Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 3:51 pm  

Fullback and halfback would be the positions I would look at to make the team more solid and at the same time give a bit of pace at halfback.
Against Samoa Sam at times looked a bit dodgy under the high ball and by bringing Hardaker in at fullback Sam could go to halfback thereby bringing much needed pace and guile to the position.
This though would raise a few other problems to be taken into consideration, if Sam was at halfback who would partner him.
Widdop took his goals very well and was steady in attack, Smith had a good kicking game with ball in hand, but as fans have said on here he would be far more effective if he just teased the defence a few times by threatening to go himself.
Does he play Widdop for his goal kicking or play Smith for his better tactical kicking game and let him take the goal kicks as well, another alternative is use Stefan Ratchford who is also in the squad.
As for the forwards Lockers to come back (only if fit) and for me Whitehead in for J Tomkins.
Some interesting decisions to be made.

[Pemps]

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 4:07 pm  

I thought Ferres was the poorer of the 3 second rowers but he's probably been better than JT this season. The second row does need a shake up though. Maybe Lockers to 13 with Westerman, Whitehead and Farrell as the 3 second rowers. I wouldn't change anything else.

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 5:51 pm  

Smith would be so unlucky to miss out on Saturday but I can't help but feel we'd be a stronger team with Hardaker at fullback and Sam Tomkins in the halves.

That change would be one I'd potentially make on top of bringing in Whitehead and O'Loughlin for Westerman and Joel Tomkins. I actually had the other two backrowers down for missing out straight after the game on Saturday but after watching bits of it again Faz was better then I thought and Wrsterman and JT not quite as strong.

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 6:53 pm  

I wasn't too impressed with Shenton but I don't think there are any other players in the squad who would do any better at left centre. I also think JT might retain his place in the squad due to his size with Whitehead coming in for Ferres.

I think the team will be:

Sam Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Shenton
Hall
Widdop
Smith
George Burgess
Hodgson
Graham
Farrell
Whitehead
O'Loughlin

Clark
Tom Burgess
Joel Tomkins
Hill

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:00 pm  

Sorry to be nit picky to the OP but we play on Sunday.

Before the tournament started I'd have preferred Hardaker over Shenton in the centres. Shenton's one of those players who can have good seasons in SL but I don't think he'll ever be international class.

Saturday was poor, but I don't think wholesale changes are needed. Lockers for Westerman would be the only definite. Hardaker for Shenton and Whitehead for Ferres are others but I don't think either of those changes would make the difference between a winning team and a losing one. Tomkins at FB with Widdop and Smith in the halves has to be given more time to build.

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:21 pm  

Did anyone else think Westerman was poor? I haven't seen too much of him previously but he seemed to get dominated in tackles and made at least one poor error. I'd bring Lockers in for him and Whitehead in for Joel who looked a bit off the pace (to be expected). Other than that I'd go as we are and chalk the poor performance down to the lack of a friendly

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:51 pm  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

Sorry to be nit picky to the OP but we play on Sunday.

Before the tournament started I'd have preferred Hardaker over Shenton in the centres. Shenton's one of those players who can have good seasons in SL but I don't think he'll ever be international class.

Saturday was poor, but I don't think wholesale changes are needed. Lockers for Westerman would be the only definite. Hardaker for Shenton and Whitehead for Ferres are others but I don't think either of those changes would make the difference between a winning team and a losing one. Tomkins at FB with Widdop and Smith in the halves has to be given more time to build.

Well spotted WC, me getting the dates wrong, but if you look at my user name you will see the reason why.

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:44 am  

The changes are... none!

O'Loughlin still out injured.

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:02 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

The changes are... none!

O'Loughlin still out injured.

Steve McNamara wrote:

A few of our blokes haven’t been able to train fully during the early part of the week..... Even though we have named the same side, there could be a change or two at the back end of the week...... Those that were unable to train are making decent progress. Sean O’Loughlin is definitely improving and we will continue to monitor him throughout this week..... It is really difficult to name a team earlier in the week. Firmer decision will be made towards the weekend, when we arrive in Melbourne.

Sounds like he may well play yet, seems daft making him name his squad on Tuesday for a game on Sunday.

Re: Will there be changes on Saturday?. : Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:29 pm  

I thought western was pretty quiet and struggled to make yards in the tackle. It seems he made a fair number of tackles though at 35, but, if he's being used as a 3 rd prop, which he seemed to be doing that role, then he's not big enough, if he's a direct swap for SoL then he didn't provide any link with the halfbacks.

I Sean is fit it has to be a direct swap.

Debate able on swapping the 2nd rows, Faz provides mobility and great defence in addition to running great lines in attack especially with Sam running behind as an option. I think we need our best defenders on the edges as the Aussies will target us there, as traditionally thats where they do well as we are mot so great at makong correct reads on the edge - so i think we need Faz.

Whitehead has many supporters but there seems to be doubts about his defence , i haven't seen enough of him to say if true, but we need our best defenders at the edges as this is where Aus will target.