NRC Team of the Season

[Rugbynutter39]

Thought would start this thread of to get some discussion going as to who you see based on form over season is best starting 15 and reserves for NRC team of the season. Would be great if could get some poll going to get official NRC team of the season (based on polling clubs, expert commentators, fans, other?)

So who would be your starting 15 and reserves? (notable mentions after nominated choices for positions ok)

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

1. Jed Gillespie
2. Peni Rava
3. Paul Alo-Emile
4. Sam Jeffries
5. Jed Holloway
6. Tala Gray
7. Michael Gunn
8. Sam Ward
9. Nic Stirzaker
10. Jack Debrecezni
11. Andrew Kellaway
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Henry Seavula
14. Jarome McKenzie
15. Jonah Placid

16. Duncan Chubb
17. Will Weekes
18. Cruz Ah-Nau
19. Cadeyrn Neville
20. Lopeti Timani
21. Nick Frisby
22. Sefanaia Naivalu
23. Chris Kurindrani

This is not my definitive choice, but I liked all these players.

 

[qwerty51]

1. Benn Robinson
2. Seilala Lam
3. Paul Alo-Emile
4. Sam Jeffries
5. Dave McDuling
6. Luke Jones
7. Jarryd Butler
8. Jed Holloway
9. Nic Stirzaker
10. Jack Debrecenzi
11. Andrew Kellaway
12. Mitch Inman
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
15. Jamie-Jerry Taulagi

16. Harry Scoble
17. Toby Smith
18. Michael Ala'alatoa
19. Caderyn Neville
20. Jake Schatz
21. Nick Frisby
22. Zack Holmes
23. Tom English

Disclaimer: I haven't seen many Spirit matches

 

[Intruder]

Names like Gillespie, Scoble, Alalaatoa, Chubb and Weeks are definitely not in the running of the best 23 in the NRC 2014.

The Best 23:

1. Toby Smith (MEL)
2. Tom Sexton (MEL)
3. Paul Alo-Emile (MEL)
4. Sam Jeffries (MEL)
5. Caydern Neville (MEL)

Best Tight-5 in the competition. Out-hussled, out-muscled, out-worked each and every opponent to date. The reason behind the backs setting the competition alight mainly due to their superior breakdown accuracy and rock solid set piece. Notable mentions Dave McDuling (BNE), Greg Peterson (RAY).

6. Luke Jones (MEL)
7. Sean McMahon (MEL)
8. Jake Schatz (BNE)

Tough to break down. First off notable mentions must go to Tala Gray (NCE), Chris Alcock (RAM) and Lopeti Timani (MEL). Luke Jones has been great for the Rising and deserves his call up into Wallabies camp.
Schatz has also been great for Brisbane workman like every game and was rewarded by being called up to the Wallabies squad as well.
McMahon has been absolutely brilliant and one person that I could see being a dark horse for a Wallaby Jersey at the RWC.

9. Nick Stirzaker (MEL)
10. Jack Debrezieni (MEL)

Standout performers. No explanation needed.

12. Samu Kerevi (BNE)
13. Mitch Inman (MEL)

Kerevi has literally been unstoppable and Inman has been by far the most consistent center in the competition.

11. Tom English (MEL)
14. Jerome McKenzie (RAY)
15. Jonah Placid (MEL)

Back 3 for me was a tight one. English has picked himself and has been great. Placid has definitely found a place in Melbourne and has been critical for the Rising this season. Just scraped in over Haylett-Pettey (PTH) and Taulagi (QCT) for mine. I had three name for the last wing spot McKenzie, Veinu and Kellaway. All three very good players and all outstanding finishers. I'm not sure if mongrel and wingers go in the same sentence but this McKenzie has been a find this season and would not look out of place in the Super Rugby arena.

16. Seilala Lam (CAN)
17. Tetera Faulkner (PTH)
18. J.P Smith (CAN)
19. Greg Peterson (MEL)
20. Tala Gray (NCE)
21. Nick Frisby (BNE)
22. Dane Haylett-Pettey (PTH)
23. Telusa Veinu (MEL)

 

[Bowside]

I think Gunn is worthy of a mention Intruder. He's a very good 7, good enough to push Beau Robinson out of the Queensland squad by the end of next season I reckon.

