Official Match Day Thread: Roosters v Bulldogs

[Andrew Walker]

As soon as Walker is fit the Manu at 6 experiment needs to stop. Manu is the best centre in the world. FB maybe but at 5/8 he just does have space and doesn't have the kicking game

The Manu at 6 experiment must cease now

[Johnny Brass]

Tough watch in the 2nd half and I thought we benefited by them losing Mahoney in the middle. We are so reliant on Keary as our only play maker and Joey looks rather sluggish and his right foot step isn't beating anyone. Gus has returned a shell of his former self and don't think he deserves that middle bench spot over Whyte.
Suaalii better off the wing and the debutantes did well, jwh our best forward and Teddy our best overall. Take the win but we are so low on confidence at the moment.

[player 1]

Well, I'm not sure what to make of that game. I think people look at where both teams are on the ladder and have confirmation-bias that it was a poor game.

The Bulldogs have been in the vast majority of their games this year, including against good opposition. They completed at a high percentage and have some very, very quick backs which caused us some issues.

Was fantastic for Teddy to hit back like that. Best on ground for sure, and that should do his confidence a world of good.
I thought Pauga was strong, and Smith looked good in his short stint.
Nathan Brown definitely looks threatening to me. Seems to pick and choose his ball-playing well and not pre-meditate too much. I wouldn't mind Radley taking a leaf out of that book.
Also nice to just put some points on again, although admittedly the Dogs aren't a great defensive unit by any stretch.
Suaalii played his best game for quite a while.

Downsides for me are still the goal-line defense, and our attack still hasn't clicked.
Manu has probably been our worst player over the last month. I think the quicker he's out of the 6 jersey, the better.
The timing of our errors is also really poor. Angus' dropped ball on the 1st or 2nd tackle after points, and Brown off the set start etc.

Big test next week, but winning and losing are habits, and that win hopefully is a springboard.

Highlighted part only bit I don't agree with. He's not looking fluent but he is still a handful to contain, and doesn't miss any tackles.

[QWERTY]

Our defence and discipline are killing us. If we go set for set we win comfortably. Attack improved today. Manu needs to be put back to centre though, the 6 experiment hasn’t really worked. Corey Allan as well probably should be dropped.

[Vasco]

The Manu at 6 experiment must cease now

I'd almost prefer Brendan Hall at five eighth on current form.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

We got the 2 points, that's great.
Handbrake got the arse, that's great.
Suaalii played wing, that's great.
No injuries or suspensions, that's great.
I thought we showed a lot more energy, that's great.
If we get Toops back next week we only need one change, that's great.
Pauga went very well, showed plenty of guts.
I want Sandon Smith to start at half next week, Keary back to 5/8, Manu back to centre, Suaalii back to wing, which he played today.
Even though it was only a one point win, it got us back on track, and it's possible we can improve if the Guru pulls the right strings.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

We got the 2 points, that's great.
Handbrake got the arse, that's great.
Suaalii played wing, that's great.
No injuries or suspensions, that's great.
I thought we showed a lot more energy, that's great.
If we get Toops back next week we only need one change, that's great.
Pauga went very well, showed plenty of guts.
I want Sandon Smith to start at half next week, Keary back to 5/8, Manu back to centre, Suaalii back to wing, which he played today.
Even though it was only a one point win, it got us back on track, and it's possible we can improve if the Guru pulls the right strings.

I would love to see those backline changes you mentioned for next week. I am s little concerned though that changing the number on Joey Manus may not make much difference for him.

[Vasco]

Despite his many misreads, Sualli had his best game of the year so far , and a permanent move to the wing will bring out the best in him.
If Walker isn’t fit next week then it’s sandon smith and keary in the halves and Manu to centre and JS wing with Toops other wing

Seems to be the logical choice. Manu is the new handbrake in the halves. Completely out of form or out of position.

[Vasco]

We got the 2 points, that's great.
Handbrake got the arse, that's great.
Suaalii played wing, that's great.
No injuries or suspensions, that's great.
I thought we showed a lot more energy, that's great.
If we get Toops back next week we only need one change, that's great.
Pauga went very well, showed plenty of guts.
I want Sandon Smith to start at half next week, Keary back to 5/8, Manu back to centre, Suaalii back to wing, which he played today.
Even though it was only a one point win, it got us back on track, and it's possible we can improve if the Guru pulls the right strings.

I thought we played OK too. I've always hated playing the Bulldogs. Any win is good for me.

[Sentimentinel]

I would love to see those backline changes you mentioned for next week. I am s little concerned though that changing the number on Joey Manus may not make much difference for him.

It's been said repeatedly, but yea Manu seems to have a problem generating power out of the lower legs.

Hopefully more game time will help, but he'd struggle at centre right now. Has to go back there regardless.

Critchon looks absolutely cooked, would a reggies stint be the tonic he needs?

Jared and Lindsay today were great, thought lodge played solid.

Pauga has played himself into selection for next week surely, a warm up for clearys bombs.

We still have a problem maintaining and compounding momentum. We're allergic to it. That brown drop on the set restart attacking their line with the ensuing ado carr try is typical of our season.

Cut that out, bottle Teddys style of play today and we may just heat up for the second half of the year.

[King Salvo]

The Mercurial Hutchinator fan club can keep calm and carry on as he will be in the mx for the 17 each and every week.

[Chook2]

Yes main positive today is 2 points and no injuries
also Tupou back next week and Walker not far off
at least the coach started with changed with suaali back to wing, manu will go back to centre once Walker back

positive
JWH and Collins were big and brown had some good Carries, brown will put pressure on radley once he is back
Sitili defence - last player I would run at atm
teddy - back to himself he was exceptional tonight
sualli - not dominant but best game so far this - and how about it on the wing!! Did get gassed a couple of times but everyone would against jac
they got a lucky try early on and 2 run away tries otherwise our defence was great
keary running the ball and getting back to best

negative
manu at 6 - stat passed the ball once which resulted in 1 try, needs to go back to centre for his confidence
keary kicking game was solid but needs to get abit more under the ball so suaali can actually compete, 4 or 5 times sualli did not get a chance to get over jac and only make a tackle
gus critchon - glad he is back but no where near 1st grade and his standards atm

next week Tupou should be back, hopefully smith starts and 7 until Walker back and manu at 3
pauga great, he will be 1st reserve once full back line back, in front of Allen, paulo and momo now

[chopstiks]

Congrats boys. A win is a win these days for us.

The old guard of Teddy, Kez and JWH led the way. (Not sure whats wrong with Manu...not himself).

So pleased to see the debs get a go who have been killing it in reggies. Thats how a club should operate. They both looked rapt after the game.

And pleased for Teddy. He was pretty emotional in the post match iv. I've been his biggest critic, but he hit back strongly today.

Manu not himself... and i would say yes going by Teddy's emotions - which i found quite suprising to be honest, he clearly wanted to break down and burst into tears. Somethings been going on and brewing all year , there's no denying it now

[Thirteen]

Take the two points and let’s go home.

Some positives
- Suaalii back on the wing, much better showing with still some room to improve
- Teddy back to simple footy, support and run direct
- Great debut from Pauga, carried the ball well and looked safe under the high ball
- Sandon Smith solid debut, looked crisp out of dummy half and provides genuine utility as a spine player. Might be the end of Hutch as a utility?
- Toops back next week

And no Ray for at least 6 days.

[Carlos Parra]

The Mercurial Hutchinator fan club can keep calm and carry on as he will be in the mx for the 17 each and every week.

Yawn.