Roosterfarian's Berzerkely Report

[Guest]

Howdy sports fan,

The Jamaican Times sent me down to Bezerkely for another report at this year's Coaching Clinic (for the third time in a row). Usually held in January, the clinic has surprised all and moved to November...interestingly only a week into training.

Farian sat down with coach Smith while the boys went through their paces with the kids (including mine) and talked footy and life after total carnage. Here is my summation:

Everyone's been put on notice behaviour wise. As Smith put it, if the NRL's Dally M winner can get sacked from the club, anyone reeking havic will follow suit. Reiterated that he felt all those that poisoned the club have parted ways. Told me that Toddy started drinking the night of our GF loss..had an almighty bender and NEVER looked back.

Backline

Basically one spot up for grabs for the start of next year. Moga, Carney and Tagive will fight it out initially. The rest is a forgone conclusion..leilua will continue bouncing between centre and wing..spoke to Moga (one ALMIGHTY human being) and he has been training at centre. Smithy said he still has some question marks on him as he fell away near the end of the year so he'll have to get himself mentally ready for the rigors of first grade.

Tuivasa-Scheck is finishing off his HSC so hasnt joined the team yet. Won't figure in first grade next year but Smith was raving on about him. Said his YOUNGER brother is 97kg already and a gun (they are trying to sign him up as well).

Henare Wells - Smith was RAVING on about him big time. Said he has the X-factor and can turn a game on its ear but mentally and physically not up to it yet. The kid is built like a rake..very tall and thin but Smith said his old man is built like a brick shithouse exactly like Henare when he was a kid and then filled out. I dont think this kid is going anywhere because Smith rates him BIG time.

Alofa - Another kid who is impressing in training...the guys love playing with him..great team guy. I spoke to him and was VERY impressed with his attitude/committment. Will stop at nothing to crack first grade but will start in newtown as Smith said.

Mortimer - Smith said he is fitting in well. Said he will figure when rep games are on. Said he offers things that Anasta and Pearce dont have. Said he wasnt a huge organiser and doesnt have a long kicking game but takes the line on and has a great offload (which the team is focusing on big time) plus super short kicking game. Goes to the line with ball in two hands and great at slipping pass or making a sneaky break. Spoke to Mortimer and said the guys are focusing on skill work..much more than his time at Parra. Also a huge focus on defence and as Smith said..putting both all together. No changes in playing style next year..we will see what we saw in the last four games.

Forwards

Kennedy - ready to go. Started running and no pain so far..straight from the horses mouth. Smith said they have wrapped him up in cotton wool as career threatening.

Ryles - Wanted more money and took a great offer from Storm. Smith wanted him to stay. Differs from Ryles dads story..who knows. Smithy said we have a plethora of front rows..mentioned Isaac Liu as a HUGE talent coming through. Nuggety shorter kid with great footwork for a front rower..built like a keg.

Tasi - Smith couldnt stop talking about him. Probably the most out of ANY player there. Has another two years here and not going anywhere. Said he will be massive for us next year..great motor and plays hard. Kennedy, Tasi, JWH and Mose will form our front row but interestingly mentioned Taka to end up in the front row in years to come. Kane another one who will playing first grade.

Maubs is back..shoulder is fine. Will take up one position in the second row with FPN in at lock. Guerra and Cordner will play the other. Cherro wont play any football till April but in great spirits.

Symo - said he has been training as a utility. Even 5/8th. Interesting one.

Dumbrell - will start in Newtown but Smith rates him big time. Nothing much of this kid. Smaller than Mortimer (who is a deadset dwarf!)

I get the impression that this will be Mini's last year as Smith rates the plethora of young fullbacks coming through. I dont think you will see a big name purchase to be honest. Especially in the backs. One thing Smith did mention. Noone is putting their hand up in the halves coming through. Littlejohn is a toiler but Smith said he has a LONG way to go before playing firstgrade..doesnt have much of a passing/organising game but a great team player who the guy love. I suspect if there is one position he'll recruit its in the halves and thats it.

