Minichiello

[melon....]

Mini is defintely needed in the team.

On the wing.

[Guest]

I'm lost... he had a great game, scored a good try and made some excellent defensive moves under the pump.

Did we watch the same game? I think I was at Allianz...

Listened to him on the drive back home on the Brandy and Gibbs show, talking about the win and Anzac Day.

Geez he speaks well. A credit to the club.

[Guest]

I think mini defending at fullback remains a must - he is great. Wouldnt mind seeing he and RTS swap between wing and fullback a little more in attack as the season progresses to get RTS involved, give mini a spell and make us even more unpredictable/difficult to defend against

[Guest]

They're finally using Mini correctly. Have him focus on defense, and JUST support play in attack. There was a trend where fullbacks were expected to ball play, and we tried to mirror that. But fact is Mini isn't one of those players and Robinson seems to have made that clear

The salary cap means you can't have a superstar in every position. You look at your team & play to its strength & not try to mimic some other teams style of play that may be successful to them. Seeing that Mini will probably be our FB for the rest of the year & maybe even next year, how he played yesterday was the perfect way to use him.

[Guest]

The salary cap means you can't have a superstar in every position. You look at your team & play to its strength & not try to mimic some other teams style of play that may be successful to them. Seeing that Mini will probably be our FB for the rest of the year & maybe even next year, how he played yesterday was the perfect way to use him.

I think that could really work in our favour this year. Most teams have been trying to emulate the Storm and how they play the game even if the system doesn't fit the roster. Robbo appears to have a good head on his shoulders and knows the strengths and limitations of this team, and so far it looks like it's working. Or maybe I'm overthinking it

[Guest]

2002 is the most recent success in our minds.

Our back 3 for the GF was Mini (wing), Diamond (FB), Mullins jr (wing)

I don't think he's up to being the young Mini anymore, so he'd either be the safe, reliable Phillips at the back, or the experienced campaigner Mullins on the wing. RTS is the young Mini (Toops could be this roles too), and 2013 Mini would be the Mullins.

So two young guns and ol' Mini is a good bet for a back 3

[Guest]

If we are lucky enough to make the grand final, I'll be more than happy to have mini at the back. A fullbacks positional play and reliability is critical in the big games. It's good as a fan when a bomb goes up and you feel completely safe your fullback will swallow it.

With the ball players we have in the team now and the speed we have in the outside backs minis role in the team is exactly what he is doing.

[Juggler]

As long as no-one gets close enough to grubber at our line. Or expects him to make a line break (94 HU, 1 LB-and that was for the try where he was running support against the Raiders) - although not many fullbacks have that many line breaks. Av kick return metres & tackle breaks from these are perhaps more important stats.

Yes his experience is invaluable, his positioning for HIGH kicks is good BUT... he is not the Mini of the early 2000s. He needs to move to the wing once we have a game in keeping. Give RTS the time he needs to take over.

I'm being realistic, not disrespectful. I don't have rose-coloured glasses.

[Guest]

As long as no-one gets close enough to grubber at our line. Or expects him to make a line break (94 HU, 1 LB-and that was for the try where he was running support against the Raiders) - although not many fullbacks have that many line breaks. Av kick return metres & tackle breaks from these are perhaps more important stats.

Yes his experience is invaluable, his positioning for HIGH kicks is good BUT... he is not the Mini of the early 2000s. He needs to move to the wing once we have a game in keeping. Give RTS the time he needs to take over.

I'm being realistic, not disrespectful. I don't have rose-coloured glasses.

For sure. The Roosters need to groom Rts for the job, just as mini was groomed when Phillips was fullback. I'm sure this will happen a lot more as the year goes on and RTS gains in confidence in the first grade team.

[Guest]

And a big thankyou to Mini for bringing over the Anzac trophy to the chookpen,well done mate.