We need a new 7 and 9.

[Intercept]

On a serious note, I do wonder if Friend stifles his team mates in much the same way as Gallen supposedly does his. It's hard to be critical of a bloke that works so darn hard and I wonder who would make all those tackles if he didn't do it. But in my opinion, we do need to change things up next year and giving Jake a break or at least different instructions might make a sizeable difference.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Hahahaha, now I'm being compared to a broken clock. I'd like to think I'm more accurate than a broken clock. I've been posting for 17 years, had thousands of posts and all the pinheads can bring up is Nikorima and they can't even get that one right.

Don't be concerned by your critics on here Ray...they aren't exactly supercoaches themselves.

I reckon Niko has something to offer at NRL by the way, the lesser of the two bros but still a handy enough player.

[The Axe]

The way to sell 9 to pearse if it's his only chance of soo. Get Freddy to sell the vision

[Insider]

I think 9 is his best position as well.Great ball player,good runner,good defender has all the skills,having said that hes not a bad half either,hes not a Thurston or a cronk but he goes ok.

Yeah Pearce is OK, but you need your highest paid player, the one who is sucking up the biggest slice of your cap, to be a lot more than just OK.

[zac]

We've won a comp with Pearcey and Jake and we can win another one with them.
Pearcey has been great this season closing games out. One of the reasons we've won the close ones is him.
That pass to Boydy on Saturday was pure class.
This season has shown that if we get close to 50% possession we win. Even 42% on Saturday had us at 3 tries a piece until the last lazy try.

Those guys aren't going. Like the song says - if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with.

[Vasco]

I know it's not going to happen anytime soon but if we are to go to the next level that is what we need. Pearce and Friend have gone past their use by date, in fact Pearce is on the nose.

Yep.

Unfortunately it ain't happening.

[bondi paul]

I know it's not going to happen anytime soon but if we are to go to the next level that is what we need. Pearce and Friend have gone past their use by date, in fact Pearce is on the nose.

Friend will celebrate 10 years in the RWB next year and Pearce 11yrs. It's highly possible that fans will see the best of Tedesco when Friend and Pearce retire.I doubt Politis will dump his mate Jake nor will Robbo dump the current "owner of the team " being Pearce.If changes don't happen with the 7 and 9 then I would like to see it with 8 and 10.

[Waylander]

Friend needs a revamp starting with no longer the captaincy and starting to run from dummy half. He needs a stint on the sidelines each game. With the reduced interchange, I dont know how apart from resting him for the final 20-25 mins of the game and letting Radley finish the games.

The only way that Friend can get rotated is when Cords & Aubbo both play second row as only they play 80 min in that position. Matto is capable, and may also give us an option for 80 on the right. There are 6 interchanges used to rotate the props & lock, leaving only 2. One interchange is held until the last 10 minutes in case of injury, so if Friend comes off, he either stays off or has to wait until the last 10 to come back on.

While Aubbo was in the centres, we had to use the non-middles interchanges on the right 2nd rower, as Guerra simply couldn't play 80. The limited interchange makes a good 80 min hooker a very valuable commodity. Unless your entire back row can play 80, the opportunity to rotate your hooker is very limited, unless your prepared to roll the dice on injuries through the last 1/4 of the game.

There is one other option that we might be able to use. I personally would like to see Radley in the 14 next year, he can come on for Friend after 30, then stay on at lock when a Friend comes back for the last 20. That keeps one extra interchange up our sleeves.

[theGman]

In hindisght we should have had a major crack at Shaun Johnson. Surely he can't be happy wasting his entire career at the worst club culture in the league.

In hindsight we should have moved heaven and earth to convince Mitchell Moses to honour the deal he signed in early 2017 to join us in 2018. Damn the cooling-off period!!!

[ROC181]

Well if you read the paper today is that Morgan is off contract on 2019 and a few Sydney clubs will be chasing him. Also quotes that Robbo said about him being the best payer at the moment.... Cronk in 2018 then Morgan in 2019 sounds good to me

[Lydon]

In hindsight we should have moved heaven and earth to convince Mitchell Moses to honour the deal he signed in early 2017 to join us in 2018. Damn the cooling-off period!!!

Moses was only an option prior to Keary jumping on board,since Keary signed Moses was no longer an option..
Unfortunately Pearce at 7 is a lock and won't be compromised whilst Robinson is at the helm..
As a Roosters supporter a Moses and Keary combination would be salivating,but not an option for the coach as Pearce is his no.1 option..
Such a shame

[Nathan Aboud]

This thread is absolutely a stupid one.....

We lost, move on as their is no need to make predictions already in regards to positions for 2018. In my opinion if Pearce doesn't play origin for one year we will strive!!!!! How can anyone say that Friend is useless? Do any of you watch the games, seriously?

I know from this post I will be slandered by all the keyboard warriors but please Friend is a tackling machine, behind Smith he set up just the same amount of tries this year both by passing and kicking. What I found really good about Jake Friend this year was when we had momentum he knew exactly where to run from dummy half and put the perfect pass to the next running forward to continue the momentum.

Do you think Melbourne or Cowboys Fans were acting as stupid as us in their early days when they were trying to bleed in Cronk & Thurston?

C'mon people, this is a joke!!!! If there are any people who need to be criticize for the year it is our forwards with their handling and discipline in which will be a lesson to learn in the off season. Can't say we need to get rid of Pearce & Friend who mind you are the only two still trying when the encounters are close and when we have our backs to the wall as well.

Go ahead, start slandering me......... Pearce & Keary is a better match then all the other ones everyone has suggested as some of these players that have been mentioned like Johnson & Taylor I would not have in my team as after all look where them and their teams are today.

[Intercept]

This thread is absolutely a stupid one......

Well, with respect Nathan, no, it's not. Whether or not you or I agree with the sentiments expressed doesn't determine that matter. The purpose of the thread is to promote discussion and it has done that.

What I see is a lot of passionate fans who want their team to win and who understand that if nothing changes, then nothing changes. Have the posters identified the correct changes to make ahead of 2018? That's purely a matter of opinion and they are entitled to theirs, as you are to yours. When the pain of another lost opportunity subsides and is replaced by the excitement of a new season about to start, who knows, those same posters might, on reflection, even agree with you.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

We need a new attitude more than anything else. Hard nosed and disciplined. A change of personnel won't mean anything unless we become mentally tougher.

Best post on this thread so far.

[ROC181]

This thread is absolutely a stupid one.....

We lost, move on as their is no need to make predictions already in regards to positions for 2018. In my opinion if Pearce doesn't play origin for one year we will strive!!!!! How can anyone say that Friend is useless? Do any of you watch the games, seriously?

I know from this post I will be slandered by all the keyboard warriors but please Friend is a tackling machine, behind Smith he set up just the same amount of tries this year both by passing and kicking. What I found really good about Jake Friend this year was when we had momentum he knew exactly where to run from dummy half and put the perfect pass to the next running forward to continue the momentum.

Do you think Melbourne or Cowboys Fans were acting as stupid as us in their early days when they were trying to bleed in Cronk & Thurston?

C'mon people, this is a joke!!!! If there are any people who need to be criticize for the year it is our forwards with their handling and discipline in which will be a lesson to learn in the off season. Can't say we need to get rid of Pearce & Friend who mind you are the only two still trying when the encounters are close and when we have our backs to the wall as well.

Go ahead, start slandering me......... Pearce & Keary is a better match then all the other ones everyone has suggested as some of these players that have been mentioned like Johnson & Taylor I would not have in my team as after all look where them and their teams are today.

You're being a keyboard warrior and a martyr.