Hate to say it, as I think he's a top player and bloke, but Reece misses out for me.....

Toupou wasn’t a centre, he had none of the subtle skills that classic centres need to possess. He was a handful physically but didn’t know how to position his opposite number to get on his outside, he knew nothing of how to attract an oppositions winger to him to create space on the outside for his own winger and even if he did he had no passing game. He was effective only as a physical threat and he only had that for a short number of games in one of his seasons with us.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that both Lynne and Hall are genuine centres and therefore a better centre pairing than Lynne and Toupou. We haven’t had two genuinely high standard proper centres since Domic/Atkins/Demetriou so NO I haven’t had a “brain fart” I’m just better than you at judging players

Wasn't Tupou named in the SL Dream Team? And his winger got in the same year as well? Surely that makes him a pretty good centre?

Langi and Lyne to start. Hall on the bench.

Firstly, when we talk about centre partnerships, there is no relationship between centres apart from playing in the same team. It's good to have two good ones in the team but it's not a partnership and hasn't been a partnership since we moved away from inside and outside centres a long time ago.

Second, Tupou not being a centre seems a strange thing to say. He may not be a perfect passing centre like a Collis but not all centres are. Mal Meninga was pretty good at being a running centre. He could pass of course but he ran at defenders first, just like Tupou.
It's just a different style.

This, and Murphy and Linemam on the wings, going by what I saw this morning

We obviously saw the same things!

If the new coach is training them harder ,this could\should make Lyne a lot fitter ,still the best tackling we got .Hope he can get back to out best attacking again

Tackling with Lyne has never been an issue but I’ve always had reservations on his defensive positioning/sliding across. More so since he’s put on some muscle and lost that athleticism from his early years.

Lyne is still a good player but his main strength these days is when he drives forward direct and close to the line using his strength. He’s a good meter gainer (when facing the right direction).

Over and above all I just want to see a thoroughly committed, determined and professional effort from the team for the full 80. Hard defence and smart attack, they’ve trained hard by all accounts. This is what it’s all for - 80 minutes a week. It would be so good to get up there in the table and come out strongly.

To make it clear though I will 100% back every player who takes to the field tomorrow. I’m excited and can’t wait. New season and new hope.

Tackling with Lyne has never been an issue but I’ve always had reservations on his defensive positioning/sliding across. More so since he’s put on some muscle and lost that athleticism from his early years.

Lyne is still a good player but his main strength these days is when he drives forward direct and close to the line using his strength. He’s a good meter gainer (when facing the right direction).

Over and above all I just want to see a thoroughly committed, determined and professional effort from the team for the full 80. Hard defence and smart attack, they’ve trained hard by all accounts. This is what it’s all for - 80 minutes a week. It would be so good to get up there in the table and come out strongly.

Well Langi is back up for me but its always a horses for courses thing.
Also, I don't have the benefit of seeing him train or measure his ability to integrate/interact within the team.
I'd have to give him 5 games from my armchair before I could decide if he was a starter at centre or not.
No such problems with Lynne or Hall, even with their faults you know what you're gonna get.
Still, injuries will always force your hand.

We have had a lot of injuries to the three quarters over the last few years, I'm assuming that's part of the reason we seem top heavy with centres and wingers.

We only have 3 centres with previous SL experience. Wing thought we are well stocked. Be good to see how Law and Pratt develop.

We've Gaskell as well. Just think we're well covered across the 3/4s, and even with a couple of injuries we'd still have some decent quality to step in.