Official Match Day Thread: Roosters v Dolphins

[ARD]

Put into perspective tonight we had no Sammy, Sandon, Cheese from our spine and playing for a crucial win heading into the bye - with other senior leadership injuries in Collins and Butch.

Add in all the well publicised exits last year

Trent can coach.

[Hawkeye]

What a great win to back up last week, and yeah it was pretty to watch. Credit to the coaching staff getting these young fellas playing with such confidence and intensity fir 80 minutes. I can't believe how well we are playing at the moment...didn't see this coming.

We just play our best footy under Joey Atkins, or any ref that just let's us play footy. A world apart from Sutton et al.

Teddy was outstanding. Vic was brilliant. Hugo is showing maturity beyond his experience. Rob Toia is a gun.

3 Teddy
2 Vic
1 A go go.

somebody watched Batfink as a kid !

[Teddy]

Missed the game, was checking the score when I could thought 32-8 great completion rate 65 mins then check back 10 mins later 36-26.

Put the cue in the rack by the look of it.

[Steggles]

somebody watched Batfink as a kid !

Ah the memories.

[mattyh]

I did think top 8 was beyond this team to start the season, I'm not so sure anymore.

I think we are a real live chance vs bulldogs after the bye, our style will unsettle them .

[Bates]

Does anyone else think that Marky Mark looks like Foghorn Leghorn?

[SamKerrSimp]

Thank god we have the bye this week with Sandon Smith being ruled out for 11 days

[BraveTheWorld]

Exceptional win. Dolphins never really in it. I actually felt we were in 2nd gear for most of the game, and we didn't even blink when we lost a spine player 7 minutes in. They honestly cruised tonight. Sometimes we're frantic in attack but it sticks anyway and we put a bunch of points on. I didn't feel that way this evening - until the last 20ish, everything was in almost perfect control.

Just a few takeways:
Tedesco won't get picked for origin, and it's absolutely comical. He is miles better than the next best fullback, and has been since coming to the Chooks (bar maybe one season).
Marky Mark may well be one of the best wingers in the comp by the end of the year. He is incredibly explosive and a freak talent. Young needs an injury to play for us again.
I was unsure when we brought back Watson, as I didn't know where he'd fit into our team (in spite of being a gun). What a masterstroke it has turned out to be. This bloke is as good as anyone. Elite across multiple positions.
Egan looks really strong in contact, and aggressive.
Fantastic to see Victor return to such elite ball-playing. He's the best at it when he gets it right.
Billy Smith try-saver was unbelievable.
ZDC unheralded typically, but was great tonight and hasn't put a foot wrong this season.
Great opening stint from Leniu.
Bobby T. Special player.

With how inconsistent the whole comp is, we should honestly make the 8. Going to be a tough block of 3 games coming up prior to getting Sam back. I have never minded Brandon Smith, but I struggle to see how he gets into the team at the moment. Watson stays at 9 for now, so Radley can stay at 13. Sandon probably on the bench since he's a better utility than Savala and Smith. That leaves Smith as the odd man out?

[MKCS]

Was a great game, we remained injury free apart from Sandon who will be back in 2 weeks, whole team played well, probably both Hugo and Toia's best NRL games to date whilst Connor Watson to 6 and Zack Dockar-Clay being relied on more than he would've been expecting was impressive to see also and is good experience if it happens later in the year.

2 points this week and another 2 points next week, beat the Dogs in a couple weeks and we're in the 8, not bad for a rebuild year at all.

I have never minded Brandon Smith, but I struggle to see how he gets into the team at the moment. Watson stays at 9 for now, so Radley can stay at 13. Sandon probably on the bench since he's a better utility than Savala and Smith. That leaves Smith as the odd man out?

If fit then Brandon Smith must play, I know a lot of people don't like him but he is a premiership winning utility and whilst he hasn't lived up to the superstar moniker he has looked good for us at times.

For me I agree with you that Watson can't be pulled from 9, Brandon would probably be best used at 14 and come on in one stint to give Radley a rest and then come on in another stint to give Watson a rest. Let him play 40 minutes of footy and keep two star players fresh.

[The Lip]

We will go back to back for the first time this year. Expect a high scoring game from both teams, maybe something like 36-24. Chooks by 12.

Almost - disappointing to let all those points in late in the game. Good performance though after loosing our 6 so early and coping well with the reshuffle in attack.

[The Lip]

Comfortably the best fullback in the game again.

Will he play SOO?

Two weeks ago I thought for sure they would stick with Edward’s. But he’s been average at best and honestly closer to poor. Cleary even has been average. With the Panthers so low on the table unless they get some momentum this week I don’t see how they can pick Edward’s over Teddy. If just on form Teddy is first picked for NSW. I will be very pleased for Teddy if they pick him but since I can’t get my Rossters hat off I hope they don’t. It will be bitter sweet if they do but I’m sure it still means a lot to Teddy. He should be selected.

[Chook2]

Exceptional win. Dolphins never really in it. I actually felt we were in 2nd gear for most of the game, and we didn't even blink when we lost a spine player 7 minutes in. They honestly cruised tonight. Sometimes we're frantic in attack but it sticks anyway and we put a bunch of points on. I didn't feel that way this evening - until the last 20ish, everything was in almost perfect control.

Just a few takeways:
Tedesco won't get picked for origin, and it's absolutely comical. He is miles better than the next best fullback, and has been since coming to the Chooks (bar maybe one season).
Marky Mark may well be one of the best wingers in the comp by the end of the year. He is incredibly explosive and a freak talent. Young needs an injury to play for us again.
I was unsure when we brought back Watson, as I didn't know where he'd fit into our team (in spite of being a gun). What a masterstroke it has turned out to be. This bloke is as good as anyone. Elite across multiple positions.
Egan looks really strong in contact, and aggressive.
Fantastic to see Victor return to such elite ball-playing. He's the best at it when he gets it right.
Billy Smith try-saver was unbelievable.
ZDC unheralded typically, but was great tonight and hasn't put a foot wrong this season.
Great opening stint from Leniu.
Bobby T. Special player.

With how inconsistent the whole comp is, we should honestly make the 8. Going to be a tough block of 3 games coming up prior to getting Sam back. I have never minded Brandon Smith, but I struggle to see how he gets into the team at the moment. Watson stays at 9 for now, so Radley can stay at 13. Sandon probably on the bench since he's a better utility than Savala and Smith. That leaves Smith as the odd man out?

Crazy with Teddy should be first picked but selfishly hope he does not
ZDC went very well and looks dangerous and Egan looks the strongest he has for a while
I think the cheese will be the 14 when he comes back potentially covering for Watson and rads and can also play abit of middle

the part that we might struggle is origin as we could loose up to 5 players

[Chook2]

Missed the game, was checking the score when I could thought 32-8 great completion rate 65 mins then check back 10 mins later 36-26.

Put the cue in the rack by the look of it.

Yea there was a poor 10 min where we made 4 straight errors in our half
take away that time and we were very good
but certainly let the scoreline be closer then it could have

[caz]

the season looks a bit different from this time 8 weeks ago. the boys have really progressed since the first brisbane game

[Swamptrout]

Missed the game, was checking the score when I could thought 32-8 great completion rate 65 mins then check back 10 mins later 36-26.

Put the cue in the rack by the look of it.

yeah put the cue in the rack a little bit.
One thing is for sure, give the hammer some space and he scores every time.

also we had no kicker and missed a few concessions which made the score line look more closer than it was.