Off the hotline from a St Pats informer who with his Padua partner say they like the Team you put up there Galloper. Say there's plenty of holes in it for them and thinks MCA should keep it exactly as you have it. Thinks your 10 will be probably end up Hogan and Kale Van will go to Fullback and Woods will be No.12. The rest of the backline is a lottery. TWoods and Kale Van are the only real defenders who can tackle front on and on the move - does't think any of the others can slide, drift or catch a running defense according to them. SPC informer was surprised Woods was at Ash this year as his word was Heenan (Padua) and Woods were being poached by the one GPS school during the xmas holidays. Both are at their respective schools. Very naughty. That doesn't go on does it ?
Thanks Ali, some interesting stuff there.
Padua and SPC are of course free to plan on the basis of my "first draft" team, but maybe it's lucky for MCA that I'm just a very casual, not particularly well-informed observer and not a selector.
I've struggled with Brooks most of all, as I've only watched him play for 30 minutes or so and put him at 13 because I'm not sure where else he can play in Union. He might easily be coming off the bench, but as the only AIC boy in the Qld RL side last year he must have something going for him.
I've already suggested that Roszka might play at 8, sounds like that's a good chance to happen.
Whatever, trials and the upcoming NZ tour will tell us a lot more about who will be playing where.
MCA have Padua at home in round 1, and I have to say I'm a bit mystified why some are pumping Padua up as premiership chances. Sure, Heenan is an excellent player, Bruce T is a massive presence but he's still no Lachlan Connors. Who are the support cast for those two? Historically, games between MCA and Padua in this age group have not been particularly close.
As for SPC, I saw Ash put more than 50 on them in both 16A's and First XV last year so have some doubts about their depth. I know they have a lot coming back, but apart from Maritz and maybe Kuhn are these guys good enough to get over Ash this year? Maybe.....at least they play us at home.
When all is said and done, I'm pretty confident that Dave Miles and his staff know exactly what they're doing and will pick the right boys in the right spots for MCA. That might not be enough to win the comp, and injuries can change things very quickly, but if MCA doesn't get the job done this year it won't be due to a lack of planning or fitness.