I firmly believe that we are only a couple of bits of the jigsaw away from being a very competitive unit. With the modified rules that have been introduced, we could be even closer that a lot of us have thought. Whilst a number of posters subscribe to the theory that Pago Pago has a one dimensional game plan, there has been a definite shift to a different style over the past 2 seasons. It must have dawned on him that Wayne Carey is pretty difficult to clone. There are only so many Jonno Brown types around and we just ain’t got one. DP has been steadily weeding out the gaspers and systematically introducing a bunch of Kouta types to create a team of runners who are capable with the pill going both ways.
It dawned on me after reading a recent post that teams aren’t broken up into the traditional categories anymore. Once upon a time you would pick a starting back 6, a starting forward 6, a centre square starting 4 plus 2 wingers and top it off with a bench of 4 utilities to cover the interchange. I reckon that has all gone out the window. More importantly I reckon Pago Pago is already ahead of the game in his thinking. He has been planning this for over 2 years now. It just so happens that the new rule changes, fit in perfectly with his thinking.
Consider the scenario where the groupings are broken up into specific fixed cores and the balance is made up of Carriers and Runners as a separate core group. Assuming that these are the core groups: Defensive, Forward, Ruck, Extractors and Runners. If this is the case then, rather than 6 fixed Defenders only 4 would make up the Defensive core. Before you go off ya trolley, I’m not suggesting we only station 4 boys down back. We probably need 8, but try and follow this. I’m saying 4 CORE Defenders, 4 CORE Forwards etc. The other spots would be filled by Carriers and Runners.
On that basis the breakups of the 22 could be: Defensive 4, Forward 4, Ruck 2, Extractors 4 and Carriers & Runners 8. Do we have the troops to cover this situation or will we have them soon, you’ll probably wonder. I reckon we are well on the way. After much difficulty, I finally came up with the ideal members IMHO of each core group.
Defensive Core 4: Thornton – Saddington – Livingston - Bower
Forward Core 4: Fevola – Whitnall – Fisher - Kennedy
Ruck Core 2: French - McLaren
Extractors Core 4: Koutoufides – Bentick – Blackwell - Murphy
Carriers & Runners Core 8: Stevens – Waite – Walker – Lappin – Simpson – Carrazzo - Betts - Russell
The remaining players I just couldn’t fit in, but some will no doubt make it whilst others are on last chances.
Davies - Teague – O’hAilpin - McGrath - Longmuir - Chambers - Hartlett - Deluca – Bryan – Prendergast – Scotland – Bannister – Houlihan – Wiggins – Raso – Sporn – Edwards - Smith - Batson - O’hAilpin - Pick 1 Rookie Draft - Pick X Rookie Draft.
This is all subject to injury and suspension of course. Anyway here goes….. I’m sure you’ll let me know what you think.
