Charity Shield 2026 Thread

The Word

SGI Junior League
Cheers mate, are you aware if we are going to play our LV team even with restricted minutes?

That is an interesting right side with 2 newbies next to each other in Fale/TU

Barring injuries I thought our bookend rotation for round 1 would have to be: Couchman/Sele/Guler and Kerr.
Wondering whether LPT can put himself in the conversation if he gets more minutes in the charity shield.
 

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
So after reading everyone comments, perhaps this would appear to be our Charity Shield starting line up:

8. Couchman
9. Cook
10. Guler
11. Leilua
12. Su'a
13. Sele

I dont hate it ... my personal opinion was Stewart to start .. but if you think that stewart only has a good 60 in him then there is absolutely an arguement to start sele at lock then 2nd half bring him back on as a prop.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I dont mind either of CT/Feagai... but I did think Feagai had a good trial... In the Charity Shield.. probably Buchanan is the one who replaced Suli (once the starters come off).. so maybe Feagai replaces CT at left wing.

Not sure how many all-stars are missing for Souths.. hopefully lots.. want this game to go away and get onto the real stuff..
 
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Eric

Staff
Thought Mat Feagai presented a case potentially a more advanced one than CT ...
Didnt have CTs runs but a few examples of actual ability to pluck a ball out of the air.
He has these defensive lapses which do my head in. Not only bad reads but where the opposition outside back just brushes right past him like he isn't even there. From memory it happened again in the no-try where the Knights back brushed right past Feagai leaving I think it was Fale and LKT to scramble to tackle him.

If he could fix that, I'd have him in the team. His reading of the attack seems to have gotten better. At least I can't remember him coming in way too far and too early from last year as he did habitually under Griffin. That's the way I see it anyway but I typically only watch the game when it's on and don't watch replays unless it's a really big game and we win. The last of those was the Broncos game from several years ago in the first week of the finals. I don't think I've watched a single replay since. The point is, there could be and probably is a lot I'm missing.
 

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
Feagai doesn't have anything that screams elite in his game, maybe his stepping ability but that would be better suited to centre imo. CT has the yardage game which is elite (when he plays), he also has the ability to break through/push through heavy tackles unlike our other wing options. I think Suli is the only other one that can do it too. IMO it's an underrated part of his game but important for us since we lose momentum in sets quickly & get stuck in our own end.

Tu got pushed back at least once but I've never really seen it with CT because of his size & leg drive. Although I love Tu ability to bounce off tackles & a bit of pace too. Flanno was right in comparing him to Sione Katoa (sharks winger). Positives & negatives for each player I guess...
 

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
Feagai doesn't have anything that screams elite in his game, maybe his stepping ability but that would be better suited to centre imo. CT has the yardage game which is elite (when he plays), he also has the ability to break through/push through heavy tackles unlike our other wing options. I think Suli is the only other one that can do it too. IMO it's an underrated part of his game but important for us since we lose momentum in sets quickly & get stuck in our own end.

Tu got pushed back at least once but I've never really seen it with CT because of his size & leg drive. Although I love Tu ability to bounce off tackles & a bit of pace too. Flanno was right in comparing him to Sione Katoa (sharks winger). Positives & negatives for each player I guess...

It is about getting the forwards into the set earlier too ...
The set we scored (reed's grubber to himself) .. that set started with a Knights error at the other end and a scrum. Our yardage gains in that set were impressive and through the teeth of their pack - Friz/Saifiti/Mooney.


play 1 - Setu Tu off the scrum
play 2 - Jake
play 3 - Sele
play 4 - Ryan
play 5 - Haele finau with a DH run off a quick play the ball .... we made 50-55m easily
play 6 - attacking play inside their quarter

the forwards can do a job well for us if we get that roll on ... The problem for us has been that in the end to end grind of the game we have been starting out sets with Gutho being tackled on the 20 and the forwards not back on side until the 3rd play sometimes 4th.. that places a huge emphasis on the running game of the three quarter line meaning we have to sacrifice finishing/speed for bump and grind. If Sloan is forced to take one of those plays it makes it even worse. Smart opposition will kick to Gutho on the sloan side and can load up on plays 1 and 2 and really limit the start of our sets.
 

Illusion

SGI NSW Cup
So after reading everyone comments, perhaps this would appear to be our Charity Shield starting line up:

1. Gutherson
2. CT
3. Suli
4. Fale
5. TU
6. Flanagan
7. Atkinson
8. Couchman
9. Cook
10. Guler
11. Leilua
12. Su'a
13. Sele
Just me , not sold on Fale is he any better than Feagai ? ........ And definitely not sold on TU ......... Anyway we will know a bit more after the Charity Shield .......
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
I know they're just trials but would still be excellent to put a decent score on Souffs and win this competition. But doubt Flanno's favorites, particularly in the halves but also a couple of forwards like Gular, Luciano can match it with Reed, LKT, Halangahu, Tsougranis, LPT.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Just me , not sold on Fale is he any better than Feagai ? ........ And definitely not sold on TU ......... Anyway we will know a bit more after the Charity Shield .......
Didn't Tu play okay? Some strong carries, more speed than Feagai, solid contact in defence. Not saying he should start yet but should get more minutes in CS to show what he can do.
 

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
I know they're just trials but would still be excellent to put a decent score on Souffs and win this competition. But doubt Flanno's favorites, particularly in the halves but also a couple of forwards like Gular, Luciano can match it with Reed, LKT, Halangahu, Tsougranis, LPT.

No chance ... didnt pick up the line break or offload bonus points
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
I know they're just trials but would still be excellent to put a decent score on Souffs and win this competition. But doubt Flanno's favorites, particularly in the halves but also a couple of forwards like Gular, Luciano can match it with Reed, LKT, Halangahu, Tsougranis, LPT.
To get the new combinations working well and no injuries, especially to Cook and Gutho wouldbe enough. If Cook is injured, what will Flanno do? I guess Sloan can cover for Gutho but he is getting even worse.
 

AyiosYiorgos

SGI Jersey Flegg
1Clint GUTHERSON (c)
2Christian TUIPULOTU
3Moses SULI
4Valentine HOLMES
5Setu TU
6Kyle FLANAGAN
7Daniel ATKINSON
8Emre GULER
9Damien COOK (c)
10Toby COUCHMAN
11Luciano LEILUA
12Jaydn SU’A
13Hame SELE
14Hamish STEWART
15Blake LAWRIE
16Ryan COUCHMAN
17Loko PASIFIKI TONGA
18Tyrell SLOAN
19Mathew FEAGAI
20David FALE
21Lyhkan KING-TOGIA
22Kade REED
23Jacob HALANGAHU
24Hayden BUCHANAN
25Nick TSOUGRANIS
26Ha’ele FINAU
 
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