Round 12: Dolphins vs Melbourne Storm

[Red]

I hope everyone enjoyed the bye weekend and is ready to come back refreshed. This is obviously going to be a hard game but it seems Melbourne aren't close to as good as they have been for.... the last 20 years now.

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Team Tips: The NRL newcomers are set to welcome back several key players after enjoying a week off in Round 11.

• Jesse Bromwich will slot back into the front row in place of Poasa Faamausili who will likely drop out of the 17.
• Mark Nicholls also makes a timely return and could displace Mason Teague or Herman Ese’ese on the bench. (Teague to drop out. Ese'ese has been outstanding!)
• Meanwhile, Ray Stone also returns and again could replace Teague or Ese’ese or play as a utility with Anthony Milford dropping out of the team. (Hmmmm this is a difficult one. Stone willl surely come back in but for who?)
• But Bennett’s biggest selection headache comes in the centres, with Brenko Lee due to return. Instant cult hero Valynce Te Whare scored a double on debut as the Dolphins downed the Sharks and could hold his position on the right edge. (Nothing to decide at all. Te Whare to keep his spot.)

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Valynce deserves to keep his spot

 

[Josh]

I hope everyone enjoyed the bye weekend and is ready to come back refreshed. This is obviously going to be a hard game but it seems Melbourne aren't close to as good as they have been for.... the last 20 years now.

---

Team Tips: The NRL newcomers are set to welcome back several key players after enjoying a week off in Round 11.

• Jesse Bromwich will slot back into the front row in place of Poasa Faamausili who will likely drop out of the 17.
• Mark Nicholls also makes a timely return and could displace Mason Teague or Herman Ese’ese on the bench. (Teague to drop out. Ese'ese has been outstanding!)
• Meanwhile, Ray Stone also returns and again could replace Teague or Ese’ese or play as a utility with Anthony Milford dropping out of the team. (Hmmmm this is a difficult one. Stone willl surely come back in but for who?)
• But Bennett’s biggest selection headache comes in the centres, with Brenko Lee due to return. Instant cult hero Valynce Te Whare scored a double on debut as the Dolphins downed the Sharks and could hold his position on the right edge. (Nothing to decide at all. Te Whare to keep his spot.)

Te Whare keeping his spot in a no-brainer. I wonder about Ray Stone. Wayne will pick him but who should miss out?

Win this game and you'd think the Origin period will be kind to us. I might be time to lock in a top 4 spot.

 

[Red]

Te Whare keeping his spot in a no-brainer. I wonder about Ray Stone. Wayne will pick him but who should miss out?

Win this game and you'd think the Origin period will be kind to us. I might be time to lock in a top 4 spot.

Suddenly an embarrassment of riches. I'd be going:

1. Hammer
2. Isaako
3. Te Whare
4. Aitken
5. Niu
6. Milf
7. Katoa
8. J. Bromwich
9. JMK
10. K. Bromwich
11. Lemuelu
12. Kafusi
13. Gilbert
    
    
14. Niko
15. Wallace
16. Nicholls
17. Stone

Bit of a worry is any outside backs go down at some stage. Have to roll the dice. Make Brenko Lee 18th man.

 

[Chris]

Suddenly an embarrassment of riches. I'd be going:

1. Hammer
2. Isaako
3. Te Whare
4. Aitken
5. Niu
6. Milf
7. Katoa
8. J. Bromwich
9. JMK
10. K. Bromwich
11. Lemuelu
12. Kafusi
13. Gilbert
    
    
14. Niko
15. Wallace
16. Nicholls
17. Stone

Bit of a worry is any outside backs go down at some stage. Have to roll the dice. Make Brenko Lee 18th man.

I think most teams don't carry cover for outside backs on the bench. Just wondering why Milf at 6, Niko on the bench? Niko's been going really good.

 

[Blockade]

I think most teams don't carry cover for outside backs on the bench. Just wondering why Milf at 6, Niko on the bench? Niko's been going really good.

Maybe because KNik is more versatile and can cover a number of positions whereas you don't have that luxury with Milf.

Personally, I think Milf will be dropped with Ese'ese coming onto the bench. Pretty hard to drop Herman when he has been so strong as of late.

I could be way off but a four forward bench is certainly one way to go against a side known for their strength in the pack. Although they are not as strong in that area this year.

 

[Jetty]

Maybe because KNik is more versatile and can cover a number of positions whereas you don't have that luxury with Milf.

Personally, I think Milf will be dropped with Ese'ese coming onto the bench. Pretty hard to drop Herman when he has been so strong as of late.

