Team of Forwards or Team of Backs?

So the age old debate as to whether having a stacked backline is more important than a stacked forward pack. However what how would a team of 17 players who usually play in the 1-7 match up with a team of players from the 8-13 would match up against one another.

Criteria for each is simply based off this year, and where they would be starting in their sides respective 17 at full fitness.

My personal picks for both...

1. James Tedesco
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Josh Dugan
4. Greg Inglis
5. Darius Boyd
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Joseph Leilua
9. Ben Hunt
10. Corey Oates
11. Cheyse Blair
12. Brenko Lee
13. Shaun Kenny-Dowall

14. Micheal Morgan
15. Semi Radradra
16. Nene MacDonald
17. Jamal Idris

vs

1. Josh Hodgson
2. Matt Gillett
3. Elliott Whitehead
4. Mitchell Aubusson
5. Chris McQueen
6. Issac Luke
7. Peter Wallace
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith
10. Andrew Fifita
11. Sam Burgess
12. Simon Mannering
13. Paul Gallen

14. Luke Lewis
15. Matthew Scott
16. Jason Taumalolo
17. Ryan James

Personally I think the forward pack sits more balanced. Primarily due to having Hookers and a fair chunk of 2RF guys who rotate and cover injuries in the CTRs.

*I am sure I have easily overlooked some people, or you guys could think of better teams. (or I have rated guys too highly... like Wallace...)
**I haven't included guys like Isaah Yeo or Tyrone Peachey... too versatile for me to wrap my head around but they are Forwards probably... Maybe.

part of me things forwards will win because they cover the backs positions better but how often do we see that despite what else happens in a game, a great spine will pull it out.

while the forwards have smith


teddy(or boyd)/cronk/JT V hodgson/luke/wallace is a huge gap


fun thought tho!!

How did Lovett miss out on a center position ?

No Friz makes this all invalid

Revraiser wrote:Fantasy or a one off preseason match telecast from Bathurst ?  Awesome  

Lol I would love to see a one off preseason match.

JT and Des to coach respected teams

Hmmm. I'd say the forwards would win because Taumololo makes 120kg centre defenders look helpless, so I can only imagine what he'd do to centres. You just never know though. With a good game plan the backs and spine might be able to do enough out wide on early plays to do enough.

The teams I'd go would be:
Forwards:
1. Dunno. Jake Glanville, Damian Cook or Chris Lawrence maybe. Fullback and wings are the hardest to pick.
2. Can you count Connor Watson as a forward? If not Isaac Yeo.
3. Aubusson
4. Glenn or Ma'u
5. McQueen
6. Lewis
7. Smith
8. Fifita
9. Hodgson
10. Bromwich
11. Gillett
12. Burgess
13. Taumololo

14. Wallace (Segeyaro in a few weeks time)
15. Frizell
16. James
17. Graham

Backs:
1. Slater
2. Boyd
3. Dugan
4. Inglis
5. Radradra
6. JT
7. Cronk
8. BJ
9. Pearce
10. Waqa Blake
11. Takairangi
12. Peachey (or Morgan if you don't consider him a back)
13. Bird

14. Hunt
15. Morgan (or Aitken if needed for Peachey)
16. Oates
17. The heaviest back I can find. Taufua or Moga maybe.

Backs would just kick it long, early. Imagine the big fellas bringing it back every couple of minutes? Don't have to rush up on them either - let them run 50 meters and fall down buggered after about 15 minutes!

I'd have Milf and Sandow as my props. Pair them as permanent roomies and within weeks they'll have Lolo running sideways to avoid them.

Most of the players are all moulding into the same shape these days so I would go the backs to win on the back of game management and ball playing ability.

Disappointing that the fat bastard prop or the skin and bones wingers are largely becoming extinct.