4th spot

[ccfc bondi]

Fifth is what we want. Fourth is a death sentence.

If we win tonight we should end up fifth because I expect Manly will be fourth and Parra sixth.

Massive gane.

Agree. Under the stupid top 8 system we have, if you don't finish 1st or 2nd, 5th is better. It's time to stop rewarding mediocrity and go to a top 6!

[Rooster89]

the biggest positive is that you're guaranteed to be playing beyond the first week of the finals. finish fifth, sure you play a worse team but maybe you have an off day, get someone sent off, you lose and it's all over.
but there are arguments both ways.

Yeh that's true.

I think I would rather play the titans or tigers on an off day and hopefully win and go into the next week versing a beaten top 4 team than losing to a top 4 team, possibly getting some more injuries and than have to verse a team coming off a win.

Definately pros and cons for both sides of the argument.

(Disclaimer: I don't know if versing is an actual word)

[zac]

Yeh that's true.

I think I would rather play the titans or tigers on an off day and hopefully win and go into the next week versing a beaten top 4 team than losing to a top 4 team, possibly getting some more injuries and than have to verse a team coming off a win.

Definately pros and cons for both sides of the argument.

(Disclaimer: I don't know if versing is an actual word)

versing works for me

[Bondicigar]

Reality check.
No 18 YO playing halfback in their rookie year has ever won a comp.
The Chooks have been smashed by the top 3 teams this year.
Semi final footy is different & Hughes, Munster, Cleary Luia & Reynolds, Walker have way to much class over our boy Walker.
Im a big fan of Sam & when he puts on another 7 to 10kg of muscle & learns the NRL I can see him winning a comp at the Chooks so long as the Roosters continue to have top players around him.

It would be a miracle.
Sam Walker is 4th in line break assists and 2nd in try assists in the NRL , with only Cody Walker in front of him in both stats in above players mentioned.
Not to many 18 year old rookie halfbacks could boast them sort of stats in there first year. Probably none
Defensively he will need plenty of help but I'm not going to write us off yet....

[milanja]

Reality check.
No 18 YO playing halfback in their rookie year has ever won a comp.
The Chooks have been smashed by the top 3 teams this year.
Semi final footy is different & Hughes, Munster, Cleary Luia & Reynolds, Walker have way to much class over our boy Walker.
Im a big fan of Sam & when he puts on another 7 to 10kg of muscle & learns the NRL I can see him winning a comp at the Chooks so long as the Roosters continue to have top players around him.

The main issue isn’t that Walker has less class, because he has already shown plenty of patience, and that he can handle pressure, it’s the other part of what you wrote, that the other sides all have a dominant 5/8 still fit and healthy beside them.

what a shame we never got to see keary and walker together, at the moment we have scored the 2nd most tries in the comp, and that is with the most disrupted halves pairing in the comp.

with no injuries to the rest of the team, i think walker would of gone very close to being the youngest halfback to win the comp, but in saying that, if we were injury free, walker may have only been used as a backup and not been a regular starter.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Ofcourse we want to finish 4th and have the chance for a week off. No team has won the GF from outside the top 4 since the NRL started in 1998. Talk about how it would be better to finish 5th is ridiculous.

[zac]

The main issue isn’t that Walker has less class, because he has already shown plenty of patience, and that he can handle pressure, it’s the other part of what you wrote, that the other sides all have a dominant 5/8 still fit and healthy beside them.

what a shame we never got to see keary and walker together, at the moment we have scored the 2nd most tries in the comp, and that is with the most disrupted halves pairing in the comp.

with no injuries to the rest of the team, i think walker would of gone very close to being the youngest halfback to win the comp, but in saying that, if we were injury free, walker may have only been used as a backup and not been a regular starter.

nailed it on the head. young half backs won't win you a comp unless they're a freak like sam walker

[Mickie Lane]

I don’t disagree with Bondicigar, milanja or zac that Sammy is good & going to get better but there is no way the Chooks will match the top 3 sides come semi final football & be able to win the comp.
Would I like to see the Chooks win it with Walker & Hutch in the halves of course but I’ve watched to much in my life to know when the big games come along the big name experienced players in the halves win them. Even Manly have better more experienced halves who have played in GF’s.

[zac]

I don’t disagree with Bondicigar, milanja or zac that Sammy is good & going to get better but there is no way the Chooks will match the top 3 sides come semi final football & be able to win the comp.
Would I like to see the Chooks win it with Walker & Hutch in the halves of course but I’ve watched to much in my life to know when the big games come along the big name experienced players in the halves win them. Even Manly have better more experienced halves who have played in GF’s.

you're probably right. we don't have the team to be favourites this year. but we do have a team to be there or thereabouts if the other teams stumble. but atm i'm not thinking of all of that - that's a long way away

[milanja]

I don’t disagree with Bondicigar, milanja or zac that Sammy is good & going to get better but there is no way the Chooks will match the top 3 sides come semi final football & be able to win the comp.
Would I like to see the Chooks win it with Walker & Hutch in the halves of course but I’ve watched to much in my life to know when the big games come along the big name experienced players in the halves win them. Even Manly have better more experienced halves who have played in GF’s.

I don’t think we can win it realistically either, but do you think keary and walker would have matched the other halves pairings?

[The Skeez]

nailed it on the head. young half backs won't win you a comp unless they're a freak like sam walker

Jahrome Hughes at Melb wasn’t exactly a first choice halfback

[GT3370]

I don’t disagree with Bondicigar, milanja or zac that Sammy is good & going to get better but there is no way the Chooks will match the top 3 sides come semi final football & be able to win the comp.
Would I like to see the Chooks win it with Walker & Hutch in the halves of course but I’ve watched to much in my life to know when the big games come along the big name experienced players in the halves win them. Even Manly have better more experienced halves who have played in GF’s.

All so true .I'm sure we probably won't win the comp but it's nice to dream.As long as we keep being competitive and not getting flogged I will be quite happy with this year

[ism22]

Agree. Under the stupid top 8 system we have, if you don't finish 1st or 2nd, 5th is better. It's time to stop rewarding mediocrity and go to a top 6!

I liked the old system where 1 plays 8 and the top-4 all get a home fine. However oh no... it was such an outrage when Wayne Bennett's (pretty much undefeated) team lost to #8 in round 1... got another chance and then still failed. Nope no chance that was poor prep/coaching! Rules had to change as it was an outrage that 2 underdogs won (even though the final result was 'no result' anyway as the eventual 'winners' were systematically cheating).

Meh. The system is what it is. I still think 4th is better than 5th coz you get a shot at beating #1 and then a second chance.

This year the comp is such that only 2 teams look like likely premiers. However, in tighter years you definitely want that second chance (as we would this year! Losing 1st week then getting a shot at a 5-8 team ain't bad... beating #1 and stealing their path to the finals is even better).

[zac]

Jahrome Hughes at Melb wasn’t exactly a first choice halfback

chad robinson doesn't strike fear into opponents either. still, hughes has really improved

[Mickie Lane]

All so true .I'm sure we probably won't win the comp but it's nice to dream.As long as we keep being competitive and not getting flogged I will be quite happy with this year

Im with ya mate.