Wednesday 22 February 2017

The Postman's Predicted NRL Round 1 Team: Gold Coast Titans | #SuperCoach #NRLFantasy

National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - February 22, 2017


NRL SuperCoach and NRL Fantasy pundits rejoice - your old mate The Postman is back with his take on the 17 Titans players he believes Neil Henry will pick for Round 1:

UPDATE 28/2: Jarryd Hayne is no certainty due to a knee injury, but William Zillman has been tabbed by Neil Henry as his logical replacement. News of Nathan Davis being shopped around puts his spot under threat for Round 1 - with Vidot or Zillman likely to replace him. Greenwood looks set to play off the bench as well.

  1. Jarryd HAYNE
  2. Anthony DON
  3. Dan SARGINSON
  4. Konrad HURRELL
  5. Nathan DAVIS or Daniel VIDOT or William ZILLMAN
  6. Ashley TAYLOR
  7. Kane ELGEY
  8. Leivaha PULU
  9. Tyrone ROBERTS
  10. Ryan JAMES
  11. Kevin PROCTOR
  12. Chris McQUEEN
  13. Jarrod WALLACE
    BENCH
  14. Kane LAWTON
  15. Paterika VAIVAI
  16. Nathaniel PETERU
  17. Agnatius PAASI or Joe GREENWOOD
The Postman's Squad Analysis:
  • The club is reeling from the injuries to hooker Nathan Peats (shoulder), his backup Pat Politoni (arm) and Ryan Simpkins (ribs) who can cover the backrow as well as hooker. Simpkins is the only one who looks like he might be an outside chance in Round 1 - with Peats and Politoni set to miss the opening rounds at least - meaning Tyrone Roberts will have to play #9 with depth half Tyler Cornish eyeing an NRL debut as the bench utility. It's hardly an ideal situation for Neil Henry... who may even have to turn to outside backs Karl Lawton or Will Zillman as his bench utility.
  • Jarryd Hayne will be fit for the opener, with Anthony Don and Nathan Davis the front runners for the wing spots - though Daniel Vidot probably just needs match-fitness to force his way into the top grade. Konrad Hurrell and Dan Sarginson are the first choice centres - but both will enter Round 1 with no match-fitness after injury interrupted off-seasons.
  • Jarrod Wallace was picked at prop for the last trial but all other signs point to him playing lock with Kevin Proctor and Chris McQueen playing on the edges.
  • Opportunities abound on the bench up front - with Leivaha Pulu set to start at prop with the retirement of David Shillington and the doubts over Agnatius Paasi's shoulder ahead of Round 1. Paasi could still make the bench in Round 1 if he's passed fit - along with UK import Joe Greenwood - though Greenwood looks more likely for Round 2 since he may not actually be in the country until March. That means Nathaniel Peteru, Pat Vaivai, Morgan Boyle, Lorenzo Ma'afu and Eddy Pettybourne (though the latter didn't play the final trial) are in the running for at least two bench forward spots.
Injured List:
Nathan Peats (Shoulder - Round 4 on), Pat Politoni (Arm - Round 4 on), John Olive (Pectoral - Opening Rounds), Ryan Simpkins (Ribs - Opening Rounds). 
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