National Rugby League PremiershipBy W D Nicolson - February 26, 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 Raiders he believes Ricky Stuart will pick for Round 1:
UPDATE 28/2: It looks like Whitehead will play left centre alongside rookie Nick Cotric, with Jordan Turner set for the bench and Sia Soliola to play right backrow.
- Jack WIGHTON
- Jordan RAPANA
- Elliott WHITEHEAD
- Joseph LEILUA
- Nick COTRIC
- Blake AUSTIN
- Aidan SEZER
- Joseph TAPINE
- Josh HODGSON
- Shannon BOYD
- Josh PAPALII
- Sia SOLIOLA
- Luke BATEMAN
BENCH - Adam CLYDSDALE
- Dunamis LUI
- Jeff LIMA
- Clay PRIEST
- The club release Edrick Lee to the Sharks and Shaun Fensom to the Cowboys ahead of Round 1 - and funnily enough, that's when they needed them the most. Jarrod Croker is on the shelf until Round 4-6 and both Junior Paulo and Dave Taylor missing through suspension for at least one round.
- Nick Cotric is almost certain to get his chance on the left wing but there's some talk that Elliott Whitehead will end up playing left centre even if UK import Jordan Turner is named there. Luke Batemen would then start at lock with Sia Soliola on the right and Turner going to the bench. Brent Naden and Eddie Aiono are Cotric's biggest challengers for the wing spot with Lee gone. Kato Ottio won't return from a knee injury until midway through the season.
- With Paulo missing, Joseph Tapine or Jeff Lima will start at prop. Clay Priest is also likely if he's match fit (a broken ankle late last season cost him much of his off-season) with new buy Dunamis Lui also hoping to get a chance if Ricky Stuart decides not to carry Adam Clydsdale as his bench hooker (Kurt Baptiste ruptured his Achilles in the off-season).
- When Taylor and Paulo return - Priest and Lui are the men to make way and Clydsdale also likely to miss out.
- What happens when Croker returns is up to Cotric really... if he gets a chance in the first place.
Junior Paulo (Suspended through Round 1), Dave Taylor (Likely Suspended through Round 2), Jarrod Croker (Knee - Round 4 on), Kato Ottio (Knee - Mid-Season), Kurt Baptiste (Achilles - Late Season).
