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Round 24: DRAGONS vs TITANS (2024)

Agree with you GCG. I want to see Tony Francis in these last few games. Maybe it'll be Des' plan for 2025 with Jojo training at centre all off season. I hope so.

The other thing is if CG can get up to speed in an off season, can he play centre or do we just play him at 6 if he looks like our best long term option? I'd worry about him in D at NRL level and it'll take a while for his talk to develop at 6 in D but no doubt he can learn it. If he's our 6, what could JC and AJ do in the centres? With Kini playing through the right and one of those two on the left, it would extend our threat with the ball. BUT can they defend there well enough?
 
Do we think we will see any changes now with finals absolutely out of the question maybe reward a couple from our dev list or even some of the too 30 without much game time Des might want to look at?

I’d like to see JoJo to centre Francis to a wing? remember Tony was always a centre coming through and both were signed as long term centres so could be an option

Would like to see JDG and Hau in some way also…
 
Had a few minutes to provide an alternate point of view.

JC totally spat the dummy at Sami when he ignored the 5th tackle and judging by his general demeanour I reckon he is not a happy camper being constantly overcalled. These are both players with Titans DNA but like BK's brain fades something has to be done.

Kini needs to be sweeping around the left more often instead of always going to Foz on the right. AKP got one ball in attack yesterday and even that was heading into the grandstand if he hadn't jumped. I am no AKP fan but when the most elusive try-scorer in the comp gets passed the ball twice in two weeks then there is something very wrong. This is also where JC and Difita are totally under-utilised.

I repeat my very unpopular opinion that Kini is getting the ball far too often for a team sport and for his own longevity. The opposition are working him out. Tino has also been criticised for this, as was Difita at other times. It seems to be in the team's DNA that our best players are expected to carry the other bludgers.

3 does not go into 1 and just "getting your best players on the field" only works when they are the best available in that other position. Cliches are cliches not rules. If CG is good enough he gets 6 outside Foz. Teams are built on defence and therefore AJ gets 1 and Kini the 14. Kini can run 100m in the second 20 of each half. Jojo replaces BK and Francis gets a shot inside Sami who is only a right wing.

In the forwards, the Verrills/Randall combination is looking flimsy to say the least although with Tino adding some punch maybe that still works. Fermor has earned his spot regardless of his failings as has Clark. Jolliffe and Mo are honest toilers at NRL level, which leaves two bench forward spots and left wing. Assuming that AKP continues to improve then he's a lock but those two forward places are open. Surely Hau gets a start. He may turn like Difita but he does have some mongrel while JAW also offers some mongrel and something different in attack.

1. AJ (subbed by Kini at 20 until halftime and then again at 60)
2. AKP (JDG is watching but if CG gets 6 then JC gets 2)
3. Jojo
4. Francis
5. Sami (Stephenson is coming)
6. JC (CG is learning)
7. Foz (JC is learning, Harrison is coming)
8. Tino (but until then give the brother with the same mother a go)
9. Randall (Verrills is watching)
10. Mo
11. Difita (subbed by Hau at 30)
12. Fermor
13. Clark

14. Kini
15. Jolliffe
16. Hau
17. JAW
 
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I really like that line up, T. I have a feeling Pahulu will be something good though, so tempted to keep giving him game time. If we've made a decision on JAW and we're keeping him, he's an option. If we're not, we're better to give Pahulu the minutes.

Can Jojo and Francis play centre this year? When did they last? Do they need the offseason to get them there? Or is it better throwing them in the deep end? Can they be any worse than BK and Sami?

Interested in your AJ vs Kini best defensive player argument but if that's the marker, Lofi shouldn't play. The alternative is to start with Kini and a tougher winger. In theory the 20/20 approach makes sense but it's not going to be like that is it? I also see Kini with a higher ceiling than AJ, so I think we should persist with him in the 1 and start working on his variety.

AJ can be a great centre if he wants to. He'll be back in the spine with injuries anyway. I think there's a fair bit up to him between the ears. I hope Des is straightening that out. It looks like he's sending AJ some messages. I imagine there are some frank discussions behind it.
 
Couldn't believe it when I saw AJ run on at the end of the game to play hooker with Randall and verrils on the bench. AJ should be 1 or 6 touching the ball the most. We know what JC can do as a 6 after that warriors game but when he's not on we play really bad and makes fifita look even worse . as much as I love JC I'd be dropping him for AJ. Then if AJ gets injured again or a centre goes down bring on JC.
 
I'd love to see us try AJ at the back and Kini in for Lofi on the left wing before the end of this season. It massively improves our kick returns and would take enormous pressure off our forwards. The idea of Kini trailing off AJ and vice versa also gets me a little firm. There's very little that Lofi does better than Kini on either side of the ball. Run fast perhaps? Even then I don't think there is much in a foot race between Kini and Lofi.
 
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