The run to the finals

[Vasco]

The frustrating thing is we probably will beat Melbourne once and then lose to Parra or Manly and undo it.

Yeah that would sum up the season.

[Nicola Tesla]

Can we win the comp? Not a hope in hell!!!
But damn it, I want at least one finals match and it would be great for the youngsters!
I only see 8th as a possibility and we are fighting with Dolphins and Manly!
The Dolphins have the bye, Warriors, Roosters, Broncos, Manly, Titans and then Raiders. They have a max of 34 points.
Raiders could rest a host if they are sitting in the top two..
So I’m looking at them losing to Warriors, Us and Broncos for us to make it!
I think we will have a chance as favourites in or possible wins against 4 teams out of 7 games to get us to 30 points. If we jag one we are outsiders in, we will lose one we should win! That’s how we roll!!!
Manly have a tough draw also.. probably win 3 to 4 also.. they will start favourites in only 3 games I suspect!
So let’s see what happens!
One semi is all I ask!

[Mickie Lane]

99% of Roosters supporters didnt have us making the 8 & there was a thread started at the start of the year about where the Roosters will finish this year & the majority had us coming 11th to 15th, I said 9th
So when you consider losing 6 top notch players & having Walker (& the Cheese) out for 19 rounds plus other players getting injured it hasnt been a bad effort & there's still a chance we come 8th.

[Billy Gunn]

After last night the chances of making the finals has taken a dive. The disappointing thing is it isn't from a lack of ability because most of the kids who have filled the gaping holes from last season. A tough draw during origin and the plethora of games that we were the better side, meant Robbo couldn't rest the origin players.

There is still a chance we could stumble into eighth spot in a year that is anyone's premiership. Great signs for next season with a number of young players getting used to a long season in the top grade. Thursday's game will tell us exactly if we have any chance.

[Bates]

Storm vs Manly

Currently 6-6

I can't believe I'm cheering for the Storm.

[Bates]

12 - 6 Manly

Fark.

[Bates]

16 -6 Manly. 60'

In light of last nights Chad debacle and how well DCE is performing in tonights game we'd like to welcome DCE

[Bates]

16 -10 Manly 70'

[Bates]

16 -16

74'

[milanja]

Manly win. Harry Grant and NAS on report, nice if they both miss next week.

[Bates]

16 - 18 Manly

Full time.

That's not a good result for us.

[roosterchook]

We played a lot better without our origin stars. They are only in the team on reputation not form.

[Inflictor]

The ball is in our court. We win more than we lose and we make it.
We have really missed Wong and NButch.
Wong was in career best form and has become a tackling machine.
NButch one of our most solid defenders with a 99% efficiency and made over 100m in all games this year. Played better at prop than our two SOO players.
Two week gutted hip drops have been costly.
Unfortunately neither available for another 2 or 3 weeks.
Our forwards have been well below par the last few weeks. They need to lift.

[Renman]

So at the start of the weekend four teams Roosters, Phins, Manly and Sharkies had a chance to go into the top 8. Of those teams , three of them had a real go and then there was the Roosters.

We complain about the refs (well I do anyway) but the reality is when you lose momentum, the calls tend to go with the team that has forward momentum. We were stuck in neutral and occasionally slipped into reverse.

Whyte, Toops and Teddy were great but the others all suffered ADHD. The side does not looked balanced to me.

Collins and Lenui were poor. Bring in Makatoa or Loslau or both. Watson is not a 9 but a 14 (probably the best 14 in the world) Ieolu and ZDC are better hookers. Foketi at lock. He seems to prefer the left hand side but that is Angus domain. As for Chad, he should play halfback for NSW Cup in a Cronulla jumper.

I thought Robbo was one of the smartest coaches out there but jeez there have been a few really dumb decisions of late.

If we lose, we lose and I can live with that but that effort, or lack thereof, against the Sharks and the Tigers is soul destroying.

[Inflictor]

At the beginning of the year we seemed to be able to go for 60 minutes and switch off the last 20 minutes.
The last month the first 20 minutes is where we have let teams run over us and we've had to play catch up. The Knights, Tigers, Dragons and Sharks. We've actually done a pretty good job for the last 60 minutes but the first 20 minutes screws us for the rest of the game.
We need to start with more intensity and mongrel.