Elwood Blues wrote



I agree with that. I hope that happens in 2008 without Scotland and Houla losing form.

I expect presure to come from the kids, both newbies and recent draftees: Anderson, Grigg, Russell, Jackson, Pfieffer, Hadlee, Armfield, Browne, Benjamin and probably Shields.

Whilst I can't see Scotland losing a place in the 22 in 2008-9, I can see him moving further downfield making room in the HB line with speedier, closer checking and maybe taller kids.

Houihan, no doubt has great skills, and he has 1000's of miles in his legs, a stronger body and importantly experience over the kids. Nevertheless, I see his position under threat as the kids step up. But geez, they've got to earn it first.

The pressure is on everyone to perform week in week out; that includes Betts, Simpson, Carrazzo, Gibbs... Any excuse to give the kids 'knocking on the door' a chance, is a chance the MC may/ should take to ensure we keep the pressure to perform on everyone.

Houlihan and Scotland are not great tacklers IMHO and they have a few mates....how many times have I seen Ablett, Chapman etc barge straight through our players and cant be dragged down, ditto for Didak, Farmer, S Grant, Mitchell, Hodge etc etc....

Armfield, Hadley, Pfieffer and Browne is theme recruiting and that theme is strong bodies, good tacklers, body on the line, attack the footy and the man hard with a good level of skill to back up those other attributes.

Houlihan and Scotland provide you with skill level and rebound but none of the other attributes.
Wiggins, Bannister give you hard bodies and effort but dont have the skills to hurt you on the rebound...

Hughes this time has gone for players who are all of the above and its a sensible approach....agree that Houlihan and Scotland may find roles further up the ground but its going to be a packed midfield of talent and some are going to miss out...

Do not right off Houlihan just yet! Could be the X factor!

I keep reading about our depth, and see the jockeying for spots when posters put their best team forward.

When weighing up the changing of the guard, I can see the following new 2008 guys filling the void retired players have left rather than existing players filling in that void; a direct swap:

Kouta.......Judd
Lappin......Stevens
Whitnall....Hadley
Kennedy...Kreuzer

They're all wins as far as I'm concerned. Just that alone should give as an extra 10% in pace (at least) and 10% in class.

I also see the following new players on our 2008 list displacing many of those who played in our first 22 in 2007:

Pfieffer....Anderson, Russell and Grigg
Jackson...Blackwell, Bentick, Bannister and Wiggins
Aisake.....Hampson
Cloke......Ackland
Jamison...Bower and Saddo (given Ratts is grooming Thornton, Waite and Setanta as the big backmen)

They're wins in the main, or at the very least break even (with Ando) as far as I'm concerned. I expect that it gives us another 5% more KP and ruck height and 5% more pace than last year.

Hartlett (who has yet to play a game), along with those I identify as 'pushed out' in Anderson, Russell, Grigg, Blackwell, Bentick, Wiggins, Hampson, Ackland and Bower will be fighting to break into the side.

Does this list imply depth of talent?

Then there's the kids Browne and Armfield who will want to mark their mark in 2008 too (albeit a bit young and inexperienced); also competing with those who have lost their positions to the new brigade.

If the above 12 is the peripheral group, then we are a very different team in 2008. I reckon we are at least a 20% better team with the changes; Judd alone imakes up 19% of that. I reckon the new guys make a huge difference in class and pace, and with the improvement in fitness levels and better coaching in 2008, the it all points out to a much better year with the new inclusions.

My biggest punt on new guys getting straight into the team are on Hadley and Pfieffer; the others are a shoe in. If those 2 are selected (and there's good reason why they would), they really put a lot of pressure on everyline in one way or another.

Will the new guys make it in round 1 or later in 2008? Why or why not?

Will the new guys push out the 2007 players to the periphery in 2008?

I agree. Houlihan is very inconsistent. But when he turns it on, he is silky smooth. Frustrating that he can't improve his consistency. Will be awesome if he can. Bloody classy player.

Should set us up nicely for some honorable losses.

It's all about Natinui and Hurley now