We are rebuilding - some context

[Rooster_6]

We are in a phase of rebuilding. Now don’t mistake that for this being a rebuilding season, Robinson doesn’t do those. Nothing less than a premiership should or would be accepted as success for this year.

But there is a huge changing of the guard with the departures of so many greats over the past 24months and whilst we did an awesome job with all the bandaid fixes last year this is about rebuilding something that’s going to last. A lot of new combos, a new halves pairing, players switching edges and some new faces.

I can only really compare this to 2018 when Robinson made a deliberate decision to rebuild his side by bringing in Tedesco & Cronk and changing the way we played, we were 4 - 4 after 8 rounds. We lost in Round 1 to the Tigers, got belted by the Warriors in Round 4, lost to Souths in Round 6 and got belted by the Dragons on Anzac Day. Losses to teams we shouldn’t have lost to and beatings by rivals we hate losing to. 18 months later and we were the first side to go back to back in the NRL era.

I think it’s important to provide this context and perspective when assessing our performances over the first few months of the season.

[TheLoneRooster]

To your point about players switching edges, I noticed Angus and Sitilli have swapped sides. And I thought Momirovski was a left side player but he's on the right. So, yes, new halves and players switching edges, but isn't that what the pre-season is for?

[Rooster_6]

To your point about players switching edges, I noticed Angus and Sitilli have swapped sides. And I thought Momirovski was a left side player but he's on the right. So, yes, new halves and players switching edges, but isn't that what the pre-season is for?

Momorovski plays both edges pretty comfortably, he played a lot of right edge for the Panthers last year when Crichton was at fullback.

Pre-season will never fully prepare you for the real deal. Lets not forget how poor even Tedesco looked when he first started with us, the infamous worst signing ever after 5 rounds.

[ChookMaster]

Momorovski plays both edges pretty comfortably, he played a lot of right edge for the Panthers last year when Crichton was at fullback.

Pre-season will never fully prepare you for the real deal. Lets not forget how poor even Tedesco looked when he first started with us, the infamous worst signing ever after 5 rounds.

Newcastle looked pretty prepared today, hats off to them.

[Rooster_6]

Newcastle looked pretty prepared today, hats off to them.

They've won their Round 1 game 5yrs in a row.

If only they handed out trophies for peaking early.

[Rooster1908]

They've won their Round 1 game 5yrs in a row.

If only they handed out trophies for peaking early.

Yeah my wife said something similar on our Wedding night

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Momorovski plays both edges pretty comfortably, he played a lot of right edge for the Panthers last year when Crichton was at fullback.

Pre-season will never fully prepare you for the real deal. Lets not forget how poor even Tedesco looked when he first started with us, the infamous worst signing ever after 5 rounds.

Momo's miss leading to their 2nd crucial try was a clanger. Very unlike him. Was a decent fend on him though.

[zac]

yeah, with four guys playing their first nrl game after a long break because of injury, two guys playing their first game for the club in years and the first game for our halves pairing a scratchy start isn't surprising. didn't think it would be that scratchy but it's too soon to start slitting wrists.

[mightyrooster]

We are in a phase of rebuilding. Now don’t mistake that for this being a rebuilding season, Robinson doesn’t do those. Nothing less than a premiership should or would be accepted as success for this year.

But there is a huge changing of the guard with the departures of so many greats over the past 24months and whilst we did an awesome job with all the bandaid fixes last year this is about rebuilding something that’s going to last. A lot of new combos, a new halves pairing, players switching edges and some new faces.

I can only really compare this to 2018 when Robinson made a deliberate decision to rebuild his side by bringing in Tedesco & Cronk and changing the way we played, we were 4 - 4 after 8 rounds. We lost in Round 1 to the Tigers, got belted by the Warriors in Round 4, lost to Souths in Round 6 and got belted by the Dragons on Anzac Day. Losses to teams we shouldn’t have lost to and beatings by rivals we hate losing to. 18 months later and we were the first side to go back to back in the NRL era.

I think it’s important to provide this context and perspective when assessing our performances over the first few months of the season.

No R6, sack the lot and reinstate the Bears team immediately. And sack Robbo while we’re at it.
You make some very good points and I was also thinking of our 2018 start during the game. There’s going to be an adjustment period before we get things going.

[elo]

Robbo in the presser "We were underdone, we couldn't get enough guys to trial"......that's kind of intriguing. That many players weren't fit enough to trial 2 weeks ago but were fit enough to play today!? Hmmmmmmm, it could be a while before our first win tbh.

[Mickie Lane]

They've won their Round 1 game 5yrs in a row.

If only they handed out trophies for peaking early.

Still, credit to Newcastle.

[Thirteen]

Rebuilding. I absolutely hate that word. That’s what the shit teams use as an excuse for being shit.

[Rooster_6]

Robbo in the presser "We were underdone, we couldn't get enough guys to trial"......that's kind of intriguing. That many players weren't fit enough to trial 2 weeks ago but were fit enough to play today!? Hmmmmmmm, it could be a while before our first win tbh.

That is interesting, I had heard that some of the guys who had caught Covid over the off-season had delayed their pre-season. I wonder if that’s what he means? I.e they’re on a 10 week program and it got pushed back 2 weeks because of Covid.

[Rooster_6]

Rebuilding. I absolutely hate that word. That’s what the shit teams use as an excuse for being shit.

It’s what the shit teams wish they could do.

[Rooster_6]

Still, credit to Newcastle.

Sure, they were comfortably the better team on the day. I just wouldn’t read any more into it than that, they’re a very ordinary side.