Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[gbatman]

Our best 23 side for this season looks very good. If I could be critical of it, it's probably that there will be a few really raw players in some key positions and that it's probably one perfect fit onballer away from being a premiership contender.

If you get the right combination of players they free up each other. Having another quick dangerous half back or two in the side frees up Saad who gets targeted each week being the only threatening half back in the team. Wilson perhaps but Florent will take a bit of focus as well.

Take Curnow out of the forward line but add a plethora of players who are strong overhead and smart when it comes to presenting and the opposition won't crowd McKay. O'Keeffe, Kemp, Moir, Hayward, Byrne and Ainsworth will really spread the opposition defence. Playing Carlton will not all be about crowding McKay and Curnow and locking down Saad.

My only main concern is that none of the other onballer really take the head off Walsh. The others don't require close checking, but Walsh does.

 

[Tommy Alvin]

Wise words Batman, I reckon you are about right.

I have refrained from doing my best 23 until now but can't hold out any longer as I have an hour to kill before going to a schmooze event. Anyway, my best 23 isn't for Round 1, it is what I reckon our best 23 will look like once the cobwebs have blown off and a few of the new guys start to gel. It is a formidable team and has a great balance of speed, aerial power and smart ball users. Some of the selections are based on hope. Example: Reidy as Pitto is a bit slow for my liking.

Cowan, Weitering, Newman
Florent, Dean, Saad
O Hollands, Cripps, Walsh
Ainsworth, Moir, Williams
Hayward, McKay, Evans

Reidy, Hewett, Smith

Cerra, Motlop, Chesser, Haynes, Cotrell

EMERG: B Camporeale, Acres, O'Keefe

TA

 

[Ninja Worrier]

B: Saad Weitering Carroll
HB: Florent Dean Wilson
C: Chesser Cripps OHollands
HF: Ainsworth Harry Smith
FF: Hayward HOK Williams
Foll: Reidy Walsh Cerra
Int Cowan Lord Hewett Moir Evans

Not so sure we would play a team like this but I really like it. So much run in all areas of the park and I think the spark of our youth will be infectious.

- Smith to play more forward than back with plenty of stints in the midfield.

- Moir to get amongst the mids with stints up forward.

- Cowan to play 50/50 midfield / back. Let’s put him around the ball more and watch him come of age.

Honourable mentions: Charleston, BCampo & Ison. Expect these guys to be there abouts. After a chat with a knowledgeable chap yesterday, I think we have some youth on our list ready and raring to go. I especially love our forward types of Hayward, Evans, Ainsworth, Moir, Williams and Jagga. A very nimble, mobile attack group we now have which will trouble plenty of backlines.

A team that’s full of players playing for the jumper is what I want to see in 2026. Quick, exciting, daring are all words I think our team in 2026 will be associated with

Like it, forward facing, speedy and does away with some conservatism