Newington has had three members of 2010 Year 12 selected in Australian Under 20 squad to go to Italy.
The important part is 2010... Yes they were a great side last year, but that was last year. Well done to them but who cares. This thread is about GPS 2011.
I still think Newington will come down with a bump this year when they realise just how much they relied on their stars. The players left behind are still pretty strong but they won't look anywhere near as good without 2, 8, 9 and 12 in the team. The next 3 weeks of trials should see whether the 2011 team are up to it. Looking forward to watching it unfold. Are Joeys sneaking up on the rail?
Newington are not complacent and to be honest the 2010 team were a once in a generation team. To put 90 points combined on Joeys and View in consecutive weeks has probably never been done before. No one expects the 2011 team to be that good.
Replacing Hugh Roach at hooker and Mark Bannon at half are the big challenges. The rest of the team is very strong across the park, even allowing for the loss of Joel Luani and Apolosi Latinipulu.
And experience counts - 9 of the boys were in the team that came from behind last year to beat the star studded Kings team at Parramatta - they know what it takes to win the gps.
They are a year older, a year more experienced and a year stronger. And they are supplemented by some talented year 11 and year 10 boys.
They have been working hard since November and there are no big heads.
The round one clash against View will be an absolute cracker.
