National Rugby League PremiershipBy W D Nicolson - February 21, 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 Storm players he believes Craig Bellamy will pick for Round 1:
UPDATE 24/2: Tohu Harris has a stress fracture in his foot and will miss at least the first month of the season. Felise Kaufusi or Joe Stimson appear to be the front runners for more minutes as a result. Though Bellamy could opt for Nelson Asofa-Solomona instead.
- Young TONUMAIPEA
- Suliasi VUNIVALU
- Cheyse BLAIR or Curtis SCOTT
- Will CHAMBERS
- Josh ADDO-CARR
- Cameron MUNSTER
- Cooper CRONK
- Jesse BROMWICH
- Cameron SMITH
- Jordan McLEAN
- Felise KAUFUSI (Tohu HARRIS injured 24/2)
- Kenny BROMWICH
- Dale FINUCANE
BENCH - Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA
- Tim GLASBY
- Christian WELCH
- Slade GRIFFIN or Joe STIMSON
The Postman's Squad Analysis:- The fitness of Billy Slater - or rather how soon Bellamy expects him to return - dictates if Cameron Munster starts the season at five-eighth or fullback. If Slater will be back in the opening month - then Bellamy is likely to run with Tonumaipea at fullback and leave Brodie Croft out. However if Slater isn't close - Munster starts the season at fullback and Croft plays in the #6.
- Cheyse Blair or Curtis Scott will get the left centre spot (next to newbie Josh Addo-Carr) - with Blair the incumbent from the Grand Final but Scott getting named in the spot for the final trial v Canterbury. Gut says Blair gets the call... just.
- Kenny Bromwich should get Kevin Proctor's right edge spot given he played there when he replaced Proctor in games last season, with Kaufusi set to make the bench alongside wrecking ball Asofa-Solomona and the under-rated-by-everyone-bar-Bellamy - Glasby.
- With Harris hurt - Welch will get a bench spot and Kaufusi is set to start in the backrow with Joe Stimson or Slade Griffin in line for the final bench spot. Mind you, it's not beyond Bellamy to pick Croft or even Blair in that final spot. One other name that shouldn't be discounted is forward Vincent Leuluai.
Billy Slater (Shoulder - Opening Rounds), Tohu Harris (Foot - Round 4 on)
