NRL 2023: Matty Johns column: Parramatta v Cronulla, Brisbane v Cowboys combined teams
How do you leave Pat Carrigan out of a starting team? MATTY JOHNS wrestled with that decision as he made several bold picks in the Brisbane and North Queensland best 17.
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This week, I’ll be previewing the Friday games by picking a combined side from both teams, for each game. It gives a clear indication of where a team’s strengths and weaknesses lie, and what styles of contest, both will try and impose.
In many cases, like picking Friday night’s Cowboys/Broncos clash, it’s extremely difficult, and you are forced to leave out elite players.
I’m looking forward to being branded a dope, an imbecile and biased. That’s nothing new, and besides, I think it’s only fair that I lighten the load of hate mail Buzz gets delivered into his lap every Monday.
As an aside, each week the combined teams will compete in an elimination, to be declared “best of the very best” in October.
BRONCOS VS COWBOYS
Suncorp Stadium, 8pm AEDT
BRISBANE COWBOYS
1 FULLBACK – SCOTT DRINKWATER
Drinkwater is my clear-cut selection over Reece Walsh. So many similarities with Nicho Hynes. Brilliant runner and playmaker.
2 & 5 WINGERS – SELWYN COBBO, MURRAY TAULAGI
Taulagi is great, there’s no better finisher. Cobbo is a phenomenon. Last Friday, his aggression and work rate was on show, more than his genius.
3 & 4 CENTRES – HERBIE FARNWORTH, VALENTINE HOLMES
No outside back has improved more than Herbie, with each game his threat heightens. Holmes is class, his last 12 months has been the best of his career.
6 & 7 HALVES – ADAM REYNOLDS & TOM DEARDEN
The best halves combinations take different roles which compliment the other. Both Broncos and Cowboys have a pass/organiser and a runner.
I’ve picked Reynolds fractionally over Townsend, and Dearden alongside him, for his run threat.
13, 8, 10 THE MIDDLES – JASON TAUMALOLO, PAYNE HAAS, REUBEN COTTER
How can I leave out Pat Carrigan? He could easily be best player on the field.
Taumalolo is arguably the best yardage man in the history of the game. Haas was very strong last week, and could be headed for his best season, while Reuben Cotter is fast, strong, aggressive and never tires.
12 & 11 BACK ROW – JEREMIAH NANAI & KURT CAPEWELL
Nanai has it all. Size, speed, skill, and close to the best rugby league instincts I’ve ever seen from a back-rower. Capewell is tough, experienced and defensively, very good.
They get the nod over Coen Hess and Jordan Riki.
9 DUMMY HALF – REECE ROBSON
Robson and Reuben Cotter could be twins. They possess the same attributes, with Robson having that extra bit of finesse. A very, very, good player.
THE BENCH – JAKE GRANVILLE, JAMAYNE TAUNOA-BROWN, THOMAS FLEGLER & MARTIN TAUPAU
Granville is the ideal 14 from both benches. Both interchange benches are strong, and well balanced.
THE VERDICT
Looking at the strengths of the Cowboys positionally, you can see why they are such a lethal attack. Their talent is spread across key areas. They are equally adept at playing a wide passing game or keeping it tight, and tearing holes through the middle.
This will be tight because many of the Broncos players, who didn’t make this combined team, are hardworking and strong defensively.
Brisbane have some special players, but need to make this a tough grind and frustrate the attack-minded Cowboys.
Adam Reynolds has to do exactly as he did in Penrith, kick into the corners and allow his men to suffocate the opposition talent.
The Broncos won’t win a fast, attacking shoot out. The Broncos need turnovers, and they need repeat sets. They need greater possession to win.
WHO WINS?
The Broncos are going to make the Cowboys dig deep. If the Cowboys lapse into the frivolous football they played in the second half, last week, they lose.
I’ll go for the Cowboys in a close one.
PARRAMATTA EELS VS CRONULLA SHARKS
CommBank Stadium, 6pm
THE PARRAMATTA SHARKS
1 FULLBACK – CLINT GUTHERSON
Gutho’s the clear cut pick here. Organises the defence and works as an extra playmaker.
2 & 5 WINGERS – SIONE KATOA & RONALDO MULITALO
Tough call to leave out Sivo, but I rate these two Sharks as the best wing combination in the game. Great finishers and powerhouse yardage men.
3 & 4 CENTRES – JESSE RAMIEN & SIOSIFA TALAKAI
Very powerful centres. Ramien is at his very peak, strong in attack, and smart defensively. When Talakai is on his game, he’s one of the game’s most damaging players, and a big force in yardage.
6 & 7 HALVES – DYLAN BROWN & MITCH MOSES
No Nicho Hynes is again a big out, but the Sharks aren’t toothless in this area. Trindall is a very good young playmaker, but Brown and Moses are a blue-chip combination.
13, 8 & 10 THE MIDDLES – REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD, JUNIOR PAULO & DALE FINUCANE
The Sharks’ front row of Toby Rudolf and Braden Hamlin-Uele, are very much on the up, but Campbell-Gillard and Paulo are a tremendous combination, proven at every level. Paulo’s clever passing is an underestimated weapon.
Finucane locks the scrum. At the veteran stage, but what a winner! That winning attitude bleeds through a football team.
12 & 11 THE BACK ROW – BRITON NIKORA & TEIG WILTON
The back row is a serious problem for Parramatta at the moment, and that impacts Brown and Moses.
Nikora is a ballplayer’s dream; he runs beautiful lines. While Wilton is tough and plays with great energy.
9 HOOKER – JOSH HODGSON
Very tough to leave out Blayke Brailey, it’s a flip-of-the-coin decision that depends what style of dummy-half you’re after. Hodgson, if injury free, will enjoy a great season.
THE BENCH – CAM MCINNES, ROYCE HUNT, OREGON KAUFUSI, CONNOR TRACEY
All Sharks, and another big issue for Parramatta. The Sharks’ bench is balanced, and all four will impact the contest.
THE VERDICT
Parramatta have a distinct creative advantage, with 9,7,6, 1, all Eels. But the shortage in the back row is a problem for them. Bryce Cartwright is a playmaker, which is surplus to their requirements.
The Sharks might not have the big-name spine, but all four are excellent footballers, and crucially, have tremendous gap runners with whom to operate.
Upfront, the Eels have the yardage advantage, but the Sharks’ outside backs are great metre men.
Cronulla want to make this fast, free flowing, with little slow down, to get their backs dominating metreage.
WHO WINS?
I like Cronulla. I can see them grinding the Eels down, majoring on a fast, high completion rate and a rushing aggressive defence to frustrate Parra’s playmakers.
FANTASY WINNER
And who would win between the Brisbane Cowboys and the Parramatta Sharks?
Brisbane Cowboys by 10.
Rueben Cotter man of the match.
They emerge in the fantasy competition.
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Matty Johns column: Parramatta v Cronulla, Brisbane v Cowboys combined teams
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