Chad Townsend

[blooster]

People need to adjust their expectations for season 2025 once you accept that we are going to struggle for most of it and will be concentrating on developing young players then Chad Townsend's place in the team doesn't matter at all.

agreed

[Eggspert]

People need to adjust their expectations for season 2025 once you accept that we are going to struggle for most of it and will be concentrating on developing young players then Chad Townsend's place in the team doesn't matter at all.

Yep agree,

No point piling it on Townsend when the inevitable struggle/losses become a regular theme.

It might get a bit better with the return of Walker mid season but not enough to probably make the top 8.

[SamKerrSimp]

People need to adjust their expectations for season 2025 once you accept that we are going to struggle for most of it and will be concentrating on developing young players then Chad Townsend's place in the team doesn't matter at all.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Cornish (and his brother) were highly rated with the Faders' systems. TBH I was surprised they didn't go further in their respective careers...

Morts was a champ and much loved. I remember seeing him with the GF with Newtown... people were picking him up and ragdolling him all around the place. Forget the year but one of the best plays I saw him do was against Manly in a game... he pulled a try outta nowhere and then the dumb@rse ref pulling him back on some stupid technicality, handing Manly the win. What happened to the lad? In 2009 he was highly rated for his work with Hayne, then he was promptly offloaded to us at a bargain rate.

Aaah... some of those players I'll never quite understand in a world where a lot of mediocre players seem to enjoy a lot more stability. TBH one reason I left footy and focussed on my running was that things like selection for state/national teams were very objective. Even in the years where I didn't quite make it, I appreciated knowing there'd been a fair race, I'd done my best and I'd failed. Whereas, footy often made no sense!!!! I remember the trial for one rep team involved me scoring a hat trick in REALLY shyte conditions and putting my body on the line multiple times against a dude much bigger than me who intentionally kept trying the knee me in the head as I tackled him. Assumed the hat trick sealed the deal. Nup... dropped without a reason. Didn't even make their #2 team or their reserve pool. Didn't bother whinging or anything - my reading was that the captain and coach simply didn't rate me as a friend. No grudges/conflict... I was simply a non-drinking wog from the eastern suburbs who didn't say a lot or participate in pranks such as sack whacking people from behind or intentionally falconing team-mates from ~5 metres awaywhen their back was turned 'just because' (WTF was that even a thing?!?) IDK... I just wasn't one of the boys, so I wasn't wanted.

It's an anecdote but IMO a lot of that happens in footy. Coach/captain just make a subjective call about somebody's character and they're not wanted. Makes complete sense in a team sport but I prefer it when there's some sorta objective measure for selection and I can use it to argue my case if I'm faster than the next guy.

I read your entire post ism. My conclusion is that if you missed selection in the rep team after scoring 3 tries in the rep team selection trial leadup game, you must have done little else, missed 45 tackles in defense, and just been on the end of backline movements and just caught the ball and fallen over the line. For those 3 tries.

[Arties Pie]

As long as he steers the ship and gives decent service at halfback is all I expect .. No idea what his kicking in general play is like but I very much doubt it would be worse than what we already have ..

[roosterproud]

so if Chad or Sandon get injured do we go with Hugo Savala or just drop Watto back to a 7 (aubo style). reason for asking i think Hugos next up and is definitely a good big bodied half, and kicks goals.

[Random Rooster]

I get that he came cheap. But we did sign him before Sammy's injury so I would think nobody expected him to play as much as he is going to play. He was supposed to be more a mentor than a permanent player.
It isn't 2000. He is way past his best of his 250 games.
He probably went a year too long last year now he is going to play half a season for us.
I hope he kills it but I wouldn't put my last $10 on it that he is going to have an impact.
Just because a player puts on a RWB jersey doesn't turn him into superman. But everyone will support him and hopes he can play a part in us keeping up with the top 8 before Sammy and Smith get back.

FM there are some primadonnas in here.

