Robo interview

[HunchoRooster]

It's not about blaming him as much as we're in a bit of a rebuild and it's as good a time as any to review what and how we want this team to play.

I've posted many times on this over the last year but I thought our balance was off for 2024, without going into too much depth we were an overpowered attacking outfit. If the plan is to reign that in given the departures of Manu, Keary and Bsmtih injury/ impending departure then letting May go makes sense. As would signing someone like Reece Robson.

It's not about blaming anyone, just presenting the other side of the argument for consideration because I'm seeing a lot of posts saying it makes no sense or they could never understand why we would get rid of him. I think there is a logical reason and it should be at the least considered.

You aren't blaming him R6, others have correlated our shite form against big sides with his departure.

I see your points and there could've been a purely football based decision made in good faith for the good of both parties. Those that made the decision, including Robbo would think its theoretical and logical to do so, but I am exercising my right as an average punter and fan of the club to wholeheartedly disagree with the decision, at least on paper. As you and I have both on the B. Smith signing amongst other things. Our opinion was justified in the instance of B. Smith.

Only time will tell if it's justified this time.

[Rooster_6]

Anyone blaming T. May for any of our shite performances last season needs to have a lay down. We have been easy beats to Riff and Melb in the majority of contests since 2020, long before T. May cracked the first 17 or was even at the club.

I also don't believe it's a case of the chookpen/fan base over rating T. May as it is the Roosters brass over rating a large chunk of our squad, particularly the forwards, by making the decision to keep them around over May.

I don't think anyone in their right mind would look at our pack last year and say yep this bloke who makes 5 late offloads a game and almost never gets brought down in a tackle is the reason we are off the pace.

Moving on from him, that's fine and good. Decision has been made. Robinson needs to back it up, as he has played the role of TedX presenter more than first grade coach in recent seasons. 2021 being his last great year of substance.

It's not about blaming him as much as we're in a bit of a rebuild and it's as good a time as any to review what and how we want this team to play.

I've posted many times on this over the last year but I thought our balance was off for 2024, without going into too much depth we were an overpowered attacking outfit. If the plan is to reign that in given the departures of Manu, Keary and Bsmtih injury/ impending departure then letting May go makes sense. As would signing someone like Reece Robson.

It's not about blaming anyone, just presenting the other side of the argument for consideration because I'm seeing a lot of posts saying it makes no sense or they could never understand why we would get rid of him. I think there is a logical reason and it should be at the least considered.

[HunchoRooster]

Anyone blaming T. May for any of our shite performances last season needs to have a lay down. We have been easy beats to Riff and Melb in the majority of contests since 2020, long before T. May cracked the first 17 or was even at the club.

I also don't believe it's a case of the chookpen/fan base over rating T. May as it is the Roosters brass over rating a large chunk of our squad, particularly the forwards, by making the decision to keep them around over May.

I don't think anyone in their right mind would look at our pack last year and say yep this bloke who makes 5 late offloads a game and almost never gets brought down in a tackle is the reason we are off the pace.

Moving on from him, that's fine and good. Decision has been made. Robinson needs to back it up, as he has played the role of TedX presenter more than first grade coach in recent seasons. 2021 being his last great year of substance.

[Rooster1908]

....and this is what you'll end up like kids, if you mindlessly comply with what you've been told or how it has always been. Next year you may be able to run out with the under 9's. If you do make the team, it's okay to question the coach if you have an alternative point of view. It'll be your first journey into changing the world. Start with your bad language.

Yeah I agree .Don't like this new age every child wins a prize , you don't have to win to be competitive and winning is not the most important thing crap.Winning is the most important thing in all aspects of life as long as you do it with dignity and respect.that goes for sport and life .Being happy with second means that's what you will settle for .F$ck that.Sorry for the language

[On the Nose]

Fair dinkum….what a bunch a whiney little “glass half empty” bitches some folks on this forum are!
It’s EASTS….I’d still back them 110% if they ran out the Clovelly primary school under 9s every weekend.
Have some pride in the jersey ffs

....and this is what you'll end up like kids, if you mindlessly comply with what you've been told or how it has always been. Next year you may be able to run out with the under 9's. If you do make the team, it's okay to question the coach if you have an alternative point of view. It'll be your first journey into changing the world. Start with your bad language.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

As soon as I hear the term "moving in a different direction" to explain a recruitment/retention call, you can bet your bippy that there's something being left unsaid.

[BTRD]

The coach is annoying.

At this stage - no hooker and only one ' real ' starting front rower for 2025.

Anyway - I will always support the mighty R W and B.

GO ROOSTERS.

[Steggles]

The fundamental issue is that it’s inefficient.

Runs are not infinite, therefore that workload is better off being shared amongst a group of players for a higher yielding result.

As I already posted out of the 96 players in the NRL to play prop this year Terrell May ranked 83rd for average metres per run. That puts him in the bottom 15% of prop forwards for average metres per run. No prop in the game had more sub 8m carries than May, that is an inefficient use of your resources as a team.

Nafahu Whyte on the other ranked 6th for average metres per run which puts him in the top 10% of props in the game. Spencer Leniu ranked 12th which puts him in the top 15%. Va’a’s sample size is way too small but his metres per run in the NSW Cup was very strong and in his one game of NRL he was averaging over 10 metres per run which are good signs he’s physically ready.

