TheBigDog
Nev Cottrell (35)
Quite a few people here saying that Matt Brandon should be brought in to fill the 10 spot. I don't think thats the answer. It seems pretty clear that having the right player at 10 has been a massive problem for us without Quade and the Reds haven't really clicked with anyone (i'd say Lucas was best fit this season but we really only saw glimpses before injury) so why bring in a player from outside the main playing squad and have them quickly slot into the side?
Not to take anything away from Brandon, he's a good player but so is Dallan Murphy and from my understanding Dallan has been around the Reds systems for a bit longer yet still didn't really get it right. With so much traffic going through 10 I think we would be better off shifting one of the established players into that position to settle things down. Taps would be my first pick but I've been thinking maybe we could learn something from league (bare with me now) and slot a skilled forward in at 10 similar to how leaguies get a lock to play at 6 sometimes. A defensive and skilled backrower such as Shatz, Gill or Higgers would fit well just to hold down the fort for a couple of weeks until either Harris, Lucas or Quade gets fit. I think playing them at 10 would be more advisable than wider (someone suggested Samo to start at 12) as the 10 channel will probably be used quite a bit by the Force and we really need to plug it up instead of risking a rookie there getting a close up view of Pococks palm as he crashes off an inside ball.
The Force have a great forward pack so the game will probably be played tight anyway and they don't exactly have a world class backline either.
Not to take anything away from Brandon, he's a good player but so is Dallan Murphy and from my understanding Dallan has been around the Reds systems for a bit longer yet still didn't really get it right. With so much traffic going through 10 I think we would be better off shifting one of the established players into that position to settle things down. Taps would be my first pick but I've been thinking maybe we could learn something from league (bare with me now) and slot a skilled forward in at 10 similar to how leaguies get a lock to play at 6 sometimes. A defensive and skilled backrower such as Shatz, Gill or Higgers would fit well just to hold down the fort for a couple of weeks until either Harris, Lucas or Quade gets fit. I think playing them at 10 would be more advisable than wider (someone suggested Samo to start at 12) as the 10 channel will probably be used quite a bit by the Force and we really need to plug it up instead of risking a rookie there getting a close up view of Pococks palm as he crashes off an inside ball.
The Force have a great forward pack so the game will probably be played tight anyway and they don't exactly have a world class backline either.