Funny, we spoke about Rothfield and his hate for him. Telegraph had ppl follow the players around all season away. Said to watch out for a story where a Melbourne News LTD journo has been caught tapping phones like his British collegues. Said "if I told you some of the things Rothfield has done over the years..you wouldnt believe me". Doesnt even attend matches or press conferences. Just shoots from afar. Smiths cursing increased substantially while we were both laying shit into him. He said a few interesting things about Buzz but to his credit said "lets get back to talking about our chaps" and then proceeded to point guys out and tell me everything about their playing style. I can see how he loves working with the younger crew rather than signing big names who faulter. Talked about the 50-150 first grade game range and how players peak in this range..has nothing to do with age. After 150..unless they are freaks..they generally wane.

Anyway..thats my summation. Hope you enjoyed it. I have some great photos which I should somehow post on here. Need to work it out first.

Speak easy brothers..here's to next season. I was certainly excited by what I saw. The boys looks really happy and laughing with each other. Last clinic (at the start of this year) was like a morgue no shit. I even told Smith that and he agreed saying we were on the backfoot because a number of guys had "there head in the clouds or up the arse".

Always interesting to hear what's going on, thanks for sharing.

I have a theory about Smith, that he's the Billy Beane of the NRL. More intent on building combinations around a style of play and applying the players that will do that job. I would expect him to only go to market for players that he needs for a specific function. Apart from the Superleague raid, he has never gone out and bought players.

Interesting about the 50 - 150 game theory, I guess Daniel Wagon would be the outlier to that concept.

As long as the Roosters have a good off season and minimal disruption to the top 17 due to injury or form, they should go ok in 2012.

I went down to the 'Dogs open session a couple of weeks ago, run by Dymock-Grimaldi. I get down there as often as I can, as I like to see the preparation and how it transposes on game day. They were doing some kind of time trial, which actually resembled a fun run (for some) the way they were cruising around. Looking forward to seeing the difference with Hasler-Egan in the coming weeks. Since 2003, I have attended the last ball session before the season start, and I'm always intrigued as to how it becomes an indicator for the season.

[The Rooster Oracle]

Roosterfarian's Bezerkely Report 2011

Hello Sports Fan! The farian is back from his annual review of the Bezerkely Clinic for the Jamaican Times.

Here is my summary:

Spoke to Smithy at length again and he had some interesting things to say.

- Threw up Mich Aubo as a POSSIBLE starter in the centres this year depending on how the fight for the back-row goes. Also said that Justin Carney/Phil Graham had been training there. He must really value Linnett.
- Couldnt believe the amount of depth we had in the forwards. Cherro has been training the house down. Kept going on about his size.
- When I asked who out of the young guys has impressed - Cordner straight away. Said he will DEF play first grade this year barring injury but will start in NYC.
- Will continue the BJ at wing experiment. Said he doesnt want to throw him around positions like last year and has settled at wing.
- Kennedy will sign in the next few days.
- Spoke in length about Lami Tasi who will start in Newtown but was a big lump of a lad with great footwork and an all round frontrowers game. Also threw up Ethan Lowe as a bolter.
- Spoke about Blair. Still a work in progress and had to work on his fitness. May move into the forwards.

Also spoke to JWH who is a great fella (even introduced himself like I didnt know who he was!). Told me that Watts (who was at the clinic running drills) is ahead of schedule and will be back round 7-10.
JWH said he doesnt mind if he doesnt start games as long as he gets enough minutes.

Sounds like a big focus on defence this year (especially from the forwards who have been working together) as they all know they can turn it on in attack.

That's all from me - if you can't be good..be good at it!


Just thought i would post the 2011 Bezerkely Report as an interesting read to see how it panned out over the year.
Well Brian Smith certainly didn't seem to rate Linnett, even at the beginning of the year. I hope Smith's thoughts on Cherro at the start of this year will eventuate for next year! I'm glad to see in the latest report that the Roosters are focusing on our attack as well as defense, unlike what the 2011 report said (focusing just on defense) and we all know how crap our attack was for the majority of this year!

