Hugo is our key half

[Bansai Pipeline]

Our best footy this year was due to Savala in the pocket.

Calm, composed, long kicks, grinding teams down, completely unflappable. And 19 or something ridiculous.

We've been poor since he went down.

He's a born decision maker and completely ice cold in the clutch.

Those kind of players are very, very, very rare.

I'd keep him over Walker.

[roosterchook]

Definitely agree. He’s kept us in many games with his long kicks getting us good field position. We’ve needed such a player for a long time. Walker is nowhere near his best and just relies on ‘Pearce bombs’ which I thought we were over them. Tries from bombs are just pure luck.

[Vasco]

He's actually 23. But I agree, he's very composed and probably what Walker needs.

The fact that he's said he'd be happy to wait around for after DCE to retire says a lot about him personally.

[caz]

hugo's an important player but i can't see other clubs offering him 1m+ a season. sammy's a freak

[BTRD]

If our forwards could TACKLE and hunt and play like animals - Hugo and Walker could be anything.

I thought Robbo was BIG on defense. Gee he can talk it up.

[Bansai Pipeline]

hugo's an important player but i can't see other clubs offering him 1m+ a season. sammy's a freak

Yeah agree but he's just what WE need I think.

[Bansai Pipeline]

He's actually 23. But I agree, he's very composed and probably what Walker needs.

The fact that he's said he'd be happy to wait around for after DCE to retire says a lot about him personally.

Didn't know he was 23. That explain his maturity I guess.

[ARD]

Hugo reminds me a bit of Sexton - does the fundamentals well but lacks the big plays/ moments, at least for now. He seems to understand his game and plays to his strengths and that unlocks players around him, but in time people will also expect him to add more threat and create more points. He can’t coast by on a long kick and composure.

Sam is a dangerous unpredictable and dynamic player who has shown his top end footy can single handled wins us matches, arguably even a comp in the right form - he’s a special talent but needs to play with freedom. I can see a world where a purple patch results in a GF - his form leading up to his ACL was world class.

I’m keen to see them together for a few consecutive matches. Hopefully they offset eachothers deficiencies.

[player 1]

Hugo reminds me a bit of Sexton - does the fundamentals well but lacks the big plays/ moments, at least for now. He seems to understand his game and plays to his strengths and that unlocks players around him, but in time people will also expect him to add more threat and create more points. He can’t coast by on a long kick and composure.

Sam is a dangerous unpredictable and dynamic player who has shown his top end footy can single handled wins us matches, arguably even a comp in the right form - he’s a special talent but needs to play with freedom. I can see a world where a purple patch results in a GF - his form leading up to his ACL was world class.

I’m keen to see them together for a few consecutive matches. Hopefully they offset eachothers deficiencies.

True. But I think his defence is always gonna be a problem - in days gone by, before Vlandys sin bin/6 again touch footy, you could get around that by having a forward or two hanging around to physically get in the way of and hurt any opposition player trying to target him. Now that any tackles that are forceful, below the thigh or above the belly button are penalised and sin binned, it's much harder to protect players like Sam. Remember the "magic round" broncos game a few years ago when Radley got sin binned twice in the one game for trying to protect Sam from Tavita Pangai Jr?

Plus, Sam does not have a long boot and needs someone beside him who does. There is just no way in the 6 again Vlandys era you can get away with having a pop gun 5th tackle kick.

He's a brilliant player though, barring these 2 serious flaws. But I think a million per year is enough until he can rise to another level, and if his management try to pump us for more then other options come into play.

[MKCS]

Sam has flaws but despite being in poor form he's delivered 7 try assists in his first 3 games back which ties Hugo's entire season along with Sandon's entire season. I'd say by round 27 that Walker will have got more try assists than both of them combined by a significant distance.

He does need to work on his defence and his long kicking to be a true superstar of the game but I'd argue on his best day he's probably the best attacking half in the comp. Savala isn't our key half but he very well could be the organising half that leads the team around and quietly achieves whilst Walker makes miracles happen.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Hugo's strengths, paired with Sammy's strengths, are exactly what we need going forward. They compiment each other like Freddy-Lam or Ricky-Daley or Cleary-Luai. If it was me, I wouldn't bring DCE in. Rather, build our team around a Hugo-Sammy combo for the next 7=10 years. If history tells us anything, it's that most halves reach their peaks in their mid to late 20s once they have 70-100 games under their belt. If we can give the Hugo-Sammy combo time to establish themselves over the next couple of seasons, I reckon we could see them win a couple of competitions by the end of the decade. Surround them with young forwards like Whyte and talented backs like Rob Toa, and we could build a dynasty.

[Bates]

Our best performances this season were

Round 2.
Panthers 32 vs Roosters 38

Round 6.
Broncos 16 vs Roosters 26

Round 8.
Roosters 46 vs Dragon 18

Round 9.
Roosters 36. vs Dolphins 26

Round 12.
Roosters 42 vs Sharks. 16

Savala featured in all of the above performances. If I was to describe his style I'd say he's very methodical. This enables the team to play within it's system as they're replicating what they practice at training. They know what to expect and can prepare for the play without any hesitation. Hugo adds structure to the team! He also offers a great long kicking game and is a big body in the defensive line.

I'm starting to realise that this team needs a 7 that can stick to a set structure which also has scope for a creative heads up style playmaker like Sammy at 6. Sammy still needs to play smart and pull the trigger at the precise moment. He needs to find the right balance!

Bottom line, this team needs Hugo or DCE at halfback next season.

[theGman]

Hugo's strengths, paired with Sammy's strengths, are exactly what we need going forward. They compiment each other like Freddy-Lam or Ricky-Daley or Cleary-Luai. If it was me, I wouldn't bring DCE in. Rather, build our team around a Hugo-Sammy combo for the next 7=10 years. If history tells us anything, it's that most halves reach their peaks in their mid to late 20s once they have 70-100 games under their belt. If we can give the Hugo-Sammy combo time to establish themselves over the next couple of seasons, I reckon we could see them win a couple of competitions by the end of the decade. Surround them with young forwards like Whyte and talented backs like Rob Toa, and we could build a dynasty.

Hey SSEasts4Eva,

In response, Daly is a done deal and he aint coming to play off the bench in 2026.

Also, don't get fixated on Sammy being with us long term. He will eventually be courted for more moolah and fly the coop and be ably replaced by Toby.

Successful clubs like ourselves and Melb are proactive and lay succession plans.

[Big Dog]

Hugo said you go, and I said no you go...
He and Sam are our future long term. They're still learning their craft and I think DCE can impart some game smarts to them.

[Blue Suede Schubert]

Hugo said you go, and I said no you go...
He and Sam are our future long term. They're still learning their craft and I think DCE can impart some game smarts to them.