Brandon Smith

[Johnny Tobin]

We're a privlieged bunch, aren't we?

I think the club's unrelenting desire for success filters down to the fans.

Imagine being an Eels fan instead. Or Tigers, Warriors, or Knights until recently. Farkkk that.

We really are very lucky but I love the fact that we never rest on our laurels. Always whinging lol

Enjoy it while it lasts I say. A 2009 is always possible.

[Tommy Smith]

Enjoy it while it lasts I say. A 2009 is always possible.

Absolutely. It doesn't always work.

The 2005-2012 era was, but for a Todd Carney season in 2010, an unmitigated disaster with trash like Willie Mason ruining our club.

Opposition fans tend to forget that. Before this Robbo Golden Era was an even longer era of mostly abject failure.

I suppose that truth doesn't fit the cap cheat narrative.

This period with Robbo in charge from 2013 until long may it continue could well be the best time to be a Roosters fan for the next 50-100 years.

And yet I still love a good sook as much as anyone

[Kelby]

Would be a great back up.
Let's sign him up for the bears.

[Nonester1]

Brandon Smith is already a very good regular first grader and as much as I would like to have him in our side, it is not possible with having Friend as our no.1 hooker. No other hooker regularly makes 50+ tackles nearly every game and gives 110% every game that he plays. I rate Brandon Smith as good as Radley.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

I'm torn when it comes to Jake. I love the bloke, think that he is a club legend, would be upset if he left and all that. His defense is always amazing. When he sticks to the basics he is great, but when he tries to overplay his hand he can be terrible.

I feel that as Cronk's influence and leadership took hold as the season went on Jake stopped overplaying his hand in attack and thus his form improved drastically. Very similar to his form in 2013 when we had Jimmy doing a lot of the great playmaking/attacking work.

My concern for season 2020 is with a younger half running the team around will Jake then go back to overplaying his hand in attack?

[roosterproud]

I'm torn when it comes to Jake. I love the bloke, think that he is a club legend, would be upset if he left and all that. His defense is always amazing. When he sticks to the basics he is great, but when he tries to overplay his hand he can be terrible.

I feel that as Cronk's influence and leadership took hold as the season went on Jake stopped overplaying his hand in attack and thus his form improved drastically. Very similar to his form in 2013 when we had Jimmy doing a lot of the great playmaking/attacking work.

My concern for season 2020 is with a younger half running the team around will Jake then go back to overplaying his hand in attack?

By 2020 SBW will be there to re instate the 1%ers. He and Cronk have the same principles. do the simple thing 100%

[Thirteen]

We're a privlieged bunch, aren't we?

I think the club's unrelenting desire for success filters down to the fans.

Imagine being an Eels fan instead. Or Tigers, Warriors, or Knights until recently. Farkkk that.

We really are very lucky but I love the fact that we never rest on our laurels. Always whinging lol

Knights until recently?
They are still shit.

[Vasco]

No way Friend gets moved on, Nick and Robbie love him and he just won a premiership.

That's exactly the point.

It's now 2019 and players need to be moved on at the right time.

I believe it was the right time to move Fergo on. I doubt he will have such a big season again.

Rugby league is a business and player movement is a big part of it.

[Tommy Smith]

Knights until recently?
They are still shit.

I reckon they'll have a big season. Maybe even a bolter for top 4 if Ponga/Pearce play almost every game.

[Louis N]

Jake is at the top of his game atm and at a career high captaining the premiers. He may even be resurrecting a representative career. But Brain's suggestion of a great back up isn't a bad one. Jake puts his body through an enormous battering each year and eventually it must tell. Problem is would Brandon Smith be content with doing what he will probably be doing with the Storm. Spending time in reserves until Jake could no longer keep on the pace and at what salary cost? On Jake's form in the grand final that could be years away still. Meantime I'm happy for Radley to gain extra experience in the role when required. But granted Smith has talent and is already showing that at the highest levels.

[Salvatori Grubber]

Jake is at the top of his game atm and at a career high captaining the premiers. He may even be resurrecting a representative career.

He’ll never have a better chance to start for QLD than he will, this year. If he can continue where he left off and maintain that until Origin, he’s a real shot.

[Guest]

Succession planning is paramount for any aspiring organisation - business or sporting.

Also, Friend isn't a spring chook anymore!

Nick will just buy the best available when the time comes.

[The Marshall]

That's exactly the point.

It's now 2019 and players need to be moved on at the right time.

I believe it was the right time to move Fergo on. I doubt he will have such a big season again.

Rugby league is a business and player movement is a big part of it.

Good luck with that happening this year or next

[The Marshall]

Succession planning is paramount for any aspiring organisation - business or sporting.

Also, Friend isn't a spring chook anymore!

No joke it’s a business and succession planning is critical and granted Friend is moving to veteran status. However
B Smith will face the exact same issue here as the mizzle, 1 year as a back up and 1 year as a cutover to the starting role. I’d like him but he ain’t going to sign here for the same role and friend is NOT getting moved this year

[QWERTY]

He’ll never have a better chance to start for QLD than he will, this year. If he can continue where he left off and maintain that until Origin, he’s a real shot.

He only really has the broncos hooker as competition, and Andrew mculloch didn’t even play that well this year. Jake friend easily outshone him at the backend of 2018