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ROOSTERS v STORM
Finals, Week 3 - 7:50pm, Friday 27st September
AAMI Park, Melbourne
On to the Prelim. The Storm in Melbourne - we've been here before. Last year, in week 2 of the finals we went to Melbourne and led the Storm with 3 minutes on the clock. We were beaten by an individual moment of excellence. That's what wins games like this. Yes we are still missing a couple of stars, but in that game last year our backline was Teddy, Pauga, Momo, Allan & Paulo. We are actually a MUCH stronger team this time around.
Most of the stats between the 2 sides for this year are ridiculously close:
Completion Rates: Storm 78%, Roosters 79%;
Tackle Efficiency: Storm 87.3%, Roosters 87.6%;
Average Points Scored: Storm 29, Roosters 30;
Average Points Conceded: Storm 18, Roosters 19;
Average Play The Ball speed: Storm 3.46s, Roosters 3.45s.
This game is NOT as clear cut as many would have you believe.
Now, I have one word for you. Jared. Our spiritual leader, he taps into something on the field that impels those around him to find something more when they already thought they were at their limit. A walking (hulking) morale-booster, full of passion and aggression who's very presence has often has got the side over the line. For those detractors who call him "a liability", I hope you were watching last Saturday night and saw what he actually brings to this team. How much they lift in his presence. That's not a liability, that's a Legend. He is irreplaceable. Teddy and others have said playing alongside Jared makes "you feel 10 feet tall". Spence recently added "His impact on the group … when he’s around, you can really feel his presence … it really makes you want to play for him."
Well boys, this week, you need to do just that. Play for Jared. Play for Kez. Play for the Joey's.
We know what the Storm will bring. They'll wrestle, they'll scrap, they won't make a lot of mistakes. They'll stand in the ruck. They'll rush off their line. They'll strangle the life out of our attack, and push the limits of the officials patience ... which will magically stretch to accommodate them. It's up to us to take the officiating out of the equation. If we dominate the ruck, the will dominate the scoreboard. It's that simple.
The team is unchanged from the run-on side last week. Spencer will play his 100th NRL game (his 17th as a Rooster). I'm looking forward to the power and energy he brings off the bench this week.
Unavailable: Sam, Cheese & Egan: 126
Roosters by 7.
GO EASTS !!
ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Sua'ali'i
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Smith, Sandon
8. JWH
9. Watson
10. Collins
11. Crichton
12. Tupouniua
13. Radley
INTERCHANGE:
14. Leniu
15. Whyte
16. Butcher
17. May
RESERVES:
18. ZDC
19. Wong
20. Pauga
21. Elliott
22. Jennings
Match Officials:
Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Finals, Week 3 - 7:50pm, Friday 27st September
AAMI Park, Melbourne
On to the Prelim. The Storm in Melbourne - we've been here before. Last year, in week 2 of the finals we went to Melbourne and led the Storm with 3 minutes on the clock. We were beaten by an individual moment of excellence. That's what wins games like this. Yes we are still missing a couple of stars, but in that game last year our backline was Teddy, Pauga, Momo, Allan & Paulo. We are actually a MUCH stronger team this time around.
Most of the stats between the 2 sides for this year are ridiculously close:
Completion Rates: Storm 78%, Roosters 79%;
Tackle Efficiency: Storm 87.3%, Roosters 87.6%;
Average Points Scored: Storm 29, Roosters 30;
Average Points Conceded: Storm 18, Roosters 19;
Average Play The Ball speed: Storm 3.46s, Roosters 3.45s.
This game is NOT as clear cut as many would have you believe.
Now, I have one word for you. Jared. Our spiritual leader, he taps into something on the field that impels those around him to find something more when they already thought they were at their limit. A walking (hulking) morale-booster, full of passion and aggression who's very presence has often has got the side over the line. For those detractors who call him "a liability", I hope you were watching last Saturday night and saw what he actually brings to this team. How much they lift in his presence. That's not a liability, that's a Legend. He is irreplaceable. Teddy and others have said playing alongside Jared makes "you feel 10 feet tall". Spence recently added "His impact on the group … when he’s around, you can really feel his presence … it really makes you want to play for him."
Well boys, this week, you need to do just that. Play for Jared. Play for Kez. Play for the Joey's.
We know what the Storm will bring. They'll wrestle, they'll scrap, they won't make a lot of mistakes. They'll stand in the ruck. They'll rush off their line. They'll strangle the life out of our attack, and push the limits of the officials patience ... which will magically stretch to accommodate them. It's up to us to take the officiating out of the equation. If we dominate the ruck, the will dominate the scoreboard. It's that simple.
The team is unchanged from the run-on side last week. Spencer will play his 100th NRL game (his 17th as a Rooster). I'm looking forward to the power and energy he brings off the bench this week.
Unavailable: Sam, Cheese & Egan: 126
Roosters by 7.
GO EASTS !!
ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Sua'ali'i
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Smith, Sandon
8. JWH
9. Watson
10. Collins
11. Crichton
12. Tupouniua
13. Radley
INTERCHANGE:
14. Leniu
15. Whyte
16. Butcher
17. May
RESERVES:
18. ZDC
19. Wong
20. Pauga
21. Elliott
22. Jennings
Match Officials:
Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
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