National Rugby League PremiershipBy W D Nicolson - February 22, 2017
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NRL SuperCoach and NRL Fantasy pundits rejoice - your old mate The Postman is back with his take on the 17 Broncos he believes Wayne Bennett will pick for Round 1:
UPDATE 28/2: Word from Brisbane has Tautau Moga in line to push David Mead out of first grade, with Kahu going to the right wing and Moga playing left centre. Also the bench looks like it won't have Nikorima or Marshall, with Bennett considering running with Alex Glenn as his utility and 3 forwards - Herman Ese'Ese, Jai Arrow and Tevita Pangai Jr (meaning Joe Ofahengaue plays QLD Cup after starting the World Club Series). WOW.
- Darius BOYD
- Corey OATES
- Tautau MOGA
- James ROBERTS
- Jordan KAHU
- Anthony MILFORD
- Ben HUNT
- Korbin SIMS
- Andrew McCULLOUGH
- Adam BLAIR
- Sam THAIDAY
- Matt GILLETT
- Josh McGUIRE
BENCH - Alex GLENN
- Tevita PANGAI
- Jai ARROW
- Herman ESE'ESE or Joe OFAHENGAUE
- David Mead has won the race for the right wing spot and he'll play outside James Roberts on a fairly pacy edge. It appears Tom Opacic's shoulder is no good - so Jordan Kahu will partner Corey Oates on the left. As a result it looks like Benji Marshall's best chance of First Grade is the bench utility role but will have to bide his time at Redcliffe unless Kodi Nikorima is hurt or doesn't get the job done.
- Up front - Alex Glenn is the man pushed out of the starting pack even with Corey Parker's retirement. Sam Thaiday will start in the second row and though he'll play in the middle in his second stint - Glenn shifts to the bench with Josh McGuire's transition to lock. And judging by the World Club Series game it looks like Glenn's role could also cover dummy-half if Bennett decides Nikorima isn't ready for Round 1.
- That means up front - it'll be Korbin Sims joining Adam Blair at prop, with Joe Ofahengaue looking like the favourite to join Tevita Pangai in the rotation from the bench. That means impressive youngster Jaydn Su'a seems out of the Round 1 mix after missing the World Club Series team, but given the makeup of the likely NRL bench - he might still be sitting ahead of Herman Ese'Ese, Jai Arrow, George Fai and Mitchell Dodds in the line to replace Ofahengaue.
Tom Opacic (Shoulder - Round 4 on).