I could be way off but a four forward bench is certainly one way to go against a side known for their strength in the pack. Although they are not as strong in that area this year.

I agree. Niko's been excellent but I think with Milf there, the team is better balanced. And I think Katoa needs to work on his kicking game. Milfs kicking game is excellent.

 

[Red]

I think most teams don't carry cover for outside backs on the bench. Just wondering why Milf at 6, Niko on the bench? Niko's been going really good.

I'm a fan of Niko but

Maybe because KNik is more versatile and can cover a number of positions whereas you don't have that luxury with Milf.

Personally, I think Milf will be dropped with Ese'ese coming onto the bench. Pretty hard to drop Herman when he has been so strong as of late.

I could be way off but a four forward bench is certainly one way to go against a side known for their strength in the pack. Although they are not as strong in that area this year.

This is exactly my thinking.
+ I think before he got injured and in the second half last game, Milf has been really good. Not the attacking threat he was in his heyday but managing the game really well.

I forgot about Ese'ese. Maybe Nicholls will have to come back via QLD Cup. On form, Kenny Bromwich should be looking over his shoulder.

 

[Dolph]

No way! Surely it can't be true. Brenko Lee has been the weak link all season!!! And the first game without him was the team's best performance all season.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

WAYNE BENNETT SET TO BREAK 22,000 SUPERCOACH HEARTS​

Dolphins cult hero Valynce Te Whare is set to be dropped following his dream NRL debut. Te Whare is expected to make way for returning centre Brenko Lee for Saturday night’s Dolphins-Storm blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium. Nicknamed “Val Meninga”, Te Whare burst on to the NRL scene with a fairytale Magic Round debut against Cronulla.

The Dolphins will also be boosted by the return of captain Jesse Bromwich (hamstring) against his former club and hard-hitting forward Ray Stone (concussion). Prop Mark Nicholls is also a chance of returning from a hand injury which has sidelined him for a month. Five-eighth Kodi Nikorima picked up a corked thigh at training on Monday, with Anthony Milford on standby.

 

[Blockade]

Big Val set to be dropped according to some media outlets. I would keep him in the lineup for impact alone. He has his defensive deficiencies but none worse than Brenko.

I haven't forgiven Lee for his defensive misread against the Broncos which allowed Capewell a runaway try. If not for that blunder, the Dolphins may have held on in that game. Brenko is not exactly an offensive threat either. 1 LB and 0 majors in 9 GP.

But WB knows a shitload more than I do when it comes to picking the best possible squad. I'm assuming Aitken has overcome his hammy issues. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[Dolph]

Big Val set to be dropped according to some media outlets. I would keep him in the lineup for impact alone. He has his defensive deficiencies but none worse than Brenko.

I haven't forgiven Lee for his defensive misread against the Broncos which allowed Capewell a runaway try. If not for that blunder, the Dolphins may have held on in that game. Brenko is not exactly an offensive threat either. 1 LB and 0 majors in 9 GP.

But WB knows a shitload more than I do when it comes to picking the best possible squad. I'm assuming Aitken has overcome his hammy issues. Can anyone confirm that?

Brenko has been the weak link all season.

 

[Chris]

Big Val set to be dropped according to some media outlets. I would keep him in the lineup for impact alone. He has his defensive deficiencies but none worse than Brenko.

I haven't forgiven Lee for his defensive misread against the Broncos which allowed Capewell a runaway try. If not for that blunder, the Dolphins may have held on in that game. Brenko is not exactly an offensive threat either. 1 LB and 0 majors in 9 GP.

But WB knows a shitload more than I do when it comes to picking the best possible squad. I'm assuming Aitken has overcome his hammy issues. Can anyone confirm that?

No, no, NO! How can Wayne even be considering it?

 

[Red]

No, no, NO! How can Wayne even be considering it?

It might be a bit of "tough love". Wayne told him something to end of, "lose 1kg so you aren't completely out of gas after 60min or no more NRL for you."

 

[Chris]

It might be a bit of "tough love". Wayne told him something to end of, "lose 1kg so you aren't completely out of gas after 60min or no more NRL for you."

Hope not. A baking should be enough!

 

[Blockade]

Squad.

 

[Red]

Squad.

WTF is Wayne doing? Get rid of Brenko!

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Valynce misses out.

 

[Red]

Valynce misses out.

Tough love is one thing but if it were being applied equally, Brenko would be dropped after almost every game.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Yeah tough one right there.

In Wayne we trust

 

[Chris]

Yeah tough one right there.

In Wayne we trust

Let's see what happens. I can't make any sense of it.