[Roosterfarian]

Fair bit of that came off. See the farian doesnt mix his words brother..only his chemicals mun.

[The Rooster Oracle]

Fair bit of that came off. See the farian doesnt mix his words brother..only his chemicals mun.

You did well mun! Good to see that the chemicals don't hinder your journalistic work for the Jamaican Times! Maybe it is performance enhancing and beetroot face needs to get on it?

[John Corey]

Thanks mate. Good report.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

These are the posts that make visiting forums worthwhile.

Great stuff mate - gotta luv the Smithy.

[Guest]

I went down to the 'Dogs open session a couple of weeks ago, run by Dymock-Grimaldi. I get down there as often as I can, as I like to see the preparation and how it transposes on game day. They were doing some kind of time trial, which actually resembled a fun run (for some) the way they were cruising around. Looking forward to seeing the difference with Hasler-Egan in the coming weeks. Since 2003, I have attended the last ball session before the season start, and I'm always intrigued as to how it becomes an indicator for the season.

How is the fan base taking all the changes? The Dogs are a club renowed for appointing from "in house" for coaching positions etc and promoting players from their junior ranks. But the last couple of years have seen massive influx from outside the club for players especially and now a few club old boys in Dymock-Grimaldi have been set aside for Hasler and his entourage. Hasler is a great signing no doubt, but he can't really call on old club adages (Dogs of war etc) to inspire his troops not being a part of that culture. Any talk of losing the club identity in all this?

Chook.

[Guest]

How is the fan base taking all the changes? The Dogs are a club renowed for appointing from "in house" for coaching positions etc and promoting players from their junior ranks. But the last couple of years have seen massive influx from outside the club for players especially and now a few club old boys in Dymock-Grimaldi have been set aside for Hasler and his entourage. Hasler is a great signing no doubt, but he can't really call on old club adages (Dogs of war etc) to inspire his troops not being a part of that culture. Any talk of losing the club identity in all this?

Chook.

If anything the traits Hasler will bring to the club is a return to how the Bulldogs have seen themselves in the past.

[Guest]

Good report bob!

[Guest]

If anything the traits Hasler will bring to the club is a return to how the Bulldogs have seen themselves in the past.

I think the only thing Hasler will do is make the Dogs take Shire girls swimming in Coff's Harbour instead.

Yeah, I went there.

[Guest]

I think Hasler could be the undoing of "the worlds greatest CEo" Todd greenberg

short term success, long term mess. Just like at Manly

[Kingbilly]

Big_M,
I think there is a big difference in that the Dogs board has some stability to start with.
I beleive Greenberg has done a sensational job given what was there when he arrived. I agree they haven't been the force they once were in the past, but there was a lot of mess to clean up. Whether Hasler is short or long term I don't necessarily think Greenberg will be a casualty.
Would be interested in hearing why you think what you posted.

[Guest]

Because I am a stockbroker and "when you are clapping you should be selling"

The Dogs imploded over nearly a decade and have fixed the problem by throwing Todd greenberg, Bobcat Ryan and their chequebook at it.

short term fixes, Bobcat is now gone, they still have heaps of cash but at some point the music will stop and Greenebrg will be gone too.

I have no insight other than gut feel and watching league tear its administrators to pieces over the last 20 years

[Roosterfarian]

Finally got off my backside and uploaded these photos. Not that I know what I'm doing but try these:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/img2537r.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/img2536x.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/img2535k.jpg/
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http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/img2531e.jpg/
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http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/img2526e.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/img2525m.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/img2524qi.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/265/img2523p.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/img2521y.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/img2520an.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/522/img2519k.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/img2518d.jpg/

[Yak]

Thanks for posting those mate. Boy Tau Tau is one massive 17 year old. His hands look almost disproportionate which is amazing when you consider how big his body is.