Des should play DCE at 9 while Fainu is out.
As NRL turns into touch football, hookers are becoming more like running halves. A 9 who can play quick (Cook/Grant) and also ball play/kick (Smith) is priceless. Sadly, Api came closest to that in 2020.
DCE at 9 would keep oppositions guessing. He might also regain his running game.
The main drawback is extra defence, but he's targetted heavily at 7 anyway. With DCE at 9, we could have another forward on bench to help with rotation/tackling workload. Also gives us another end-of-set kicking option (like Smith at Storm).
If Des was really innovative, he could rotate DCE/Foran during match.
My team for 2021:
8. Jake
9. DCE
10. Marty
11. Haumole
12. Jetski
13. Sironen
7. Foran
6. Schuster
5. Saab
4. Walker
3. Suli
2. Tuipulto
1. Tom
14. Jorge Tafua (edge back-rower/back cover)
15. Paseka
16. Alolai
17. Keppie (to rotate with Sironen)
18. Cust
19. Funa
20. Boyle
21. Davey
As NRL turns into touch football, hookers are becoming more like running halves. A 9 who can play quick (Cook/Grant) and also ball play/kick (Smith) is priceless. Sadly, Api came closest to that in 2020.
DCE at 9 would keep oppositions guessing. He might also regain his running game.
The main drawback is extra defence, but he's targetted heavily at 7 anyway. With DCE at 9, we could have another forward on bench to help with rotation/tackling workload. Also gives us another end-of-set kicking option (like Smith at Storm).
If Des was really innovative, he could rotate DCE/Foran during match.
My team for 2021:
8. Jake
9. DCE
10. Marty
11. Haumole
12. Jetski
13. Sironen
7. Foran
6. Schuster
5. Saab
4. Walker
3. Suli
2. Tuipulto
1. Tom
14. Jorge Tafua (edge back-rower/back cover)
15. Paseka
16. Alolai
17. Keppie (to rotate with Sironen)
18. Cust
19. Funa
20. Boyle
21. Davey