The $2Million guys

[Guest]

Over the last 5 years, both anasta and mini have earned close to $2million each from our club.

Close to $2million each.

Not bad money.

And what have we received in return?

One finals appearance where we went out in straight sets. A second last placing. A wooden spoon (our first in some 40 years).

I cant recall our club having wasted so much money before on any other players.

What a waste of time and cap space.

Where are all the - but they are good blokes, they talk to fans, they help old ladies cross the street etc etc.

[Guest]

Over the last 5 years, both anasta and mini have earned close to $2million each from our club.

Close to $2million each.

Not bad money.

And what have we received in return?

One finals appearance where we went out in straight sets. A second last placing. A wooden spoon (our first in some 40 years).

I cant recall our club having wasted so much money before on any other players.

What a waste of time and cap space.

Where are all the - but they are good blokes, they talk to fans, they help old ladies cross the street etc etc.

I am here....

But apart from the fact that you are only guessing at their actual pay packets, I do get where you are coming from, and as much as it hurts me to admit it, it may very well be time for both our old work horses, whom you are very wrong about not doing anything in their time with us....to more on....

[Guest]

In reference to Mini, he was the best fullback in the world before he had his run of injuries and well and truly justified his paycheck.

Our club chose to stand by Mini during the period when he was injured in the hope that he would come out the other side still one of the premier fullbacks and best players in the comp.

This was a gamble, but one I would expect a club to make considering Mini was as close as the Roosters get to a junior and a one club man. This was one occassion our club showed loyalty to one of its champion players.

From his form this year, the gamble doesn't look like paying off. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[Kingbilly]

Put Anasta at lock and get others doing the set pieces.
His defense has been very good, his attack not so.
Give Mini a rest.

And lets give the other gibberers some fireworks up their clackers if they don't stick to the structures !!!

[Guest]

I am here....

But apart from the fact that you are only guessing at their actual pay packets, I do get where you are coming from, and as much as it hurts me to admit it, it may very well be time for both our old work horses, whom you are very wrong about not doing anything in their time with us....to more on....

how do you know I am guessing?

maybe you are right, maybe they are on $55k. even that is too much.

[Guest]

Put Anasta at lock and get others doing the set pieces.
His defense has been very good, his attack not so.
Give Mini a rest.

And lets give the other gibberers some fireworks up their clackers if they don't stick to the structures !!!

The most sensible comment I've heard through out this week of shame

[Guest]

2006 was the beginning of the fall IMO.

2005 was alright, sure we didn't have a recognized five-eighth for most of the year, but our forwards were always strong, led by Cayless, Morley, Tupou, Fitzgibbon, Flannery and Ricketson. Crocker didn't have the best season but was still effective, and Soliola had a great breakout season that year, good enough to force the incumbent Chris Walker out of the backline and eventually out of the Roosters.

Monaghan was solid without being spectacular, Roberts scored plenty of points, Cross provided strikepower in the backline, and Minichiello was a tower of strength.

Firman was a dud, so was Fa'aoso, but Hannant and Rose showed great potential, and Ned Catic and Stu Webb, survivors from our wonder years of 03-04, put their hands up when needed and did a good job.

EVERYTHING went downhill when 2006 came along though. Apart from a strong backend to 2007 when Freddy took over, and a good but not great 2008 where we showed talent but lack of consistency (much like this year), the rest has been pretty poor.

What happened to the team? It got pretty much ravaged:

2004

Minichiello, Hegarty, Hodges, Cross, Walker, Fittler, Finch, Cayless, Wing, Morley, Tupou, Fitzgibbon, Ricketson, BENCH: Flannery, Crocker, Cusack, Catic

2005

Minichiello, Roberts, Monaghan, Cross, Walker, Flannery, Finch, Cayless, Wing, Morley, Tupou, Fitzgibbon, Ricketson, BENCH: Webb, Crocker, Fa'aoso, Catic

As you can see, 2005 might not have been the most successful year, BUT the team still maintained a good balance, the signings were solid without being over-the-top (neither Monas nor Amos were rep players).

Unfortunately, these are the players who's time at the Roosters has been mostly or entirely during our 'bad years':

Soliola, Roberts, Monaghan, Perrett, Kenny-Dowall, the Paea brothers, Nuuausala, Harrison, Anasta, Sa, M Aubusson, Nutley, Pearce, J Aubusson, Shackleton, Shillington, Mason, O'Meley, Myles, Jones, Cherrington, Friend,

Also, during these 'bad years' it is important to note that Monaghan, along with incumbents Tupou and Wing had severe drops in form, and only really found the form again at the backend of 2007, after which they proceeded to leave our club within a year or so. Add to that the fact that Minichiello has been injury prone and barely played any footy at all (and when he has been there, he hasn't been at his best).

