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[Johnny73]

Three reasons the Roosters aren't 'gelling.' 1. Two powderpuff forwards in Napa and JWH. 2. A hooker who hasn't been right for a long time...nearly dying can do that to you. 3. The Roosters Structure. Which I think was created to cover for that fake halfback they had for ten long years. Bringing in Faamausili, Butcher and "Rusty" Collins might not produce the goods but it's worth a shot. And a Radley/Baptiste combo may not be the answer but Radley passes both sides of the ruck and isn't the white George Gregan. And the only reason Baptiste was on the bench at Canberra was because the English national hooker was in the starting side.

[Johnny73]

There's something seriously wrong with this site for me...I wrote that as bullet points.

[rented tracksuit]

I just want to win.

[theGman]

You have a good point. I watched the Wyong Roos v Bulldogs match a few weeks back as it was televised on free to air. It was a pretty one sided affair although Wyong played better in the second half. There wasn't a lot to write home about apart from Sitili showing his ability to run good lines. Chris Smith wasn't in the starting pack, but when he came on Wyong lifted. He made breaks through the centre and was our most dangerous attacking player. It has obviously done enough for the Bulldogs to make an offer of $95,000 for him as you mentioned.

So I can't quite figure this Smith thing out. He was bought mid season - in a hurry to bolster our injury riddled side in 2016. He was hardly used then. Mitch Aubusson sang his praises for 2017 and apart from the Nines, where he played well and scored one spectacular try - he was unwanted. According to our PR he holds the Roosters bench press record. Strange why he hasn't been hardly given a run at Penrith or the Roosters. He was an Australian Schoolboys rep and has a ton of pace for a forward.

He scored an almost length of field try when he debuted for Penrith. I don't know why he has been overlooked at the Roosters, and my guess is that he is looking for an out where he can get a run. Even strange that he should be coming off the bench at Wyong, rather than with the run on side. I can only put that down to him being used his pace, rather than endurance. One of our posters, (was it you?) who mentioned the possibility of him being used in the backs on the wing for hit ups. Can't see any harm in trialling it at Wyong for starters.

I've always had a liking for Chris' style of play. It just seems strange given what you've articulated above he cannot even get him a starting spot for Wyong.

I honestly thought his time had come for a spot in our 2018 team when he came on for the Roos against Dogs (?) in last years major semi @ SFS and sealed the win with minutes remaining with a decisive break down the western touchline that led to a try.

I wish him well.

[player 1]

Agree with a lot of the above analysis.

Also agree with a few posters in other threads about the influence of the refs and particularly the bunker. This was actually a closer game than the scoreboard reflected - dragons looked to be struggling at various times and in danger of leaking points but dubious calls came to their rescue - the bunker giving the ball back to them after a dozens replays satisfied the bunker Fergo had knocked on (when they weren't asked about this), the Aubbo incorrect play the ball penalty, the "offside" penalty after they dropped the ball coming out of their own end. The lack of sin bin for the trip. The Nene knock on try given by Maxwell - he deserves flogging for that. Roosters clearly are struggling to find the right combos, with a break or two they could have got away with the 2 points. Saints were not convincing and had an awful lot of help. Roosters did NOT play great but the effort and commitment were there. I haven't written them off yet. But gotta say the refereeing and bunker shenanigans are worse this year than ever before.

[Kelby]

Can we swap him him for Eastwood ?

[Mickie Lane]

Our spine not having a preseason together hasn’t helped but I agree they will work it and they will eventually click. The quality of the players in our spine is so good it’s just a matter of time. I think the whole team is working hard and showing some improvement in all areas each week. We will continue to improve and all the pieces will fall into place and we will go on a run probably by mid season. I think we will have a very good second half of the season. We’ll make the semifinals and go deep.

Every team other than the Cowboys & Titans have a new halves combination this year & the Cowboys are the only team to have the same spine as last year.
Dragons spine is fine & so is the Tigers. The Panthers have lost the best up & coming halves player in the game yet Maloney has gone to another level. I would expect from Cronk what Maloney is dishing out. Maloney effortlessly leads the Panthers around the park whilst Cronk claps & says come on.

[RoosterChick]

Every team other than the Cowboys & Titans have a new halves combination this year & the Cowboys are the only team to have the same spine as last year.
Dragons spine is fine & so is the Tigers. The Panthers have lost the best up & coming halves player in the game yet Maloney has gone to another level. I would expect from Cronk what Maloney is dishing out. Maloney effortlessly leads the Panthers around the park whilst Cronk claps & says come on.

The teams you mentioned have had the advantage of a preseason together. If Keary didn’t have a broken jaw we would have too. All I was saying was that our spine having no preseason at all together has put us behind. Keary didn’t come back till round 2 and that’s when our preseason started. I really feel they are improving week to week and better times are not far away.

[RoosterChick]

Also, Maloney is IMO the best payer in the game atm. I will never understand how we and the Sharks let him go. Regardless, I think Keary is great and has made up for it.

[Mickie Lane]

The teams you mentioned have had the advantage of a preseason together. If Keary didn’t have a broken jaw we would have too. All I was saying was that our spine having no preseason at all together has put us behind. Keary didn’t come back till round 2 and that’s when our preseason started. I really feel they are improving week to week and better times are not far away.

The Tiger trained all off season with Reynolds at 5/8 & then from Rd1 Benji has filled in seamlessly. If Shaun Johnson is out young Mason Lino just steps in seamlessly, Maloney & Peachy click

[rented tracksuit]

The Tiger trained all off season with Reynolds at 5/8 & then from Rd1 Benji has filled in seamlessly. If Shaun Johnson is out young Mason Lino just steps in seamlessly, Maloney & Peachy click

Let’s also not forget his injury was later in the preseason so they had plenty of time to ‘click’. The time for excuses has passed.

[Mickie Lane]

Let’s also not forget his injury was later in the preseason so they had plenty of time to ‘click’. The time for excuses has passed.

They should of kept Hastings & Elliott.

[Parkway_Drive]

I agree, no excuses, we are playing shit.

But, I think we will play our way out of it and still make the finals. I have seen glimpses of life in the past two games to suggest to me we have some hope.

However, we need to be in the 8 preferably at the halfway point or at least by the end of the origin series to make a charge. We may lose contact if we drop our next two games and they are not easy games by any stretch. Plus we have Tigers coming up soon when we lose Teddy Cordner, Napa (hopefully lol)for Origin. I hope Latrell, Fergo and Keary are not considered either.

If we are firing at the seasons end, we have the cattle to win it from the bottom half of the 8 but realistically if we finish 7or 8th, it will be very tough.