ll leave it for now.
Melbourne v St George Illawarra
Not too many players have been brought into the Storm team but that may leave them a little light on in quality outside back depth after the departures of Matt Duffie, Mahe Fanua and Kurt Mann. Cameron Munster is expected to spend a few weeks on the sidelines after injuring his knee in the Auckland 9’s. Billy Slater is also facing a fitness test to be play round one with Ben Hampton on standby. Richard Kennar will play centre and Young Tonumaipea will start on the wing.
The Dragons have added some shrew players in Tim Lafai to play in the centres and Kurt Mann at fullback. While in the forwards Dunamis Lui and Siliva Havili will both play off the bench. Russell Packer is welcomed back into the NRL. Josh Dugan will switch back to the centres, personally I don’t think this is the best Dragons backline. Euan Aitken has been moved onto a wing and Peter Mataútia left out after a breakout 2015 season.
Good luck to all coaches and remember in this early season games the heat will affect the amount of workhorses early on in the season, so maybe a back in a better Captain option.
Will Marchinton
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