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I think we're going to have a fluid 23 next season. Lots of horses-for-courses, plenty of exploration of our depth. Very difficult to predict a 23 for the first match, let alone the season.

I get that, I'd just be picking a guy who fills the core responsibilities of a 13.

Rory Arnold and Matt Philip both offer a running game and a good lineout option, and we've seen both call the lineout for their team. I'm really happy with how Hanigan has developed this year and think he should be our 6.

Yes. Or Petaia.

Amazingly, it's even better than the one you listed. Still averse to Hodge at 13 for defensive reasons, but sure works if you want to cram talent in.

I really enjoyed the way the Waratahs created gaps in their opponents' defensive lines, and also made overlaps, and how quickly they exploited them. Only the Crusaders did that better this season, and it was down to the execution of fundamental skills by guys like Gordon, Foley, Beale, and Rona...

Just saw that the three Parramatta games are Sharks, Jaguares, and Brumbies. See y'all in Western Sydney.

I can't believe you left out Rory Arnold. Too many Waratahs.

Rob Simmons is a damn good tackler without “impact”, Chris Alcock gets plenty of metres after contact without “impact”, Sam Carter has great effective breakdown presence without “impact”. Tui is a good example of a player with “impact” who gets mediocre metres after contact and has really poor...

Nor did Fardy. "Impact in the collision" is not significant to the core work of the six. Metres after contact, effective breakdown presence, speed, stamina, tackling ability, and lineout ability are the key work of a six; Luke Jones has all of these skills, and every one of his coaches has used...

Excluding Damien Hill, Tony McGahan, Sean Hedger, Zane Hilton, Jacques Brunel, Rory Teague, who have all played him at 6 several times a season. Edit: I'm not denying Luke Jones can play lock. In the same way that To'omua is a good option at 12 because of his sheer quality as a 10, Jones is a...

Luke Jones with 45 appearances as a backrower since 2012 according to my numbers. For comparison, Scott Fardy was a bloody lock for a long time, and has 62 appearances as a lock in the same period. Indeed, Fardy has only played the majority of a season at 6 three times in his career (2015, 2016...

Luke Jones is the closest we'll ever come to a second Fardy. If he's not your starting 6, then there's something wrong.

I'm happy with either Fainga'a or Mann-Rea to start, I've always had faith in Mann-Rea and Fainga'a needs the time to grow. The best thing about McInerney is that he makes his tackles, throws straight, and hooks the ball, so we're fine even if it comes down to our 3rd choice hooker.

I know it's a lower level, but Brisbane were really good this NRC season with Cooper playing as he does, and he could well be named player of the season. And remember the Tri Nations winning game plan:

Fifita's inclusion gives me a lot of comfort. Makin came good last season, but Ross has not impressed me this NRC, and he'll face even tougher opponents at Super level. Our first-choice front row should be Sio, Mann-Rea, and Ala'alatoa, with Slipper, Fainga'a, and Makin on the bench. If Makin or...

As a big Tui fan, I hope he ends up back at lock. That Tui-Rodda partnership has a good lightning-thunder feeling to it!

Every one of them has come good in lineout throwing after an extended period of training, only to regress later on. There’s a real chance that this is because they reducing their training when they start getting it right; this thought process is entirely backwards. They need to practice until...

Lord knows Naivalu has the positioning, he's like a better Henry Speight.