Latrell, what are you doing?

[Johnny Tobin]

I had a root this morning and I'm still conjecturing like mad.

Me too. Was about as satisfying as our penalty count - and less long.

[4 the all in brawl]

try it with a female next time or a male if that's your team

And no canines either boogie, unless the poodle does it for you.

[ithepact]

I think Robbo is trying to save Latrell from burning out too soon and is saving him for the big end of the season... not a bad decision me thinks.

[Headless Chook]

I think Robbo is just trying to say that it's not like 20's or SG Ball where you could go missing for 20 mins, come back and score 2 tries and be lauded as a superstar. I think his effort in the Walker try which lost us the game against Manly was the warning sign and then when he didn't put in against the Broncos Robbo called time. I know he may have been crook in the lead up to that game, but he needs to communicate with people if he's not 100%. All he did that night was let himself and his team mates down. He will be back and by the end of the season this episode will all be forgotten

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I think Robbo is just trying to say that it's not like 20's or SG Ball where you could go missing for 20 mins, come back and score 2 tries and be lauded as a superstar. I think his effort in the Walker try which lost us the game against Manly was the warning sign and then when he didn't put in against the Broncos Robbo called time. I know he may have been crook in the lead up to that game, but he needs to communicate with people if he's not 100%. All he did that night was let himself and his team mates down. He will be back and by the end of the season this episode will all be forgotten

I think that's a likely accurate summary HC.

Robbo knows what a special player this young lad is and wants to get it right from the start.

[Rooster_6]

Greg Inglis & Dave Taylor struggled with exactly the same issues when they entered grade, the whole reason Inglis was moved to fullback is he just didn't get involved in the game where as at fullback he has no option but to be consistently involved.

When you are a freak of an athlete from such a young age you can pick up some really bad habbits. These blokes would have been the stars of their teams no doubt, I reckon they probably actually tried for 10-20 minutes a game in juniors and still absolutely dominated the opposition in getting the win for their team every time.

Learning how to compete when they hit the top grade is new to them and it's a mental thing that takes time and effort to perfect.

I made this exact same comment before Latrell debuted, it's no surprise to me that he's struggled with the move to the centres.

It's not about questioning his desire or motivation because the kid clearly wants to succeed and has a great attitude but mental application is such a huge part of sport and it's something that's developed and refined over years.

I could find you plenty of players in the game with the same skill set of Boyd Cordner or Cooper Cronk but very if any few have the mental application those two have.

Ability is only half the game and this is why I trust Robbo's call on this because he's the closest person to it.

People might question Robbo's form by naming Hastings and a couple of others but when I look at the development of players like Tupou, Pearce, JWH, Liu, Cordner & SST it's unquestionable. It's not like these players have switched positions, increased their skill level dramatically or are more suited to a game plan than they previously were. They are all players who at one point or another under Robinson began to apply themselves at a much higher level than previously shown or thought possible and have developed into high performers.

As they say the proof will be in the pudding for Robbo.

It was only a few years ago the forum was blowing up about an uncomitted Boyd Cordner.

[milanja]

Greg Inglis & Dave Taylor struggled with exactly the same issues when they entered grade, the whole reason Inglis was moved to fullback is he just didn't get involved in the game where as at fullback he has no option but to be consistently involved.

When you are a freak of an athlete from such a young age you can pick up some really bad habbits. These blokes would have been the stars of their teams no doubt, I reckon they probably actually tried for 10-20 minutes a game in juniors and still absolutely dominated the opposition in getting the win for their team every time.

Learning how to compete when they hit the top grade is new to them and it's a mental thing that takes time and effort to perfect.

I made this exact same comment before Latrell debuted, it's no surprise to me that he's struggled with the move to the centres.

It's not about questioning his desire or motivation because the kid clearly wants to succeed and has a great attitude but mental application is such a huge part of sport and it's something that's developed and refined over years.

I could find you plenty of players in the game with the same skill set of Boyd Cordner or Cooper Cronk but very if any few have the mental application those two have.

Ability is only half the game and this is why I trust Robbo's call on this because he's the closest person to it.

People might question Robbo's form by naming Hastings and a couple of others but when I look at the development of players like Tupou, Pearce, JWH, Liu, Cordner & SST it's unquestionable. It's not like these players have switched positions, increased their skill level dramatically or are more suited to a game plan than they previously were. They are all players who at one point or another under Robinson began to apply themselves at a much higher level than previously shown or thought possible and have developed into high performers.

As they say the proof will be in the pudding for Robbo.

It was only a few years ago the forum was blowing up about an uncomitted Boyd Cordner.

I have no problem with the kid coming on later, but at the start of careers 15 yrs ago it was probably expected that you could be dropped and then come back into firsts, normal development. I worry that these days patience is not a priority for players, clubs and player managers. A player shouldn't be able to hold a coach to ransom, but with so much desperation and money being thrown around by desperate clubs, a player of latrell's quality and potential will not want to sit in reserve grade for too long.

hopefully the relationship between player and coach is good, and latrell is happy to be in reserve grade until the coach is ready to have him back.

[GC6]

On another note anyone that questions Latrell bond with our players. If you watched all the players instagram stories over the weekend it puts the bond of the whole group in to a good perspective

[Maxy Walker]

It's like reading a soap opera

Like sands through the hourglass
These are the days of latrell

[Thirteen]

I won't judge Robbo cause we don't know the real story. I'm sure just like all of us, Robbo would love to have LM back and firing.

