Rich_E, Yesterday at 10:17 PM
I reckon joey's backs are top shelf. Not suggesting you've not seen all teams play. But i reckon Kings and View are damn good too from what I've seen. Like you, I hope selections reflect form over reputation. But good thing this year is that with rep teams to be announced later thus year, the selectors will have more opportunity to consider former over later.
I agree so much. There should be very little weight put on last years rep selections as everyone seems to be agreeing we are looking at different GPS landscape in the firsts this year and selectors will have more than enough games to get it right. I agree it would be hard to justify the selection of some of the Newington players who were prominent last year in a GPS 1 team at the moment, Helu and Tyrone the exception as I thought they showed their class in the Kings game. The Riverview flankers are both good players and current form should given heavier weight than preference for an incumbent who seems to be finding the going a bit harder this year without the quality he had around him last season. I think Osborne (K) has made a big statement for FB consideration. He clearly outpointed his opposite number last week and as someone else has put forth from a Saturday review, his kicking game against Scots was a major factor and continually put them back well back into their own half. Reports even from Shore folk does not have their #9 in good form but that can be said for most of the backline who we all had hopes for this year. Gregory an exception and Rixon, now out for a few weeks would have to be included in 1 or 2s on trial form. While Peitch has the ability to play #6 or #7, he has the #8 jumper at Kings and the two tries he has now scored in both games against Newington and Scots, a big statement about his ability. His last try Saturday, kick and re-gather was pretty impressive. This Saturday Kings v Scots and then Riverview v Kings should make in clearer for selectors to sort out the backs but Sheldon (G) does deserve a opportunity.
I reckon joey's backs are top shelf. Not suggesting you've not seen all teams play. But i reckon Kings and View are damn good too from what I've seen. Like you, I hope selections reflect form over reputation. But good thing this year is that with rep teams to be announced later thus year, the selectors will have more opportunity to consider former over later.
I agree so much. There should be very little weight put on last years rep selections as everyone seems to be agreeing we are looking at different GPS landscape in the firsts this year and selectors will have more than enough games to get it right. I agree it would be hard to justify the selection of some of the Newington players who were prominent last year in a GPS 1 team at the moment, Helu and Tyrone the exception as I thought they showed their class in the Kings game. The Riverview flankers are both good players and current form should given heavier weight than preference for an incumbent who seems to be finding the going a bit harder this year without the quality he had around him last season. I think Osborne (K) has made a big statement for FB consideration. He clearly outpointed his opposite number last week and as someone else has put forth from a Saturday review, his kicking game against Scots was a major factor and continually put them back well back into their own half. Reports even from Shore folk does not have their #9 in good form but that can be said for most of the backline who we all had hopes for this year. Gregory an exception and Rixon, now out for a few weeks would have to be included in 1 or 2s on trial form. While Peitch has the ability to play #6 or #7, he has the #8 jumper at Kings and the two tries he has now scored in both games against Newington and Scots, a big statement about his ability. His last try Saturday, kick and re-gather was pretty impressive. This Saturday Kings v Scots and then Riverview v Kings should make in clearer for selectors to sort out the backs but Sheldon (G) does deserve a opportunity.