Re-evaluating our 2025 season.

[Bates]

My expectations have changed following our previous 2 rounds. I'd labelled this season a dogs breakfast. It felt like the club had dropped the ball with our recruitment and retention. Watching Townsend and Young play in our colours was excruciating! Fortunately changes were made before the season was too far gone. Hugo has stepped up and is playing beyond his years with Marky Mark proving to be a natural winger and has slotted in nicely.

Our attack now looks cohesive. Our strike players are finally getting good clean timely ball. Our forwards have stepped and we now have a competent half who stays calm, sticks to the script, can create opportunities, kick long and hold his own in D. What a difference that makes! Sandon was also exceptional against the Dragons. His running game tore them to shreds.

Moving forward it now appears that we have a squad that looks competitive and are on the same page. We also have young Sammy back soon who imo is the best playmaker I've watched since A Johns. The Cheese will also return, however I feel that his impact will be minimal. There's plenty to improve on and I feel that Robbo is up for the challenge.

I believe that we will finish top 6 and potentially as high as 4th. From there anything is possible as there are no clear stand out teams and we have a very exciting and capable team.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.

I'd be curious to know if you have re-evaluated our season.

[Mickie Lane]

As it stands there are 10 teams ahead of us & we're not in the 8,
On their day the Chooks look real good but in the losing games we've looked average.
The season will be determined in our next 3 games
Dogs 1st
Cronulla 6th
Raiders 2nd

If we go down in all 3 games then that will be disappointing if we win all 3 games well then its game on.
Most people on here tipped that we wouldnt make the 8 so we'll just have to wait & see what pans out.

[dice]

We will win the premiership next year. This year just enjoy the rapid rise of the next generation of Manu/Latrell/Radley and watch the haters shit themselves if we make it to the finals*

*without injuries

[Eggspert]

My expectations have changed following our previous 2 rounds. I'd labelled this season a dogs breakfast. It felt like the club had dropped the ball with our recruitment and retention. Watching Townsend and Young play in our colours was excruciating! Fortunately changes were made before the season was too far gone. Hugo has stepped up and is playing beyond his years with Marky Mark proving to be a natural winger and has slotted in nicely.

Our attack now looks cohesive. Our strike players are finally getting good clean timely ball. Our forwards have stepped and we now have a competent half who stays calm, sticks to the script, can create opportunities, kick long and hold his own in D. What a difference that makes! Sandon was also exceptional against the Dragons. His running game tore them to shreds.

Moving forward it now appears that we have a squad that looks competitive and are on the same page. We also have young Sammy back soon who imo is the best playmaker I've watched since A Johns. The Cheese will also return, however I feel that his impact will be minimal. There's plenty to improve on and I feel that Robbo is up for the challenge.

I believe that we will finish top 6 and potentially as high as 4th. From there anything is possible as there are no clear stand out teams and we have a very exciting and capable team.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.

I'd be curious to know if you have re-evaluated our season.

Originally thought between 10th - 12th.

Now think 8th - 10th

2 in a row is good but there's a long way to go to start even mentioning top 4.

Let's see how we go against Bulldogs & Storm to have a better idea.

[Chook2]

Very hard to say
certainly promising signs and players coming back

origin could really hurt us with 3-5 players out
least the 4 injuries currently will be back around Soo 1-2

a lot more promising then where we were
certainly a push to fight to partner walker

i wonder how bad those 3 losses will be v warriors, titans and bunnies
close comp this year so expect to win some we are not expected too and maybe loose ones we are expected to

big plus from this year is
- teddy is still a freak and premium quality
- development of Toia to partner b smith as one of the best centre combos in the comp
- Marky M which I’m not surprised
- Watson doing Watson things every week
- Wong showing us what he has got
- Whyte in the top 5 props in the game


still if we can what below firing who knows
- Leniu has been okay but want more consistency
- Angus to find 2024 form
- Lindsay to find form again

[Bates]

Very hard to say
certainly promising signs and players coming back

origin could really hurt us with 3-5 players out
least the 4 injuries currently will be back around Soo 1-2

a lot more promising then where we were
certainly a push to fight to partner walker

i wonder how bad those 3 losses will be v warriors, titans and bunnies
close comp this year so expect to win some we are not expected too and maybe loose ones we are expected to

big plus from this year is
- teddy is still a freak and premium quality
- development of Toia to partner b smith as one of the best centre combos in the comp
- Marky M which I’m not surprised
- Watson doing Watson things every week
- Wong showing us what he has got
- Whyte in the top 5 props in the game


still if we can what below firing who knows
- Leniu has been okay but want more consistency
- Angus to find 2024 form
- Lindsay to find form again

I want Lindsay to be the next player to prove me wrong. He's currently on my dead wood list.

[Rooster36]

As it stands there are 10 teams ahead of us & we're not in the 8,
On their day the Chooks look real good but in the losing games we've looked average.
The season will be determined in our next 3 games
Dogs 1st
Cronulla 6th
Raiders 2nd

If we go down in all 3 games then that will be disappointing if we win all 3 games well then its game on.
Most people on here tipped that we wouldnt make the 8 so we'll just have to wait & see what pans out.

This

[King Salvo]

The Roosters are on the right track as far as developing players internally goes. Just need to be more consistent and improve in the KPI departments and be an 80-minute side.

