Stewart gets a rest next week. It's a bye. Why drop him after a decent showing for a non event?skeepe wrote: ↑April 30, 2024, 7:07 pm Well, there’s certainly been an overreaction in here to what is a pretty understandable team list.
Hoppa at fullback, that’s fine. Stewart needs a rest and Rapana’s still injured. They did it in the trials and he played well so it’s not completely out of left field.
He may not be exciting and speedy but Hopoate is a solid first grader. People here acting like he’s the second coming of Damon Booby.
Cotric back, also fine. He’s been playing well in NSW Cup and Schiller is leaving at the end of the year. No brainer.
Whitehead back, we all knew it would happen. And at this stage, with the lack of experience all over the park, I don’t mind it. An experienced, old head will help. With Hosking out, it’s not like our edge forwards have been playing the house down - in fact Hudson should be thanking his lucky stars he’s still in first grade, because he’s had a dreadful start to the year.
Guler back, again fine. We know he’s next man up and at least Mooney is still there, which I’m very happy with.
So that just leaves Levi and Starling. Levi had a shocker last week, no doubt about it. Got hooked and deservedly so. But - and I know this is tantamount to blasphemy around here - he hasn’t been terrible this year as a whole. Ricky almost always gives players a chance to bounce back, and I think that’s what has happened here. It’s not like Woolford is banging the door down.
Starling I don’t like it, but if we’re going bench hooker he’s probably a more dynamic choice than Woolford.
So overall I’m actually pretty happy with this team, given the circumstances.
Hopoate is a solid reserve grader. A limited back up FG'er- clarified.
I'm dying to know your Levi stance since he is objectively one of the worst hookers in the game- as in (ahem) demonstrably and numerically over a decade; worst win % I've ever seen in a FG player or hooker with 50+ games...
and also this particular season; literally worst defensive hooker in the competition
and also awful attack vs other currently available hookers in the squad; you can fit all D Levi's attacking/kicking stats for 5 NRL years (not counting SL gaps, no tricks, just seasons plapyed) inside about 2 seasons of Woolford- who we all agree is just average...
I've put all those arguments against numerous times (worst win % as a FG player/hooker; worst defensive hooker in the comp this year; barely a try or lb assist over his entire career let alone outdoing rivals in the squad over a season etc etc
Apart from being crap for a very long time, What's your argument FOR D Levi?