NRL Round 10 teams: Reynolds back for Souths, major changes for Tigers

Will be interesting to see how the cohesion is at Souths with Reynolds back. Would be fair to say, if they have any plans for a new combo next year, that they would cut Reynolds altogether at some stage through the 2nd half of the season, unless it’s someone they haven’t bought yet. No doubt it’s pushed Souths into maybe making a hasty purchase for a new #7. Maybe there’s a swap with Gamble. Would then seem in hindsight to be a bit foolish not to offer Reynolds a better deal to stay originally, given that they lose out big time on the swap.

Yeah, of course. I am sure I'm a bit older than you and my thoughts on league are shaped well and truly before the professional game evolved. To me place and team are still the same thing. To a degree that's still true in NQ and its why I'm glad they are my team.

I see team and place as intricately linked . That's a product of my age my upbringing and my life experience. I understand how in the professional era that link becomes more and more tenuous . I accept a lot of people don't see things that way. If the Broncs start an Academy in Townsville and an NQ junior plays with them in the NQ and then moves to Brisbane at say 16 , I will see him as an NQ product. What hell are you guys doing up here!!!!!!

I think we just have different definitions for what a junior is. Kids start junior footy at around 6, NRL clubs can only have arms reach involvment from 13 till their late teens. So a kid who played junior footy in Brisbane is very different to a Broncos junior. As for JT13, as far as clubs go he's a Cowboys product. He might be an NZRL junior but that's not that same as being a Warriors junior

How could a player, developed as a junior by the Broncos and not developed by the Eels in any way be described as an Eels junior?

We look at the world through a different lens.

If the Broncos set up an operation in parramatta and devote time, labour and money to developing junior players in parramatta, then yeah - those are Broncos juniors. If the Eels haven’t ever done anything to develop them, then they definitely aren’t Eels juniors.

At the age kids are getting scouted these days i don't think anyone can legitimately claim juniors anymore. Even Coates was scouted by the Broncs from a Titans feeder club (with Dearden). JT13 was signed as a 13 yr old, you can't say he was the complete product at that age. Cam Smith grew up in Broncos territory, but if he's not a Melbourne Storm product what is he? He's certainly not a Broncos junior

If the forward battle is square your outside backs get you home. If you win up front yikes.

Happens a lot when you need to cover a back or a half - the Raiders tend to use Whitehead when this happens during a game - he can fill in but its not ideal. Why not have a bench of 5 players? Three forwards, one to cover the hooker and halves and one to cover the backs. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it given all the tweaking that goes on.

Seriously., so if the Broncs set up shop in Parramatta and develop local juniors there, the Broncs are developing their own. ? Give me a break. Before you mention NZ and the Cows academy I would never claim JT13 as an NQ product. We hooked him from NZ . Thats a fact. Its not the doing i object to its the ' oh he's one of ours ' that gives me the sheets.

A good bench reserve is one that can cover both pack and backs. There aren't actually too many. Oates, Bird, Aubo (when he was around). But you need it. Dragons got caught out when they had to run a second rower in the centres and he got done for pace and positioning.

Problem with choosing a back on the bench is you may never use him. Mind you I remember Ricky chose Bailey Simonsson on the bench and he had to come on a few times to do a job e.g. when BJ got a bit of fireworks in his eye in a final against the Storm. I guess the reasoning is you need at least 3 forwards on the bench to spread the workload but the utility could be a back up hooker or a back. Ricky now has Hodgson as the back up hooker in the bench. When both are fit it would be hard to leave either of Starling or Hodgson out of the team

True, but Payten could do it. The key to beating chooks is to believe you can do it. They make it hard and if you have any doubts, you’re done.

Ahhh.. we can dream. But expectation, my friend, is a powerful force.

not according to Wayne...

You are absolutely correct Geoff, about the common bench players. My reason for pointing it out with Ricky is that he's been caught out losing backs and not having proper coverage and only a few weeks ago he lamented that he'd made a mistake. I merely note that he's doing the same thing. Should have been clearer with that.

Watch the Tigers games more closely. His defence is average at best, and he stifles their best attacking strengths of Luciano Leilua and Dane Laurie. They are getting no ball from him ! He is a ball hog. Plays like a centre !

In comparison to other teams, eg Easts, the Panthers have had a glamour run with injuries. Agreed they've had some key players out and others have stepped up but they've not lost a Keary type player for the season or a Hutchinson player for two months. I don't see them being a lot different than other Clubs. If Luai or Cleary or both were gone for the year or for long periods, like Keary & Hutchinson, sure they'd win some games, but the Premiership - not a chance.

They've got significant junior systems in QLD just like the Raiders did for years. Just because their players aren't coming from Melbourne doesn't mean they're buying them from other clubs