Paul Carter

[Tommy Smith]

I know it was only the 9s; and in the 9s there's a tendency to overstate the performances of outside backs who have unfettered freedom and fewer defensive concerns.

But I think you can read more into the performances of some of the forwards; especially their effort.

And Carter was awesome. He looked fit, mobile, aggressive and was in their faces in defence. He also has some second phase play to his game, with his flick pass offload for our first try in the GF a real standout.

He's a genuine footballer who makes things happen and is exactly what we need given some concerns over our ability to create heading into the season.

So to my thinking he is far too good to leave out. So where does he play? I'd like to see him start at lock. This is how I think we'll line up for round 1:

11. Cordner
12. Aubusson
13. Carter

14. Evans
15. Liu
16. Guerra
17. Watson

Thoughts?

[Rooster_6]

Paul Carter's ability has never been in question at least to those who have seen him play it's his discpline on and off the field. He showed at the Titans what a huge prospect he was.

He has a lot of errors and dumb plays in him, it's a matter of how much he can control that that which will dictate whether he gets a run in the 17 and gets to stay there for an extended period of time.

Liu will deservedly be our starting 13 unti SST returns, the guy is a beast and so undervalued. One of our most consitent for many years now.

[Davo]

Agree on Carter, mongrel, I love it...

I know Robbo will pick Guerra, but gee he's a plodder with no passing or creative play in him. Just a twist and spin and hope the opposition drop off him. I'm hoping Lui develops a second phase passing game also as I think he is a bit 1 dimensional also, but will be picked. He does stretch or dent the defence line but needs more tricks. Chris Smith will be pushing hard after a great nines shot.

The bench for me is 14. Watson, 15. Smith, 16. Evans, 17. Lui, 18. Guerra

[Tommy Smith]

Paul Carter's ability has never been in question at least to those who have seen him play it's his discpline on and off the field. He showed at the Titans what a huge prospect he was.

He has a lot of errors and dumb plays in him, it's a matter of how much he can control that that which will dictate whether he gets a run in the 17 and gets to stay there for an extended period of time.

Liu will deservedly be our starting 13 unti SST returns, the guy is a beast and so undervalued. One of our most consitent for many years now.

I'm as big a fan of Liu as anyone. He's outstanding and every Roosters fan that watches us play weekly knows that. It's not some hidden secret. Neither is Carter'a talent.

But it's about team balance. And without having seen much of Tetevano if i had to choose either:

13. Carter
Bench prop: Liu

Or 13. Liu
Bench prop: Tetevano

Basing this on the assumption that Robbo will pick Guerra as the lock reserve for round one, then I'd choose the Carter/Liu combo.

When JWH and Napa go off it'll be crucial to maintain our momentum through the middle third so the thought of JWH, Napa and Liu all being off the field at the same time doesn't appeal to me.

Liu can play the Moa role from 2015 where he kept us rolling big time off the interchange.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Lui will start and Carter will be on the bench to play lock. I cannot find a spot for Guerra, as playing him means Aubs, Carter and Watson on the bench. That simply does not work. Go with Aubo, Cordner and Liu for starting back row. Watson, Carter and two front rowers (Tetevano and Evans probably) on the bench.. When SST comes back we get plenty of headaches. Maybe SST to starting Lock after a few weeks of bench and Liu joins front row rotation with the worst perfomer of Tetevano and Evans to drop off.

[eddie]

The competition for back row spots will be intense, and I foresee Guerra copping heaps from this joint........Rightfully so.
R6 is right about Liu, too hard to justify relegating him. He's earned a starting spot.

Carter would be terrific in the role as well, but I wonder if his size will count against him as a bench player?
The nrl hasn't gone far enough in reducing the inter-change in my opinion.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I'd leave Evans and Guerra out of our top squad...starts to look more promising.

[Rooster_6]

I'm as big a fan of Liu as anyone. He's outstanding and every Roosters fan that watches us play weekly knows that. It's not some hidden secret. Neither is Carter'a talent.

But it's about team balance. And without having seen much of Tetevano if i had to choose either:

13. Carter
Bench prop: Liu

Or 13. Liu
Bench prop: Tetevano

Basing this on the assumption that Robbo will pick Guerra as the lock reserve for round one, then I'd choose the Carter/Liu combo.

