An Inconvenient Truth

[The Real King]

Robbo didn't have the best roster though, where we've lacked the most since the 2019 grand final is the spine, look at the spines of the final four teams last year:

Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Munster, Hughes, Grant

Penrith: Edwards, Luai, Cleary, Kenny

Sharks: Kennedy, Trindall, Hynes, Brailey

Us: Tedesco, Keary, S. Smith, Watson

---

Out of those 4 I'd say we were easily the worst spine there and even our full strength spine of Tedesco, Keary, Walker and Smith would've been weaker than the Sharks offering. Melbourne and Penrith spines obviously decimated ours which is why Melbourne pumped us by 30 with 7/8 tries coming from those key spine players.

Next year Robbo will probably have the second best spine in the comp with Tedesco, Walker, Cherry-Evans and Robson available to him, in my opinion that spine is second only to Melbourne.

That doesn't guarantee anything. We started premiership favourites in 2023.

Sometimes you just need a change. The Robbo way doesn't work anymore.
If you are picking Townsend ahead of Sandon, then something ain't right.
It ain't been right for a while. Terrell has played every game this year, Nat Butcher has played 3 and Egan Butcher has gone backwards, if that is even possible.

[Rooster90]

If we can't beat Melbourne with all but one of their spine missing we never will. Coach Robinson has no answer to the Storm style of play and while he remains head coach.

I feel the Storm will be out for blood in a few weeks when we play them again...they won't be happy with last night

[Lindsay's Dentist]

I feel the Storm will be out for blood in a few weeks when we play them again...they won't be happy with last night

Too true
They still haven’t forgotten the 2018 GF result and lift every time they play us
Same could be said for Raiders and 2019

[Red.]

Stick to banning people for having an opinion you don’t agree with

I'll be sure to get right on that. BTW who do you think I banned?

[Bates]

Stick to banning people for having an opinion you don’t agree with

Sally???

[caz]

bellyache said he was very happy with the performance in his presser. said normally he wouldn't be happy conceding so many points but given the circumstances he was happy

[BTRD]

I feel the Storm will be out for blood in a few weeks when we play them again...they won't be happy with last night

Losing last night to such a weakened Storm was PATHETIC.

In Melbourne it will be a massacre.

Robinson and his inability to beat the Storm = head shake.

[gragra]

The inconvenient truth covers so many options. Whilst it is reason to say Robbo's ability is gone, a month or 2 back he was hailed great as he brought on so many young untried players to replace the loss of 5 greats last year. So the last 3 weeks has been a wakeup call to not just Robbos improvement in the young new players but a reassessment of the so called 'guns'. So Toia is still not a consistent 'gun' centre, Whyte and Lenui still good at the hard hit ups but their lazy defence has been there all year. Sam Walker isnt the white knight saviour...still impetuous and nota strong defender like other halves. Whilst the Storm missed their spine last night, the loss off Billy Smith, Rads, Hugo and Sandon Smith had greater consequence to a mediocre Rooster side than a very strong cohesive Storm side losing their 4. In summary I think our squad is nowhere near as elite as some posters believe and with or without DCE is not going anywhere in the next couple of years. And yes Robbo has made mistakes in team selections and recruitment but I still would rather stay with his ability and passion in the near term. As they say be careful what you wish for...the alternative maybe far worse.

[HunchoRooster]

The inconvenient truth covers so many options. Whilst it is reason to say Robbo's ability is gone, a month or 2 back he was hailed great as he brought on so many young untried players to replace the loss of 5 greats last year. So the last 3 weeks has been a wakeup call to not just Robbos improvement in the young new players but a reassessment of the so called 'guns'. So Toia is still not a consistent 'gun' centre, Whyte and Lenui still good at the hard hit ups but their lazy defence has been there all year. Sam Walker isnt the white knight saviour...still impetuous and nota strong defender like other halves. Whilst the Storm missed their spine last night, the loss off Billy Smith, Rads, Hugo and Sandon Smith had greater consequence to a mediocre Rooster side than a very strong cohesive Storm side losing their 4. In summary I think our squad is nowhere near as elite as some posters believe and with or without DCE is not going anywhere in the next couple of years. And yes Robbo has made mistakes in team selections and recruitment but I still would rather stay with his ability and passion in the near term. As they say be careful what you wish for...the alternative maybe far worse.

Definitely get your point about the alternative being worse but the default is always to assume that we were get an existing coach in the NRL or existing name who has recently coached to replace him. Trent himself was a left field appointment. There could be another hidden gem that just needs an opportunity.

I too would take Robinson over nearly every other current coach. Only Cleary, Bellamy and maybe Ciraldo at the moment id consider better options than Robbo.

[roosterchook]

bellyache said he was very happy with the performance in his presser. said normally he wouldn't be happy conceding so many points but given the circumstances he was happy

Because he knows we should have won but made enough stuff ups to hand them the game. He was probably thinking we were going to win comfortably until we started playing the roosters style. Couldn’t believe his good luck.

[Bruce 38-0]

Back to the Melby game.

Teddy spoke of the talk during the week of the need to shut down Grant. Wasn’t the game plan there - first marker chases Grant out of dummy half as if there is no tomorrow. Second marker trails but is wary of a step as he cuts back in?

If not that then what was the plan to stop him running.

Also agree Marky Mark would have been going - can our right side please see some ball.

Is Robbo D coach? Maybe Boyd and Jake need to take that over.

Lastly you can’t make the eight if you loose to the two ‘Ts’ especially when all the opposition around you competing for that spot do.

Big night Saturday. Bring it on, bring it on.

[HunchoRooster]

Back to the Melby game.

Teddy spoke of the talk during the week of the need to shut down Grant. Wasn’t the game plan there - first marker chases Grant out of dummy half as if there is no tomorrow. Second marker trails but is wary of a step as he cuts back in?

If not that then what was the plan to stop him running.

Also agree Marky Mark would have been going - can our right side please see some ball.

Is Robbo D coach? Maybe Boyd and Jake need to take that over.

Lastly you can’t make the eight if you loose to the two ‘Ts’ especially when all the opposition around you competing for that spot do.

Big night Saturday. Bring it on, bring it on.

Yep, the two T’s is a good phrase haha. I might use that. You’re right it’s 4pts banked for most sides around us but 4pts dropped for us. Although I do recall Manly getting rolled by the Tits aswell.

And it’s very concerning that the gameplan all week was to shut Grant down at all costs then he proceeds to rip us a new one and almost single handedly win the game for them. Goes back to my point that the message is just not working or not reaching the players.

[caz]

Because he knows we should have won but made enough stuff ups to hand them the game. He was probably thinking we were going to win comfortably until we started playing the roosters style. Couldn’t believe his good luck.

haha, i don't think the idea of 'roosters style' featured in his summation but yeah, he would have been happy that they won against the odds after hughes went down

[HDTONE]

Robinson and his inability to beat the Storm = head shake.

Yeah must piss him off that he cant get that monkey off....he had a great chance but still cant with a Storm side having so many out.

[The Brain]

The reality is this we have too many newbies they are not seasoned to the grind of first grade to last the whole season that was evident against Melbourne.To over come that you have to play a controlled game get more ball and hopefully Savala can turn that around with his ace kicking game.
If it was only one or two newbies we would have better results. I think they have done well till now .They probably by my count lost 7 close games and at least 4 of them they should have one.Looks to me we are building a good side.Cant wait till next year we will kick some ass.