I think Stirzaker is benefitting from playing behind a dominant pack. Frisby has played some good rugby on the front foot but also played well when the pack is going backwards. But I have watched far more city games then melbourne ones so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[qwerty51]

Do you people watch Jarrad Butler..

 

[Intruder]

I think Gunn is worthy of a mention Intruder. He's a very good 7, good enough to push Beau Robinson out of the Queensland squad by the end of next season I reckon.

I think Stirzaker is benefitting from playing behind a dominant pack. Frisby has played some good rugby on the front foot but also played well when the pack is going backwards. But I have watched far more city games then melbourne ones so take it with a grain of salt.

IMO Gunn has been hot and cold (as you would expect from a kid). A heap of talent and will probably develop into an outstanding footballer. However he has been out of the squad for some time now and was only brought back in due to injury to Gill.
Butler has been good but Alcock over the past few weeks especially has been in incredible form. He was MOTM in their game last week and was one of the prominent forwards in the clash yesterday. For mine Alcock > Butler.

 

[Jagman]

Holloway > Schatz at 8 but he played the last few games at 4.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Brumby Runner]

Names like Gillespie, Scoble, Alalaatoa, Chubb and Weeks are definitely not in the running of the best 23 in the NRC 2014.

The Best 23:

1. Toby Smith (MEL)
2. Tom Sexton (MEL)
3. Paul Alo-Emile (MEL)
4. Sam Jeffries (MEL)
5. Caydern Neville (MEL)

6. Luke Jones (MEL)
7. Sean McMahon (MEL)
8. Jake Schatz (BNE)

9. Nick Stirzaker (MEL)
10. Jack Debrezieni (MEL)

12. Samu Kerevi (BNE)
13. Mitch Inman (MEL)

11. Tom English (MEL)
14. Jerome McKenzie (RAY)
15. Jonah Placid (MEL)

16. Seilala Lam (CAN)
17. Tetera Faulkner (PTH)
18. J.P Smith (CAN)
19. Greg Peterson (MEL)
20. Tala Gray (NCE)
21. Nick Frisby (BNE)
22. Dane Haylett-Pettey (PTH)
23. Telusa Veinu (MEL)

There is little to argue about picking the majority of Rising players.

For mine, Nigel Ah Wong must be in the running for the 13 spot, or on the bench, and Fotu Auelua, Tim Cree and Jarrad Butler are at least worthy of honourable mention.

In relation to some of the other comments above, I would also go with Stirzaker above Frisby. Frisby was good early on but seemed to go off the boil in later games. I would put Holloway and Kellaway both in the main team. Outstanding young talents. No 8 depth looks good coming out of this NRC. Holloway, Gray, Timani and Auelua have all shone at times.

 

[Highlander35]

1. JP Smith
2. Lam
3. PAE
4. Holloway
5. Neville
6. T. Gray
7. McMahon
8. Timani
9. Stirzaker
10. Debreczeni
11. McKenzie
12. Stewart
13. Kerevi
14. Kellaway
15. Placid

16. Roach
17. Ah-Nau
18. M. Allatola
19. Jones
20. Butler
21. Frisby
22. Volavola
23. DHP

I'll admit I've not seen a lot games beyond Fox Sports, the rising and Bar games, but these boys have impressed me.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

1. Toby Smith -Rising
2. Peni Ravi – Rams
3. Paul Alo-Emile – Rising
4. Sam Jeffries - Rising
5. Cadeyrn Neville – Rising
6. Luke Jones - Rising
7. Sean McMahon – Rising
8. Jake Schatz – Bris
9. Nic Stirzaker – Rising
10. Jack Debreczeni -Rising
11. Tom English – Rising
12. Mitch Inman - Rising
13. Samu Kevri – Bris
14. Jarome MacKenzie - Rams
15. Dane Haylett-Pettey – Perth
    
16. J P Smith – Can
17. Tetera Faulkner - Perth
18. Chris Alcock –Rams
19. Nick Frisby –Brisb
20. Jed Holloway - Rams
21. Telusa Veinu – Rising
22. Tom Sexton – Rising
23. Tim Cree - Can

Number of notable mentions - but to mention a few... Michael Gunn, Tala Gray and Butler were just piped by Alcock for spot on bench....Sam Ward - Rams and Auelua behind Schatz.....Few other backs unlucky - Andrew Kellaway looks great prospect but not worthy of selection yet...

