Team v Newcastle - Yes, he's back!!!

[bondi.boy]

I'd like to see ZDC and Nat B drop off the bench to be replaced by Losalu and Vaa.

Amen.

[Carlos Parra]

I've been watching their games for a few weeks. A good half (against a team known to go off the boil) doesn't a good team make. They've been disastrous.

Yeah, I agree they've been diabolical, but what's the bet they turn up to play against Easts? They might not win, but they might be the first team all year to score the first try against us.

[mightyrooster]

Robbo please, is that really the bench? We can't carry two small guys on the bench, just make the hard call.
I don't want to see two Butcher's in the team, Makahesi or Taylor are better options.

This is a danger game, Newcastle play better with Fletcher Sharpe at fullback and the big man Hastings is back, he will want to prove something (what, I don't know)
Us thinking it's all going to click just because Sammy is back and then to top it all off Sutton will be the ref, just to screw us over 1 last time.

Why oh why is Sutton the ref? Why do we always get him and Klown?

[nayfo]

mmm Mark Nawaqanitawase needs the extra strength super glue- his catching of bombs has been very poor to say the least - very costly in those losses to the Dogs and Raiders

Let’s hope he has been working extra hard at training taking those bombs. If he can just iron out this part of his game then he would be the complete package as his defence and attacking abilities are already great.
I remember Mini not being great under the highball in his first year in first grade but after he worked hard on improving he barely dropped another bomb.

[SamKerrSimp]

That Newcastle team is NSW Cup standard at best the Roosters should absolutely belt the ever loving crap out of them which in my experience of watching this club for 30 years we will put in a majestic 60% completion rate, give away 10+ penalties, bomb 3 tries and lose 18-6

[SamKerrSimp]

I'd like to see ZDC and Nat B drop off the bench to be replaced by Losalu and Vaa.

I'd keep Nat and dump Egan. I am surprised DLSV hasn't been named on the bench with the Knights missing so many key forwards it's a great chance to give him a run they dead set don't have an NRL quality front rower this week.

[nayfo]

mmm and if they lose this game who will be blamed ?

Not a good decisions to bring a player back after 40 mins in reggies cup where they really didn't do a lot and expect them to play 80 minutes in NRL- Can certainly see which side and player the Knights will focus their attack on.

Not even Ronald Acuna Jr started back in major league after he returned from his third ACL- He played 6 games in triple A before being activated to Major League - Ronald was the MVP in National League in 2023.

Thankfully you are not the coach as almost all of your selections and ideas were the opposite of what coach Robbo has done.

In Robbo we trust.

Try telling Sam Walker that it’s not a good decision for him to play firsts this week. He would be keen as to get out there.
Also you do realise he has as much chance injuring himself playing NSW cup this week as playing NRL.

We need Walker to play

[Thirteen]

Egan's the one I'm a little bit concerned about. Not sure what he did against the Faders to earn a promotion but power to him I suppose...

Egan covers centre so probably gets picked for the balance of the team.

[Carlos Parra]

Thankfully you are not the coach as almost all of your selections and ideas were the opposite of what coach Robbo has done.

In Robbo we trust.

Try telling Sam Walker that it’s not a good decision for him to play firsts this week. He would be keen as to get out there.
Also you do realise he has as much chance injuring himself playing NSW cup this week as playing NRL.

We need Walker to play

King Saliva has his panties in a bunch because his idol, Handbrake Hutchinson, is nowhere to be seen this year.

[King Salvo]

Thankfully you are not the coach as almost all of your selections and ideas were the opposite of what coach Robbo has done.

In Robbo we trust.

Try telling Sam Walker that it’s not a good decision for him to play firsts this week. He would be keen as to get out there.
Also you do realise he has as much chance injuring himself playing NSW cup this week as playing NRL.

We need Walker to play

Not at all as Hugo and Sandon have formed a more than capable halves pairing which they formed back in Junior Reps - They should be the halves going forward at the moment.

We will see come full time on Saturday - I predict a why did Coach Robbo play him if they lose as no doubt the Knights will target him- BTW that post was deleted even though it was a good comparison in not putting players back into top flight sport with limited game time. - They need to get game time and prove they are up to it - 40 minutes in not doing a lot in Reggies doesn't cut it in being able to play 80 minutes NRL

It is amazing though as a number on here say Rodwell will be the half going forward - Walker moving on one assumes in their minds.

[Bates]

Thankfully you are not the coach as almost all of your selections and ideas were the opposite of what coach Robbo has done.

In Robbo we trust.

Try telling Sam Walker that it’s not a good decision for him to play firsts this week. He would be keen as to get out there.
Also you do realise he has as much chance injuring himself playing NSW cup this week as playing NRL.

We need Walker to play

100%

[QWERTY]

Only real issue I see is both ZDC and Sandon on bench. I’d imagine ZDC drops out closer to the game.

[The Lip]

As muck as I’d like to see Losalu come in for ZDC on the bench I don’t think it will happen. Robbo hasn’t played funny buggers with the team list 1-17 from Tuesday to game day for ages unless of course forced by injury.

[The Lip]

mmm Mark Nawaqanitawase needs the extra strength super glue- his catching of bombs has been very poor to say the least - very costly in those losses to the Dogs and Raiders

What’s with the “mmm” all the time - you’re such a twat.

[MKCS]

It's a strong side the only 2 issues I have are the ones that have others have brought up

- Dom Young playing could be a massive conflict of interest plus it is kind of pointless to have him play, I don't follow NSW Cup but Tom Rodwell is 23 and has 14 tries from 14 games in NSW Cup, surely giving him a taste of first grade in case we need depth later this year/next year would only be a positive especially against such a weak Knights side.

- I don't like the 2 utilities on the bench, I think the reasoning is that we need someone to relieve Ioelu but we also need someone there to relieve Sam Walker in case he struggles. Without Sandon and ZDC in the team we have no halves or hooker cover unfortunately.

---

Aside from that I'll say Egan Butcher scares me, he's got a bit of SKD about him where he can play quite well one game and then the next he's quite poor, I think he's the weakest player in our starting 13 but I also understand why he's there.

Not at all as Hugo and Sandon have formed a more than capable halves pairing which they formed back in Junior Reps - They should be the halves going forward at the moment.

We will see come full time on Saturday - I predict a why did Coach Robbo play him if they lose as no doubt the Knights will target him- BTW that post was deleted even though it was a good comparison in not putting players back into top flight sport with limited game time. - They need to get game time and prove they are up to it - 40 minutes in not doing a lot in Reggies doesn't cut it in being able to play 80 minutes NRL

It is amazing though as a number on here say Rodwell will be the half going forward - Walker moving on one assumes in their minds.

Hugo and Sandon have played okay against much lesser sides but this is 100% the ideal game to bring Sam Walker back in, it's a very weak Knights side where even if Sam is average you'd expect our key attacking players to do enough to get us the win, if Sandon remains on the bench I'd say Walker will probably only play 50-60 anyway especially if we're leading by quite a bit near the end of the game.