Round 1 team so far in 2026

RufusRex

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
we need someone in the game day squad for Vegas that can cover hooker if Cook goes down

The only option in the 30+6 right now is Kyle ... If Kyle has to play Hooker then someone has to step into the halves with Atkinson ...

options

LKT - our most experienced option there but outplayed in the trial and big ??? on his defence
Gutho - Would force us into Val/Sloan/Feagai at fullback
ONeill - Looked like a duck out of water in the trial, obsiously nervous but some of his basic skills ie pass hitting the deck were questionable
Reed - looked the best option but inexperienced/small and most likely not ready.

Not a lot of choice there and heaven forbid one of Cook/Liddle cops a serious injury this season.


Currently not an option because not in the Top30+6
Finau -a bit meh really
Fagalilo - suffered HIA and an epic dry humping to the skull
Muhl - injured
 
Dragons Chris

Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup
Morgan said:
So we now have 6 on the interchange bench but only 4 can be used. Is that right? So updated 19 for round 1 based on first trial, confirmed injuries and what Flanno has said publicly.
  1. Gutho
  2. Tu (Played pretty well)
  3. Holmes
  4. Suli
  5. CT (Same as Tu or No.2)
  6. KF :mad:
  7. Atkinson (Good luck. A lot riding on him.)
  8. Toby C
  9. Cook
  10. Gular/Sele (Can we get away with Sele starting? Would that starting pack be too small?)
  11. Su'A
  12. Leilua (Good luck. Needs to improve a lot to keep Nick T out.)
  13. Stewart

  14. Sele/Gular
  15. Ryan C
  16. Kerr
  17. Reed (I know it's too soon but if Cook can't play 80min or gets injured, who else is there?)
  18. Fegai
  19. Nick T
Click to expand...
LPT has to be there.
 
Dragons Chris

Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup
RufusRex said:
we need someone in the game day squad for Vegas that can cover hooker if Cook goes down

The only option in the 30+6 right now is Kyle ... If Kyle has to play Hooker then someone has to step into the halves with Atkinson ...

options

LKT - our most experienced option there but outplayed in the trial and big ??? on his defence
Gutho - Would force us into Val/Sloan/Feagai at fullback
ONeill - Looked like a duck out of water in the trial, obsiously nervous but some of his basic skills ie pass hitting the deck were questionable
Reed - looked the best option but inexperienced/small and most likely not ready.

Not a lot of choice there and heaven forbid one of Cook/Liddle cops a serious injury this season.


Currently not an option because not in the Top30+6
Finau -a bit meh really
Fagalilo - suffered HIA and an epic dry humping to the skull
Muhl - injured
Click to expand...
The team Flanno picks to start the Charity Shield will be very interesting. If he was going to go with Kyle at #14, surely he would have played him there in the trial. But what other option is there? He might do a reshuffle and play Gutho at hooker for 15 minutes to give Cook a spell either side of halftime. So Feagai comes on, Holmes to fullback and Feagai centre. Though I thought Buchanan clearly out pointed Feagai.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
RufusRex said:
we need someone in the game day squad for Vegas that can cover hooker if Cook goes down

The only option in the 30+6 right now is Kyle ... If Kyle has to play Hooker then someone has to step into the halves with Atkinson ...

options

LKT - our most experienced option there but outplayed in the trial and big ??? on his defence
Gutho - Would force us into Val/Sloan/Feagai at fullback
ONeill - Looked like a duck out of water in the trial, obsiously nervous but some of his basic skills ie pass hitting the deck were questionable
Reed - looked the best option but inexperienced/small and most likely not ready.

Not a lot of choice there and heaven forbid one of Cook/Liddle cops a serious injury this season.


Currently not an option because not in the Top30+6
Finau -a bit meh really
Fagalilo - suffered HIA and an epic dry humping to the skull
Muhl - injured
Click to expand...
Its a big problem not easily solved until Liddle returns and I am suggesting not before round 6. I agree with your summation, we are in a spot of bother
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
User said:
Hard to put a time frame on Hammies but NRL physio mentions 6-8 weeks.

It's been 3 weeks since the injury round 1 will be close to 6 and round two 8 weeks.
Click to expand...
So he'll most likely be back for round 2 and is still a chance for round 1.
Dragons Chris said:
The team Flanno picks to start the Charity Shield will be very interesting. If he was going to go with Kyle at #14, surely he would have played him there in the trial. But what other option is there? He might do a reshuffle and play Gutho at hooker for 15 minutes to give Cook a spell either side of halftime. So Feagai comes on, Holmes to fullback and Feagai centre. Though I thought Buchanan clearly out pointed Feagai.
Click to expand...
LKT on the bench if Liddle is out. He comes on as a hooker or Kyle moves to hooker for 20 minutes.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
RufusRex said:
we need someone in the game day squad for Vegas that can cover hooker if Cook goes down

The only option in the 30+6 right now is Kyle ... If Kyle has to play Hooker then someone has to step into the halves with Atkinson ...

options

LKT - our most experienced option there but outplayed in the trial and big ??? on his defence
Gutho - Would force us into Val/Sloan/Feagai at fullback
ONeill - Looked like a duck out of water in the trial, obsiously nervous but some of his basic skills ie pass hitting the deck were questionable
Reed - looked the best option but inexperienced/small and most likely not ready.