FFS

Brett Morris says hello! Plenty of doubters about him when he arrived, as his last couple of years at the Dogs were ordinary and he was well into his early 30s.

I don't think anyone here is expecting Townsend to play out of his skin- and he is being paid accordingly. He will play to his strengths as a organiser and kicker. It will also be a great opportunity for Sandon Smith to show what he has got.

Anyone have any ideas who would be the starting half/five eighth to partner Smith if Chad Townsend became not available?

[theGman]

FWIW, i reckon blokes with infectuous and bubbly personalities like Chad and Luke Keary, will be snapped up by NRL clubs post retirement.
Great mentors and clever too.

[ism22]

I kinda rated Mitch Cornish tbh

Daniel Mortimer was the best of the lot however

Cornish (and his brother) were highly rated with the Faders' systems. TBH I was surprised they didn't go further in their respective careers...

Morts was a champ and much loved. I remember seeing him with the GF with Newtown... people were picking him up and ragdolling him all around the place. Forget the year but one of the best plays I saw him do was against Manly in a game... he pulled a try outta nowhere and then the dumb@rse ref pulling him back on some stupid technicality, handing Manly the win. What happened to the lad? In 2009 he was highly rated for his work with Hayne, then he was promptly offloaded to us at a bargain rate.

Aaah... some of those players I'll never quite understand in a world where a lot of mediocre players seem to enjoy a lot more stability. TBH one reason I left footy and focussed on my running was that things like selection for state/national teams were very objective. Even in the years where I didn't quite make it, I appreciated knowing there'd been a fair race, I'd done my best and I'd failed. Whereas, footy often made no sense!!!! I remember the trial for one rep team involved me scoring a hat trick in REALLY shyte conditions and putting my body on the line multiple times against a dude much bigger than me who intentionally kept trying the knee me in the head as I tackled him. Assumed the hat trick sealed the deal. Nup... dropped without a reason. Didn't even make their #2 team or their reserve pool. Didn't bother whinging or anything - my reading was that the captain and coach simply didn't rate me as a friend. No grudges/conflict... I was simply a non-drinking wog from the eastern suburbs who didn't say a lot or participate in pranks such as sack whacking people from behind or intentionally falconing team-mates from ~5 metres awaywhen their back was turned 'just because' (WTF was that even a thing?!?) IDK... I just wasn't one of the boys, so I wasn't wanted.

It's an anecdote but IMO a lot of that happens in footy. Coach/captain just make a subjective call about somebody's character and they're not wanted. Makes complete sense in a team sport but I prefer it when there's some sorta objective measure for selection and I can use it to argue my case if I'm faster than the next guy.

[Eggspert]

I think he'll be a suprise packet signing & will do a solid fill in job.

I'll back him, glad he's here.

Where would we be if he wasn't here with Sam's injury.

[Vasco]

I kinda rated Mitch Cornish tbh

Daniel Mortimer was the best of the lot however

I didn't mind Mortimer. Very good at backing up, an art often forgotten about.

[Rooster90]

I'll say one thing positive about Chad.

He is a major upgrade on our most recent halves depth signings. He is superior to Brock Lamb, Mitch Cornish, Drew Hutchison and co.

I kinda rated Mitch Cornish tbh

Daniel Mortimer was the best of the lot however

[A Country Member]

I’m keen to see how Trent plays him.
If he can dig into the line on the back of the famed Rooster power game and create space for the three-quarters; then he’ll be very handy

[BTRD]

I am willing to see how it all pans out.

I have a feeling, could be wrong of course, but Townsend won't be our real concern this year.

GO ROOSTERS.

[HunchoRooster]

We get it. You've written him off as a dud. No real need to say it 50 more times.

Be interesting to count the amount of times the Pen has referred to him as a "premiership winning halfback" in comparison to the amount of times I've called him a dud. (which i dont think ive actually done, unless you call being underwhelmed by how average he is, which is all I've done).