[Danish]

The only piece of this saga that anyone can reliably say is true is that Mitchell definitely has some issues with staying switched on during games, since that was there for all to see during the first few rounds of the season that he played. The rest is all rumour and innuendo.

Robbo is one of the best coaches in the comp. The type of coach where if he decided he wanted to leave us, all 15 rival clubs would be wanting to meet with him. He has also had a pretty good record debuting players for us so far (he hasn't adjusted to the reduced interchange rules yet, but thats another thread).

Mitchell is a very physically gifted player, who seems to have struggled transitioning to first grade. Ideally I bet Robbo would have preferred he played all of last year for the Roos but with the mother of all **** ups in recruitment by our front office he was forced to try and develop him in the top grade instead, and its turned out poorly.

I'll repeat what I said prior to Mitchell's debut. I'm not expecting him to be the next greg Inglis. I think having the pressure and comparisons between the 2 is unfair as he'll likely never achieve such lofty heights. I am confident and will be happy if he simply becomes a very good first grader for the Roosters. Many a poster here got a bit upset when I originally said that, but I am willing to bet many would agree with me now.

[Tommy Smith]

I don't agree.

I personally believe that Mitchell has all of GIs physical attributes but he's also more of a natural footballer.

The issue is his mental side of the game and that's definitely up in the air.

It's worth noting that GI has been notorious for drifting in and out of a season for his entire career. He would go quiet for months and often it would take Origin to wake him up.

Let's hope Mitchell shows more consistency.

[Random Rooster]

Daniel Toupo hey......

1. Serial arm grabber.Has never made a front on tackle around the legs in his NRL career......and opposition players know it and love taking him on one on one

2. Cant read in defence.Forever running in and being caught in between the opposition centre & winger waving his arms around like a windmill . If you cant make the overlap against the Roosters then shift the ball to Toupos wing and he will make one for you.

3.Timid ball runner.He never attempts runs thru the defence when bringing the ball back from a kick. As soon as he gets stopped he will twist turn his back into the defenders making it easy for defenders to pick him up and drive him back

4. When he is being driven back his first instinct is to panic & desperately offload the ball,irrespective that he is in his own quarter and the ball receiver will have nowhere to go.....which will end in loss of yardage at best or a handling error at worst

5. Always good for at least a couple of ball handling errors in early tackles or tight situations in his own half

6.His main attacking asset in attack is in the air but he is nowhere near as effective in the last couple of years as he was once was. Reason is he gives up as soon as he is being run off the ball.Reason why he isnt getting a penalty for being run off the ball is opposition players know it only takes a subtle movement and bump into him & he will stop in his track


Yes i know ive posted this before but how the far kari can this dude keep dishing up trash and avoiding getting dropped is beyond me.His lacklustre effort leading to his sin binning was a massive turnaround.Mistakes in his own half week after week....


Robbo grow some balls and drop SKD & Toupo. Bring in Latrell & Watson. 2013 was a long time ago.....its time to move on

[Danish]

I don't agree.

I personally believe that Mitchell has all of GIs physical attributes but he's also more of a natural footballer.

The issue is his mental side of the game and that's definitely up in the air.

It's worth noting that GI has been notorious for drifting in and out of a season for his entire career. He would go quiet for months and often it would take Origin to wake him up.

Let's hope Mitchell shows more consistency.

Inglis drifting in and out of games is what keeps him out of the elite class with thurston, Johns, Freddy, Slater etc and instead keeps him in the same category as guys like Jarryd Hayne. In saying that his drifting in and out of games only truly became an issue once he stacked on the weight at Souths. While he was a lean whippet in his first few years at the storm he was a damned freak.

Personally I don't care if Latrell never gets into either of those classes. We don't need him to. We do need some reliable strike weapons in the back line though and he can certainly be that for us if he gets his head right.

The hype over Mitchell really is frustrating. He has done nothing in the top grade to be burdened with such pressure. Jodran Rapana is a superior athlete but fortunately for him he is ineligible for all important Origin duties so he doesn't get the spotlight shone on him at all and is just left to go about his business being a try scoring machine.

[Salvatori Grubber]

Daniel Toupo hey......

1. Serial arm grabber.Has never made a front on tackle around the legs in his NRL career......and opposition players know it and love taking him on one on one

2. Cant read in defence.Forever running in and being caught in between the opposition centre & winger waving his arms around like a windmill . If you cant make the overlap against the Roosters then shift the ball to Toupos wing and he will make one for you.

3.Timid ball runner.He never attempts runs thru the defence when bringing the ball back from a kick. As soon as he gets stopped he will twist turn his back into the defenders making it easy for defenders to pick him up and drive him back

4. When he is being driven back his first instinct is to panic & desperately offload the ball,irrespective that he is in his own quarter and the ball receiver will have nowhere to go.....which will end in loss of yardage at best or a handling error at worst

5. Always good for at least a couple of ball handling errors in early tackles or tight situations in his own half

6.His main attacking asset in attack is in the air but he is nowhere near as effective in the last couple of years as he was once was. Reason is he gives up as soon as he is being run off the ball.Reason why he isnt getting a penalty for being run off the ball is opposition players know it only takes a subtle movement and bump into him & he will stop in his track


Yes i know ive posted this before but how the far kari can this dude keep dishing up trash and avoiding getting dropped is beyond me.His lacklustre effort leading to his sin binning was a massive turnaround.Mistakes in his own half week after week....


Robbo grow some balls and drop SKD & Toupo. Bring in Latrell & Watson. 2013 was a long time ago.....its time to move on

Literally each of your points are demonstrably not the case. Not this year anyway.