 

[Pfitzy]

McMahon to 6, Alcock to 7.

 

[Lee Grant]

There's some useful players named in here and it's good to see that few are ineligible for Aus, which doesn't waste spots. Peni Ravai is the only one I spotted.

It would be interesting to see a second list going in this thread in concert with the main one.

Based on performances in the NRC only, who were the best of those players who had not started in Super Rugby matches?

You wouldn't have to choose a complete team.
.

 

[Lee Grant]

IMO Gunn has been hot and cold (as you would expect from a kid). A heap of talent and will probably develop into an outstanding footballer. However he has been out of the squad for some time now and was only brought back in due to injury to Gill.

He was outstanding for Brisbane City v the Rays in the TV game last Thursday.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/brisbane-outshines-rays/

Not saying he's in front of more experienced players, mind.
.

 

[Brumby Runner]

1. JP Smith
2. Lam
3. PAE
4. Holloway
5. Neville
6. T. Gray
7. McMahon
8. Timani
9. Stirzaker
10. Debreczeni
11. McKenzie
12. Stewart
13. Kerevi
14. Kellaway
15. Placid

16. Roach
17. Ah-Nau
18. M. Allatola
19. Jones
20. Butler
21. Frisby
22. Volavola
23. DHP

I'll admit I've not seen a lot games beyond Fox Sports, the rising and Bar games, but these boys have impressed me.

Close. I'd have Ready at hooker rather than Lala Lam simply for the lineout throwing problems the Vikings had with Lala.

I'd have Holloway at 8 with probably Jeffries or Cree at lock to partner Neville.

I thought Kerevi started most of his games at 12. If so, Kerevi at 12 and Ah Wong at 13.

 

[Braveheart81]

Can we take Lee Grant's proposal above and have a team of the season for those that have played Super Rugby and those that haven't?

Would be good to have on the front page in the lead up to the NRC finals.

 

[RugbyReg]

I think you have to make it players who haven't established themselves as Super Rugby players otherwise you're left with Dane Chisholm at fullback because the likes of Placid & Leyds have played a game or two off the bench.

15 Telusa Veainu (Rising)
14 Andrew Kellaway (Eagles)
13 Nigel Ah-Wong (Vikings)
12 Jim Stewart? (Stars)
11 Jerome McKenzie (Rams)
10 Jack Debreczeni (Rising)
9 Nic Stirzaker ?? Probably not eligible - Sam Grasso ? (QLD Country)
8 Ben Adams (QLD Country)
7 Michael Gunn (Brisbane City) / Jack de Guingand (QLD Country)
6 Tala Gray (Eagles)
5 Jed Hollaway (Rams)
4 Greg Petersen (Rays)
3 Guy Miller (Rams)
2 Andrew Ready (Brisbane City) / Hugh Roach (Rams)
1 Haydn Hirismacki (QLD Country)

 

[Braveheart81]

Something like that sounds good although I'd have Veainu, Debreczeni and Stirzaker as being ineligble for the rookie team.

I'd have all three of them in the Super Rugby players team of the tournament.

Put Sam Windsor and a couple of others in their place.

 

[RugbyReg]

Put Sam Windsor and a couple of others in their place.

sure Mr Bossypants.

15 Dane Chisholm (Rams)
14 Andrew Kellaway (Eagles)
13 Nigel Ah-Wong (Vikings)
12 Jim Stewart (Stars)
11 Jerome McKenzie (Rams)
10 Sam Windsor (Eagles)
9 Sam Grasso (QLD Country)
8 Ben Adams (QLD Country)
7 Michael Gunn (Brisbane City)
6 Tala Gray (Eagles)
5 Jed Hollaway (Rams)
4 Greg Petersen (Rays)
3 Guy Miller (Rams)
2 Andrew Ready (Brisbane City)
1 Haydn Hirismacki (QLD Country)

 

[Highlander35]

What do we count as not a Super player?

Sam Jeffries got about 6 minutes of Super Rugby. Sexton got nothing. Did Holloway, Gray and Peterson get significantly more or less? How about the Brumbies, Reds and Force? Did many of them get ~0 gametime?