The transition in the team line-up between 2005 and 2008 was severely drastic. We saw Wing, Monaghan, Cross, Walker, Flannery, Finch, Cayless, Morley, Crocker, Fa'aoso and Catic all leave, with Tupou leaving only a year after. Not many clubs can handle such a drastic change of personnel in such a short period of time, and we are still yet to recover.

I honestly feel that the careers of Perrett, SKD, Soliola, Sa, FPN, Jones, Cherrington and the Aubussons has been badly affected by being thrown into a team with such little structure, experience, or established players. By 2007, all except for handful of players were in their first full two-three years of first grade with the Roosters.

Monaghan - 2005
Roberts - 2005
Shillington - 2005 (first full season in 2006)
Shackleton - 2005 (first full season in 2006)
Soliola - 2005
Anasta - 2006
Harrison - 2006
Mellars - 2006
Sa - 2006
SKD - 2007
J Williams - 2007
M Aubusson - 2007
Nutley - 2007
Myles - 2007

Add to that, the fact that before 2006 in Perretts case and 2007 in L Paea's case, they had played only a handful of first grade games spanning over 2003-2005.

This leads me to believe that the current batch has been 'tainted' as such, in a way that I have my doubts over whether a lot of their careers can be recovered. I see players like Perrett and SKD going down the same path as Soliola and Sa and fading into obscurity overseas. I see Nuuausala and Kennedy following Shillington and moving to different clubs, flourishing in roles more suited to their talent, playing style and age. I fear JWH will end up like Ben Cross, a tremendous mountain of size and aggression with a scattered record that will only succeed at a professional, smartly-run club.

I see dark times ahead - unless Smith can guide the ship back to shore. I don't want to see fine talents going to waste.

[Billy Gunn]

Over the last 5 years, both anasta and mini have earned close to $2million each from our club.

Close to $2million each.

Not bad money.

And what have we received in return?

One finals appearance where we went out in straight sets. A second last placing. A wooden spoon (our first in some 40 years).

I cant recall our club having wasted so much money before on any other players.

What a waste of time and cap space.

Where are all the - but they are good blokes, they talk to fans, they help old ladies cross the street etc etc.

You might have a point with Anasta but very unfair to compare Mini

The five years prior he played 160 games for the club and missed 5, was easily top 3 or 4 player in the club every one of those years. He was injured in the line of Duty and had the club done the right thing by him and rested him he wouldn't have spent so long out.

I don't care about the nice guy stuff either but I think he deserves a little more that what you are inferring. I would also challenge the $2m for Mini, I wouldn't think this years contract would be anywhere near what he was on last year.

[Guest]

mini was justified...he was a gun and it was possible that he would come out of injury unscathed. his fall has been stunning.

anasta is a different story...the scariest thing is that he has been partner to an extremely talented but inexperienced halfback. A decent more mature 6 would have by now moulded the partnership into something dynamic....a mix of young/old....electricity/solidness.......etc...at the least something distinctive.......but WHAT CAN U SAY ABOUT THE PEARCE/ANASTA COMBO?...................????????????????????????? ????????/.....SWEET FARKK ALL BECAUSE THEIR IS NO PARTNERSHIP.......PEARCE BATTLES ALONE


ANASTA IS A JOKE

[Guest]

I will just put a small reminder in all your minds....

Do not forget who the only player apart from Fitzy who had a right to hold his head high for all his effort last year.... the very year we got the wooden spoon....NO ONE else came close to what Braith did week in week out.....but its easy to forget that after a couple of wins now isnt it....

[Guest]

I will just put a small reminder in all your minds....

Do not forget who the only player apart from Fitzy who had a right to hold his head high for all his effort last year.... the very year we got the wooden spoon....NO ONE else came close to what Braith did week in week out.....but its easy to forget that after a couple of wins now isnt it....

yes its easy....watch replays of monday night and then get down from your sentimental cloud....dribbler

he stunk

joke

[Guest]

As did plenty of others tool.....

[novice chook]

Neither of these guys stole the money. In fact they were offered it - you want to criticise them for accepting it?? None of you would refuse the same offer.

Rather than attacking the players themselves, what about asking the one question that needs to be answered - why were they offered that money in the first place??? Ineffective, clueless management perhaps??

It's so easy to blame the player, but the real culprits are the dopes who sign the cheques.

Write a letter to Politis, Bouris & Co Fred. They're the ones who should be answerable.


NC

[fletch]

no point worrying about what has happened in the past, all we can do is learn from it and try not to make the same mistakes.

no player in the game should get a contract longer than 3 years as we found out with Mini a lot can change in that time.

[Guest]

I also think a 3 year contract is enough too. Sometimes dropping players to whatever passes for reserve grade is good for both them and the rest of the team.
But regardless of form current or past, Anasta or Mini can help me over the road any time!