To all you mini lovers

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I doubt we would have won the comp last year without him.

So as long as he feels up to it and Trent's happy so am I.

People still forget his leadership and experience and the balance this brings to stay composed and win tough slogs like the brissy clash.

[Thirteen]

He had a shocker.Sheck won us the game chiming into the back line like that and scoring.A glimpse of the future,frightening for other sides imo.

You have a short memory mate.

[Vasco]

I doubt we would have won the comp last year without him.

So as long as he feels up to it and Trent's happy so am I.

People still forget his leadership and experience and the balance this brings to stay composed and win tough slogs like the brissy clash.

I agree his experience is a big plus but I hardly think he played with composure against the Broncos.

[Cockadoodledoo]

People still forget his leadership and experience and the balance this brings to stay composed and win tough slogs like the brissy clash.

Good points Jack. Mini certainly did his best to ensure it was a tough slog.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Vasco

Real composure is shown by how you react and bounce back from mistakes. That attitude permeates the whole team from their leader...they can crumble or stay strong.

[Parkway_Drive]

I doubt we would have won the comp last year without him.

So as long as he feels up to it and Trent's happy so am I.

People still forget his leadership and experience and the balance this brings to stay composed and win tough slogs like the brissy clash.

Lol....I loved his composure when he acrobatically batted the ball back to Barba..

[Guest]

lol

30-15

[The Pelican]

Vasco

Real composure is shown by how you react and bounce back from mistakes. That attitude permeates the whole team from their leader...they can crumble or stay strong.

Real composure to me is to be able to lead from the front and perform to your best under pressure and/or adversity, which is the exact opposite of what mini did on Friday when he singlehandedly gave thaiday a try under the sticks by not being able to scoop up the most basic of grubbers and then dropping that bomb which lead to a dropout in a crucial time of the game.
He is no longer our best option at #1 imo and I think Robbo also recognises this going by the fact he is starting to swap mini and rts over during the game.

[Tommy Smith]

So the question is, it would appear to me based on this thread, "do we judge Mini based on 1 or 2 games this year?"

Heck, how about we make judgements about him based on one failed attempt at defusing a grubber!

I find any presumed link between RTS switching to fullback and Robbo losing faith in Mini to be laughable.

Robbo knows that teams must continue evolving to remain successful. If you're not going forwards then you're going backwards.

That's why RTS is switching to fullback in attack. It's simply a matter of making greater use of one of the greatest attacking talents in the game.

As opposed to Robbo phasing Mini out. That's just plain old silly.

[milanja]

Real composure to me is to be able to lead from the front and perform to your best under pressure and/or adversity, which is the exact opposite of what mini did on Friday when he singlehandedly gave thaiday a try under the sticks by not being able to scoop up the most basic of grubbers and then dropping that bomb which lead to a dropout in a crucial time of the game.
He is no longer our best option at #1 imo and I think Robbo also recognises this going by the fact he is starting to swap mini and rts over during the game.

Rts also fumbled a grubber and looks shaky under the high ball, not sure if practice improves taking a high ball or if it comes naturally? Flashes of brilliance from rts are great, but diffusing bombs and organising defence is 50% of the time on the field, and still think old man mini is the best option there.

Just out of curiosity, out of all the fullbacks in the comp, are any better than mini in taking a bomb even at this stage of his career? the rest have him covered in the speed and creativity departments, but I struggle to find a safer one.

[Guest]

So the question is, it would appear to me based on this thread, "do we judge Mini based on 1 or 2 games this year?"

Heck, how about we make judgements about him based on one failed attempt at defusing a grubber!

I find any presumed link between RTS switching to fullback and Robbo losing faith in Mini to be laughable.

Robbo knows that teams must continue evolving to remain successful. If you're not going forwards then you're going backwards.

That's why RTS is switching to fullback in attack. It's simply a matter of making greater use of one of the greatest attacking talents in the game.

As opposed to Robbo phasing Mini out. That's just plain old silly.

If TR still keeps picking him then I'm happy to roll with that , it's his call and he knows what's best for the team but, let's be realistic here, mini has struggled for a few years with defusing grubbers.

[rooster_booster]

Face of the game, club captain, NRL legend.

If he didn't bring so much off the field he would have been gone 3 years ago. Hes not going anywhere, a fact we need to accept.

I have very mixed feelings about Mini at the moment. Even when he was playing like a busted the last couple of years you could still count on him under the high ball. He gave up a try and a forced drop out on Friday from fairly innocuous kicks againt Brisbane. Barba was also almost away after that bat back too. Hes always been a fairly uncoordinated player, effective but uncoordinated. On Friday there were times I couldn't help but cringe for him.

On the other hand, he is less than 10 days removed from a hattrick. One thing Mini has consistently done whenever he is bashed (by myself also) is shut us up very quickly. I think we need to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being and just think about things. He is almost 34 and in the past he has had major injuries. Commonsense would dictate that he was allowed to come back to training quite late and even when back, be eased in. Its probably just not clicking yet and to be honest, who cares if it isn't? The comp isn't won in March and as our friends across the road have shown us the past 2 seasons, the Grand Final most definitely isn't played in round one.

Chill Chooks, go Easts.

[The Rooster Oracle]

When it comes to Mini it is pointless calling for his head, he isn't going anywhere as he is our captain and the coach and players want him in the team.

If you remember back to last year, he had a few ordinary games early on, and then by round 6 he hit his straps and was very good for us for the rest of the year. I believe the same thing will happen this year. Possibly an old fella like him needs a few rounds to get all the cylinders firing again.

Don't forget that we did win the premiership just last year with the combination of Mini at fullback and RTS on the wing. Robbo has evolved this combination beautifully, which we have seen the past two games. I know that I for one want to see this new evolved combo continue on just like it is, as I have no doubt that it will only get better as the season goes along!

He is a true Roosters legend so we all should give him the ultimate respect. Sure he is not above criticism, just do it in a respectful way as he has earned that much!

This is most likely his last ever year playing for us, the end of a mighty era dating all the way back to the 2000 GF, so get behind him and enjoy this one last ride with the great Roosters legend Mini!! He deserves nothing less than to go out leading us to winning another premiership!

[Rooster_6]

So if they are all so ready for first grade mate, or RTS for a fulltime FB gig, why did the coach push for Minis re-signing???

I mean it was well documented in the media often over the offseason how we campaigned with the NRL to increase the long serving player allowances just to retain Mini.

I agree we have some pootentially talented kids waiting in the lower grades and hopefully we see their progression soon.

I just don't understand how our coach can be so wrong on this point.

I mean we trusted him when he signed an unknown Moa. When he signed a broken down pLOD. When he signed a Frenchman.

But the same coaches re-signing of Mini isn't afforded the same luxury.

Not once.

Two years running now.

This whole thread is Newmanish.

We heard the exact same stuff a year ago.

He will cost us big games. Or the GF.

But he excelled when it counted. He led us to a GF victory.

Surely it's possible this anti-Mini sentiment is an overreaction, again???

Wouldn't it be better to wait at least till 1/2 way thru the season to see what eventuates???

Don't we trust the coaches opinion as yet???

So we should just trust the coach and not form our own opinions?

That's soft and void of any sense of rational logic. I'm sure even you don't believe that Stsae.

[Rooster_6]

If TR still keeps picking him then I'm happy to roll with that , it's his call and he knows what's best for the team but, let's be realistic here, mini has struggled for a few years with defusing grubbers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu5RZQ_U43A

At 12-12 you've got to wonder how that game would've panned out, he'll be forever remembered for his brilliant tackle but he got real lucky on that night.