There’s questions that I think need to be asked about May;
1. Does he offer enough in other areas of the game to justify some inefficiencies in yardage?
2. Can May improve his yardage carries or is this just the style of player that he is?
3. How effective was our offload game against the top sides and is that an issue that needs to be addressed within the way we play?
4. Do we need attacking middles?
5. Can we put together a more efficient prop rotation with the players already at the club?

I understand the argument that we shouldn’t have let May go but if we identified that our style of play is not going to get us to a premiership and we needed to change then I also understand the argument to release Terrell May. Trent Robinson has always based his packs around power running middle forwards blended with some hard working defenders. Terrell May never fitted into either category.

Great explanation as to why May was moved on based on real statistics and critical analysis; well done. We will get more yardage overall with May out of the rotation (maybe except if he’s replaced by Nat Butcher). Time to move on from May I reckon.

[Rooster_6]

Robbo says, "...there’s just some small bits there around how we want to play". Herein lies the public justification for May being moved on. If only the journo had asked for some specifics, we would not need to guess what that means!

No coach is going to go into detail on the tactical decisions around why they chose to let players go.

It's an unrealistic expectation.

[Intercept]

It also seems that we can expect "we believe in them" to be this year's "we are really clear about how we want to play". Not hating on Robbo, I just find his Jedi mind-tricks a little irksome at times! Whatever, go the Roosters! '25 might be a year we take a step back so that we can take two steps forward. Looking forward to it!

[Bates]

Your welcome and sure/

Thanks Bono.

[Intercept]

Robbo says, "...there’s just some small bits there around how we want to play". Herein lies the public justification for May being moved on. If only the journo had asked for some specifics, we would not need to guess what that means!

[Rooster_6]

May was Samoa best forward
what’s wrong with cracking 20 hit ups and 140mtr?
Better then a Collins 5 runs for 40 mtr
sitili was different he was overpaid on $600k and playing res grade it was a no brainer to move him on as it was an incorrect call
not someone on $450k who we had for a bargain and talked about for nsw who was looking to start next year and allready loosing jwh
with origin when Collins and Spencer are out who play front row?
whyte then a scary butcher combo?

The fundamental issue is that it’s inefficient.

Runs are not infinite, therefore that workload is better off being shared amongst a group of players for a higher yielding result.

As I already posted out of the 96 players in the NRL to play prop this year Terrell May ranked 83rd for average metres per run. That puts him in the bottom 15% of prop forwards for average metres per run. No prop in the game had more sub 8m carries than May, that is an inefficient use of your resources as a team.

Nafahu Whyte on the other ranked 6th for average metres per run which puts him in the top 10% of props in the game. Spencer Leniu ranked 12th which puts him in the top 15%. Va’a’s sample size is way too small but his metres per run in the NSW Cup was very strong and in his one game of NRL he was averaging over 10 metres per run which are good signs he’s physically ready.

There’s questions that I think need to be asked about May;
1. Does he offer enough in other areas of the game to justify some inefficiencies in yardage?
2. Can May improve his yardage carries or is this just the style of player that he is?
3. How effective was our offload game against the top sides and is that an issue that needs to be addressed within the way we play?
4. Do we need attacking middles?
5. Can we put together a more efficient prop rotation with the players already at the club?

I understand the argument that we shouldn’t have let May go but if we identified that our style of play is not going to get us to a premiership and we needed to change then I also understand the argument to release Terrell May. Trent Robinson has always based his packs around power running middle forwards blended with some hard working defenders. Terrell May never fitted into either category.

[Timmah]

Fair dinkum….what a bunch a whiney little “glass half empty” bitches some folks on this forum are!
It’s EASTS….I’d still back them 110% if they ran out the Clovelly primary school under 9s every weekend.
Have some pride in the jersey ffs

[Chook2]

JWH spent half the season suspended and he was still our best prop bar none, Collins wasn't the best but he has the runs on the board and a long term contract, Spencer at least showed glimpses and his power game is probably what Robbo wants going forward he also walked in to the NSW team after playing about 3 games this year.

May is nothing special and all this stuff about "why did we re-sign him to let him go" we did the exact same thing to Tupouniua these things happen and performances change, he was off contract at the end of the season and if he was so good why did the club only offer him a 2 year deal and not a 3-4 year deal? The difference from when we re-signed May to when we got rid of him is that we got belted in all the big games we played after that contract. Something that's been left out recently is how May did nothing in the tests against England he put up his usual 120m 20 hit ups while Samoa got belted.

I haven't seen Roosters fans overrated a player as much as Terrell May since Luke Towers was the saviour.

May was Samoa best forward
what’s wrong with cracking 20 hit ups and 140mtr?
Better then a Collins 5 runs for 40 mtr
sitili was different he was overpaid on $600k and playing res grade it was a no brainer to move him on as it was an incorrect call
not someone on $450k who we had for a bargain and talked about for nsw who was looking to start next year and allready loosing jwh
with origin when Collins and Spencer are out who play front row?
whyte then a scary butcher combo?