I don’t think AFB can be dropped to the bench, he’s played in excess of 25 mins in the first half (longer than Marty) as a starting prop both games so far and has been outstanding.
Darcy will be the one that needs earn his place in the team and that’ll be from the bench.
I understand your sentiment and i did say "when ready" while referring to Lussick. I never advocated him "automatically deserving" ANY spot.
My choices have nothing to do with who "earned" or didn't earn the starting "number"or any perceived prestige in starting... it's about having the best rotation.
I don't agree with the perceived grandeur around starting, as opposed to being bench. It's a 17 man game! It's pompous, backward thinking! You should use 17 players the way they ALL serve the team best as a whole.
This is a business and the pride of our great club and supporters is at stake.
Sentiment of "awarding"/wearing a number 8 or 10 as opposed to a 14 or 15 is not how something is maximised.
All teams rotate their props EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Why match like against like, there's no advantage there.
Why not change it up to gain an advantage and small things can make a BIG difference.
AFB played 25 minutes straight up and did great. He is even better when coming on against tired opposition and Lussick is better as a starter than a bench rotation.
I would have Lussick (again, when he's ready) minutes 1-20 and 41-60 and AFB 20-40 and 60-80.
A fresh AFB against tired opposition
twice.
Lussick to do the hard stuff against fresh guys twice, but the second time he's had a 30 min break and his opponents only 10 minutes.
BIG difference!
Geeze, the bench starter can wear number 8 or 10 instead of 14 or 15 if it means that much.
The Kapow/Tanga rotation maybe works best as it is now, maybe even better if both prop rotations are scheduled the same.
We have 8 interchanges this year so lets use them before it is reduced to only 6 next year.
3 interchanges on the Lussick/AFB rotation, 2 on the Kapow/Tanga rotation and 3 left to use depending on how the game pans out. Maybe 3 on the Kapow/Tanga too. if it provides an advantage.
Heaven forbid we use a free HIA interchange, as many teams frequently do already.
I think Lussick WILL BE the best man for the job, but rotate this way with Perrett or someone else if he doesn't prove to be the one.
Thinking outside the box provides advantages.