[The Lip]

I want Lindsay to be the next player to prove me wrong. He's currently on my dead wood list.

Lindsay’s work in D and off the ball are still top notch and easy to overlook. However I agree his work with the ball has been poor. Gets dominated for some reason this past 18 months. I believe he will come good. He’s not too old and I’m sure he hasn’t lost it. An ACL and repeated head knocks seems to have taken the wind out of his sails. Funny thing is I don’t seem to notice him going any slower or softer but just isn’t making an impact for us with his carries - quiet the opposite the defense is getting the leg up when he runs lately.

[Chook2]

Lindsay’s work in D and off the ball are still top notch and easy to overlook. However I agree his work with the ball has been poor. Gets dominated for some reason this past 18 months. I believe he will come good. He’s not too old and I’m sure he hasn’t lost it. An ACL and repeated head knocks seems to have taken the wind out of his sails. Funny thing is I don’t seem to notice him going any slower or softer but just isn’t making an impact for us with his carries - quiet the opposite the defense is getting the leg up when he runs lately.

Agree he is still whacking and hurting blokes in defence
just lost confidence with the ball - seems to turn into contact compared to pre and even post acl he was jamming blokes even with the ball
hopefully comes back post injury
otherwise we know what happens to players getting paid well who are not performing to their pay packet…..

[MKCS]

I think a lot of fans are getting ahead of themselves, I've really enjoyed watching our team the past few weeks but it has been very frustrating watching them this year also.

First, what we need to remember is that the Broncos were pretty awful against us and we've then proceeded to play really well against the Dragons (10th) and then we played well against the Dolphins (14th) but ultimately only beat them by 10, it's exciting and the team has played well but these are average sides that will likely be in or around the bottom 4. I agree with Mickie in that if we can beat a couple of the teams in the 8 and show that same dominance then we have something to be really excited by.

Second, it happens a fair bit on this forum and everyone is entitled to their opinion I guess but it is hard not to chuckle at the Sam Walker comment. He's a great player but the greatest playmaker since Johns? Better than Cronk? Cleary? Luai? Lockyer? Thurston? Cam Smith? Don't you think we're overrating the young man quite a bit? I think he's great as well and he's only going to get better but right now he's not better than all of those players I just listed.

Third, for me I think best case scenario for us is we'll run 6th. I do see us sneaking into the finals especially with the returns of Lindsay, Sam and Brandon, we could maybe even make week 2 of the finals but I think our hopes are too high for a top 4 finish when we'll have a rookie halves pairing until June - July and will be hurt by Origin selection also.

[Andrew Walker]

Many sides outside the 8 have 1 good month on the comp Hopefully the last few weeks wasn’t our month and we get consistent There ate signs that this could happen

We have a pretty tough draw ahead Still have to play Melbourne Canterbury and Cronulla twice

I have a feeling come seasons end we will look back and rue the losses to South’s and Gold Coast

[Bates]

I think a lot of fans are getting ahead of themselves, I've really enjoyed watching our team the past few weeks but it has been very frustrating watching them this year also.

First, what we need to remember is that the Broncos were pretty awful against us and we've then proceeded to play really well against the Dragons (10th) and then we played well against the Dolphins (14th) but ultimately only beat them by 10, it's exciting and the team has played well but these are average sides that will likely be in or around the bottom 4. I agree with Mickie in that if we can beat a couple of the teams in the 8 and show that same dominance then we have something to be really excited by.

Second, it happens a fair bit on this forum and everyone is entitled to their opinion I guess but it is hard not to chuckle at the Sam Walker comment. He's a great player but the greatest playmaker since Johns? Better than Cronk? Cleary? Luai? Lockyer? Thurston? Cam Smith? Don't you think we're overrating the young man quite a bit? I think he's great as well and he's only going to get better but right now he's not better than all of those players I just listed.

Third, for me I think best case scenario for us is we'll run 6th. I do see us sneaking into the finals especially with the returns of Lindsay, Sam and Brandon, we could maybe even make week 2 of the finals but I think our hopes are too high for a top 4 finish when we'll have a rookie halves pairing until June - July and will be hurt by Origin selection also.

By playmaker I mean someone that can create something from nothing. Heads up off the cuff footy.

There was/is a fair amount of structure to Cronk, Lockyer, Thurston, Luai and Cleary's game. I'm not suggesting that Sammy is the better overall player however a more creative style of player than those great players you've listed. Cam Smith was a hooker so not in this conversation.

Let's see if you can change your tune if we win our next 3 games or will you continue to focus on the negatives? You could potentially go through all the teams that are above us on the ladder and focus on their negatives but that's not what this thread is about.

We're improving and playing some good footy. Having watched all teams play numerous times I don't think the gap is that great. Hopefully we can continue to narrow it and be in the mix come finals time.

[caz]

i'd have taken 4 from 9 before the season started. as it is we could/should have won a couple more.
top 4 is very unlikely and finishing in the 8 is a realistic chance but still unlikely. it's a long way out and while the goal is still to win the comp this year all the boys can do is play well each week.

[Bates]

i'd have taken 4 from 9 before the season started. as it is we could/should have won a couple more.
top 4 is very unlikely and finishing in the 8 is a realistic chance but still unlikely. it's a long way out and while the goal is still to win the comp this year all the boys can do is play well each week.

Thanks Sally.