Race for the top 4

[NorthChook]

After a few disappointing losses that we could/should have won in a shortened season, will we have enough in us to make top 4? I think making top 4 is crucial to winning the comp as history indicates

I think Parra/Panthers/Storm have the top 3 spots in the bank with fairly easy draws unless they have their own injury crisis

Our biggest competitor for 4th place seems to be the Knights to me - yes they are not totally convincing yet but they also have a very favourable draw

If they beat souths this week they'll go a point in front, if they lose souths will join us but will be behind on +/-

Still 10 rounds to go in this shorter year - will need to keep a tab on our competitors

Roosters (10 games left - 12 points) - Warriors (away but at CC), Titans (home), Dragons (away), Storm (home), Tigers (away), Bronx (home), Raiders (away), Knights (home), Sharks (home), Souths (away)
Should win most of these games but Storm and Raiders away will be hard to beat. Knights at home in round 18 looks to be a crucial game. Dragons, Tigers, Sharks and Souths danger games where we need to turn up. Any slip ups against teams we should be able to beat and we are in trouble.

Knights (11 games left - 11 points) - Souths (away), Dogs (home), Storm (away), Tigs (away), Manly (home), Cowboys (home), Warriors (away/CC), Sharks (home), Chooks (away), Dragons (away), Titans (away)
Expecting them to beat Souths this weekend but not certain. They should lose to Storm and us, and have danger games against Tigers, Manly, Sharks and Dragons. Hopefully they play more performances like they did against the cowboys where they didn't show up.

Raiders (10 games left - 12 points) - Souths (home), Cowboys (away), Panthers (away), Bronx (home), Titans (away), Dogs (home), Roosters (home), Dragons (away), Warriors (home), Sharks (away)
High injury toll but played very well with what they has last night - not easy beats but can they keep it up? Should lose to Panthers, us and Souths won't be easy games - otherwise sharks and dragons may push them if they run out of gas due to injuries

Souffs (11 games left - 10 points) - Knights (home), Raiders (away), Dragons (away), Bronx (home), Cowboys (away), Manly (away), Parra (away), Storm (home), Tigers (away), Dogs (home), Roosters (home)
Suss in the forwards and injuries/suspensions not helping their cause - they have a fairly tough draw left. Big risk of losing this week, raiders will be hard to beat away next week, Storm/Parra/us all should beat them, they probably play Manly at the wrong time when they should have their players back, tigers/dragons a big chance of upsetting them if they play well


At the end of the day - still in a position to make our own destiny and secure a top 4 spot. A few tough games but we need to make sure we don't slip up against any duds. Games against Knights, Raiders, Souths important to win. Think we can only afford to really lose 2 games out of the last 10 to make top 4 - achievable but tough with injuries mounting.

[Tommy Smith]

We'll still easily make the top 4.

6-4 is pretty par for the course in the first half of a Robbo's Roosters season.

From here on in we'll probably only drop 1 or 2 more regular season games; barring a catastrophic injury toll.

We won 10 of our last 11 in 2019; with the only loss coming against Souffs in the last rnd of the regular season and we flat out tanked that game.

And again in 2018 we came home winning 13 of 16; which also included two tapering defeats at the end of the season.

I'm honestly not worried about the Knights. They're average. Soft draw or not, I just don't see them finishing ahead of us.

I even expect 1 or 2 of the top 3 to have a down period and we could still easily end up finishing top 2 as always seems to happen under Robbo (bar 2016).

My prediction is an 9-1 record from here for a 3rd place finish.

[zac]

if we fix up our defence we should make top 4. still, if we drop a few games but have most of the boys fit come semis we will still be dangerous.
the week off after winning first week in the semis is gold but if you finish 5 or 6 and play a poor team first week it's better than finishing top 4 and have a tough loss first week. if you play week 2 of the semis and don't get any injuries or suspensions it can be better than having a week off (you have momentum).

but when all's said and done semis are a long way away, we've got to play better next week.

[NorthChook]

Agreed - everything is a little different this year with no origin, shorter season...will be interesting! Confident that we can get it done - last game is a wake up call for our defence.

As others have pointed out at least the games we have lost were all decent teams and we still hung in there despite playing well below our standard.

The gap between good and bad teams this year is huge ...and I think there is only about 6 good teams (maybe Manly too when turbo is back - but I think by then it may be too late)

[OMR]

I think 7/10 wins will comfortably put us in top 4 , but top2 is preferable and we need to win 8 or 9/10 . We have the team to do it but need better defense than showed last night, and avoid further injuries.

[Pablo Escobar]

Before the storm game i thought we would finish top

Before last night I thought we were top 4 locks

So many games we should of won is gona cost us.

[Pablo Escobar]

yeah i'm worried.

[NorthChook]

Newcastle in trouble - looks like an uphill battle to beat the bulldogs with Watson and McCullough looking like they have picked up season ending injuries

[Monaco's Fan Club]

C’mon the doggies ( for today)

Can we sign Raymond Faitala-Mariner ??

[ism22]

Newcastle in trouble - looks like an uphill battle to beat the bulldogs with Watson and McCullough looking like they have picked up season ending injuries

Yep tragic to see, particularly when there's a high quality, relatively young, ex-Rooster there.

Upshot is Jake's almost certain to be the QLD Origin hooker now. Be good to see him and Keary go at it... AFTER the season has finished

Oh and one more win for the Doggies (assuming they take this one out) could put them ahead of the Drongos (who would move to 16th)

[NorthChook]

Yep tragic to see, particularly when there's a high quality, relatively young, ex-Rooster there.

Upshot is Jake's almost certain to be the QLD Origin hooker now. Be good to see him and Keary go at it... AFTER the season has finished

Oh and one more win for the Doggies (assuming they take this one out) could put them ahead of the Drongos (who would move to 16th)

Jake still has strong competition from H.Grant though for that QLD 9...very good player in great form. Jake deserves a shot though.

C’mon doggies - hold out!

[Grant Hedger]

I was hoping the Dogs would win.

[Headless Chook]

C’mon the doggies ( for today)

Can we sign Raymond Faitala-Mariner ??

He's off contract this year, would be a handy back up to have

[Tommy Smith]

Anyone been watching Pearce lately?

Good Lord he's barely a 1st grader. No way he leads the Knights anywhere during his tenure there.

Dumping Mitch for Cooper/Flanno is the greatest decision this club ever made.

[Easts75]

Anyone been watching Pearce lately?

Good Lord he's barely a 1st grader. No way he leads the Knights anywhere during his tenure there.

Dumping Mitch for Cooper/Flanno is the greatest decision this club ever made.

Gee he lacks some polish to the end of his sets, I dont think he has grown as a player for nearly 10 years