When JWH and Napa go off it'll be crucial to maintain our momentum through the middle third so the thought of JWH, Napa and Liu all being off the field at the same time doesn't appeal to me.

Liu can play the Moa role from 2015 where he kept us rolling big time off the interchange.

You can't compromise on your starting pack that much to find balance in your side though.

Carter's defence would need to have improved drastically over the off-season to see him chosen as the starting lock and based on what I saw at the 9's it hasn't.

Isaac Liu is head and shoulders the better player at the moment and I don't believe the difference between Tetevano, Chris Smith & Carter is all that much that it justifies re-jigging the starting pack.

If the 9's showed us anything it's that every bench spot bar Watson's is up for grabs, the starting pack picks itself though and deservedly so, these are players who have proven themselves in our colours time and time again and have earnt that right. 6 games of Nine's doesn't and should never change that.

[milanja]

I'd leave Evans and Guerra out of our top squad...starts to look more promising.

Yep Evans shouldn't be given a walk up start, so much potential but doesn't have the mongrel at the moment.

[liver1971]

I know it was only the 9s; and in the 9s there's a tendency to overstate the performances of outside backs who have unfettered freedom and fewer defensive concerns.

But I think you can read more into the performances of some of the forwards; especially their effort.

And Carter was awesome. He looked fit, mobile, aggressive and was in their faces in defence. He also has some second phase play to his game, with his flick pass offload for our first try in the GF a real standout.

He's a genuine footballer who makes things happen and is exactly what we need given some concerns over our ability to create heading into the season.

So to my thinking he is far too good to leave out. So where does he play? I'd like to see him start at lock. This is how I think we'll line up for round 1:

11. Cordner
12. Aubusson
13. Carter

14. Evans
15. Liu
16. Guerra
17. Watson

Thoughts?

Second phase football, what is that? That was virtually non existant last year. Both Cordner and Guerra don't pass or offload. I'll excuse Boyd obviously cause he plays a different role. .JWH is the most effective in the team. Teams offloaded at will last year, it killed us. Was their some wrong with our tackling technique or am I too critical? Carter is a must as he provides another x factor this team sorely needs. Guerra was ordinary in the nine's and I don't see anything changing.again this year.

[Nathan Aboud]

Carter was great, infact the only player who I though was under par was Kane Evans. Still is flat on defense and yet still drops the ball occasionally.

Don't know if anyone esle saw that I though there was massive improvement with our attacks on both edges with both youth & experience. It seems like all the combinations in the off season experimented are really coming together.

[Tommy Smith]

You can't compromise on your starting pack that much to find balance in your side though.

Carter's defence would need to have improved drastically over the off-season to see him chosen as the starting lock and based on what I saw at the 9's it hasn't.

Isaac Liu is head and shoulders the better player at the moment and I don't believe the difference between Tetevano, Chris Smith & Carter is all that much that it justifies re-jigging the starting pack.

If the 9's showed us anything it's that every bench spot bar Watson's is up for grabs, the starting pack picks itself though and deservedly so, these are players who have proven themselves in our colours time and time again and have earnt that right. 6 games of Nine's doesn't and should never change that.

You're underestimating the importance of the bench.

It made us so dominant in 2015 with Moa, Liu and SST coming on. We need Liu to do the same in 2017.

Carter will be in the 17. I'm very confident of this.

Only question is the make up of the side.

[Monaco's Fan Club]

There is another option... Gordan to the wing, toupo out. Watson Fullback, Carter bench ( utility hooker)...

Cordner, Liu and Guerra ( should be maubs, but won;t be)

Carter, Evans, Maubs and Matterson

[Guest]

tom s kiss of death

[John Corey]

The only thing winning the 9s gives us is some cash and some momentum. I'd include confidence but I don't really expect too many of the 9s team to make the starting 17 anyway. Maybe Toops gets a bit of confidence from scoring trys, but that's about it.

Some threads on here are relating 9s form to whether a player starts or not. Im happy we won as well, but c'mon, 9s form is irrelevant to who starts for us in March. They may as well play touch footy tbh.

The game is in no way similar in attack or defence. Our fg 17 will be based on our trial games and previous NRL form. Not 9s.