Not a lot of choice there and heaven forbid one of Cook/Liddle cops a serious injury this season.


Currently not an option because not in the Top30+6
Finau -a bit meh really
Fagalilo - suffered HIA and an epic dry humping to the skull
Muhl - injured
Click to expand...
Is Reed on even on a development contract? Is he eligible to be picked? I can't imagine he will be anyway. Even if he plays a lot of minutes in the CS and has another blinder.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
not sure if long flights are bad for injuries.. I feel like thats true but could be an old wives tail.. but they gotta go there and back again, its damn draining.. my last *US flight was 24hrs brisbane home door to hotel door and the same back again (theres obviously wont be anywhere that long and itll be direct), but its exhausting.

Lets see how souths game goes, but im rly curious what theyre gonna do with the hooker situation.. maybe we get a hint of it this weekend.. also curious if that plan has changed since the initial plan because of trial games...
 
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D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
TheRev said:
not sure if long flights are bad for injuries.. I feel like thats true but could be an old wives tail.. but they gotta go there and back again, its damn draining.. my last flight was 24hrs home door to hotel door and the same back again (theres obviously wont be anywhere that long and itll be direct), but its exhausting.

Lets see how souths game goes, but im rly curious what theyre gonna do with the hooker situation.. maybe we get a hint of it this weekend.. also curious if that plan has changed since the initial plan because of trial games...
Click to expand...

I didn't see anything from haele to warrant a backup hooker spot but we might not have a choice.

If kade gets picked for charity shield then I'd like to see Kyle at hooker for 20-30mins and kade in the halves with atko. It might somehow be better than haele at hooker with Kyle in the halves.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
User said:
Hard to put a time frame on Hammies but NRL physio mentions 6-8 weeks.

It's been 3 weeks since the injury round 1 will be close to 6 and round two 8 weeks.
Click to expand...
Im no Dr but I was relying on the fact that it was a grade 3 tear. I know medicine has come a long way since my day in the 90s. I had my halfback out for 3 months with the same injury but obviously these days management and recovery is far better.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Dave03 said:
I didn't see anything from haele to warrant a backup hooker spot but we might not have a choice.

If kade gets picked for charity shield then I'd like to see Kyle at hooker for 20-30mins and kade in the halves with atko. It might somehow be better than haele at hooker with Kyle in the halves.
Click to expand...
This is what I was hinting at.. whether Kades trial form has maybe pushed us into Kyle being the hooker for atleast part of the vegas game (20mins even).. its an outrageous move though.. but maybe one forced thru literally no other option.

Also we realised today that even if we were all in on Haele Finau or Fagalilo, a T&T contract means they cant play legit NRL games till Round 11 (they can play pre-season). So really they arent options.. O'Neill could be.. but he didnt handle his nerves well last week.. so thats a gamble also.. everything is a gamble short of some last minute veteran hooker Top30 signing.
 
D

DragonMike

SGI Junior League
Dave03 said:
I assume we'd be cautious with liddle return considering his inury history and explosive running style. It's also early in the season, so no need to rush him imo.
Click to expand...
I agree completely. There is no way we should rush him back. We don't need to lose him for another 6-8 weeks with a recurrence. He'd lose all his preseason fitness and be back to maybe 30 minutes a match for much of the year.
 
D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
TheRev said:
This is what I was hinting at.. whether Kades trial form has maybe pushed us into Kyle being the hooker for atleast part of the vegas game (20mins even).. its an outrageous move though.. but maybe one forced thru literally no other option.

Also we realised today that even if we were all in on Haele Finau or Fagalilo, a T&T contract means they cant play legit NRL games till Round 11 (they can play pre-season). So really they arent options.. O'Neill could be.. but he didnt handle his nerves well last week.. so thats a gamble also.. everything is a gamble short of some last minute veteran hooker Top30 signing.
Click to expand...
O'Neil was horrible. Maybe we carry Reed on the bench, if it looks like cook needs a spell then do a reshuffle with Kyle to hooker and Reed in the halves?

Reed has a bit of pace too which would help against fatigued players.
 
D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
TheRev said:
This is what I was hinting at.. whether Kades trial form has maybe pushed us into Kyle being the hooker for atleast part of the vegas game (20mins even).. its an outrageous move though.. but maybe one forced thru literally no other option.

Also we realised today that even if we were all in on Haele Finau or Fagalilo, a T&T contract means they cant play legit NRL games till Round 11 (they can play pre-season). So really they arent options.. O'Neill could be.. but he didnt handle his nerves well last week.. so thats a gamble also.. everything is a gamble short of some last minute veteran hooker Top30 signing.
Click to expand...

Dunno who would be available atm and also knowing they're likely to be the 3rd string once lidds returns.
 
N

No Surrender

SGI Jersey Flegg
We are in a deep hole with Liddle out.

Wonder whether any of the top 36 have played Hooker as a junior.

KF may have to play 20-30 minutes at Hooker.

LKT has more experience.

Reed has more ability. If you are good enough you are old enough. Has a good kicking game. Speed, step, footy IQ.

Also opposing side won’t have much film on him.

His grubber and chip kicks were a sight for sore eyes, ala W.Smith.

One of LKT & Reed should be on the bench for round 1.

Leilua has the hands to play dummy half but will not keep up with the play.
 
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