Anyone any idea how far away Hookem.is from being fit?
A good opportunity to give him a few games if he's available while Gale is banned.

[iYoung half back Jacob Hookem is continuing his recovery from an ankle injury and is hoping to be available towards the start of the new reserves schedule getting underway.[/i

Reserves were due back Friday. Might not be too far off

Thanks for that.
I'd give him a run when he's fit then, nothing to lose really.

Connor
Swift
Wynne
Carlos
Mcintosh
McNamara
Reynolds
Satae
Houghton
Brown
Griffin
Lane
Lovodua

Sao
Fash
Scott
Shaul

We seriously cannot go 7/8 matches using McNamara in the halves.
Have to use Connor with Shaul at full back.I know he had a stinker against Saints but would release a space on the bench for another young forward

Is it worth going with Shaul or giving Litten a shot?

He gets the next couple of games, someone sees something in him, gets mentioned by players and coaches, by then Hookem should be fit to give him a try.

We are going to need to sign at least one halfback possible 2 for next season, so this gives us the opportunity to see if either of these are ready to play SL regularly.

Not convinced either on Mcnamara, but think Hookem has potential and this should be the season he gets a few games, this is what Rovers and Saints did with Lewis and Dodd.

I agree with that Dave when we have a couple of big forwards back.
The other option if he doesnt use Shaul would be to move McIntosh to full back and play Mitch on the wing who looked strong in defence and has a bit of pace in him

Connor
Swift
Wynne
Tuimavave
McIntosh
Reynolds
McNamara
Sao
Houghton
Fash
Griffin
Lane
Johnstone

Lovodua
Satae
Brown
Scott

Minimal changes needed, McNamara is solid defensively and will do a job. We lose too much moving Connor away from full back.

We have to have a player better than Johnstone in the squad somewhere.

Just don't see what he offers.

Same with cam Scott, havnt seen him do much at all.

I'm thinking vulikajapani to the wing, macintosh at fullback and Connor at half back or we will have zero kicking game.

Mcnamara no where near ready. Much rather have Hookem who plays off the cuff, is he still Injured.

Vulikajapani will tighten us up defensively out wide too, as well as offer us more go forward than Scott and a bigger try threat.

Don't want to see Shaul near the squad, not good enough time to move on.

Connor to stay at fullback for me, the link play he offers is too important for us to lose and he can just as easily kick from there as he can from halfback.

I would bench Houghton and start with Lovodua too.

Scott had a couple of good games last season and was involved in a few try. Can't remember JJ doing anything with ball in hand last year, no breaks, never creates anything. Not bad defence but offers nothing in attack. I'd rather have Houghton at Lovodua and someone to cover hooker or 13 off the bench.

As much as we need someone in halves in place of Gale I just think moving Connor away from FB kills an awful lot of any attacking threat as in the FB position he links up play better than anyone has since McKinnon. With him back in the HB role we lose more than we'd gain personally, as he has much more freedom in joining the play in the FB role.

I know McNamara isn't or hasn't been the most creative half but his defence is sound or if Carlos is fit possibly put Carlos in at HB as he's done that for us before and did ok.

I'd also rather have Lovodua in at 13 from the start as he looks very fit, is lively, quick and so far also been good defensively and drop JJ to the bench to spell Houghton instead of flogging him again for 80mins game in game out.