2022 Grand Final

[Tommy Smith]

100% on the mark.
Cronk was the general but Latrell was the game breaker & like you said he had explosive power & aggression, he was the X factor.
Manu & Latrell are the best centre pairing the Roosters have ever had.

They're the best any club has ever had for sure and were pure box office to watch every week.

Latrell wasn't our leader, but he was the bloke teammates looked at when walking out of the tunnel who made them feel taller and invulnerable in the big games. Ala GI in Origin.

Again, I think that our 2018-2019 backline will be remembered in time as the greatest in club history.

Perhaps the greatest ever fullback.
The greatest winger of the NRL era plus our greatest ever winger. Even Fergo in 2018 was absolutely phenomenal.
The greatest centre pairing of all time.
A genuine big game superstar 3x Premiership 5/8th.
The most winning halfback in NRL history.

It was a once in a half century footy side and a truly blessed time to be a Roosters fan and that's why it's been fairly easy to be pretty chill about our lack of success since.

The serious injuries to the likes of Bmoz, Lindsay, Rads, Keary, Manu etc have actually been more devastating than our finals losses. The Bmoz injury in particular was heartbreaking and felt worse than our loss to Souffs in the finals for me.

[ChookMaster]

100% on the mark.
Cronk was the general but Latrell was the game breaker & like you said he had explosive power & aggression, he was the X factor.
Manu & Latrell are the best centre pairing the Roosters have ever had.

mmm dunno about that, Manu wasnt the player he is now back then, although still did some great things during that timeline

[roostermcgregor]

I just don't get the Latrell "love" on this forum.
Sure, he formed a great centre pairing with Manu in 2018 & 2019
But he left after that, and in no way was that the best centre pairing in the RWB.
Latrell left us at his peak.
He has been on a downward spiral ever since, with injury concerns, suspensions, fitness issues, and one media person today even described him as "lazy"
He missed 2 finals series and this stuff will plague him in the future- I am sure of it
You can reminisce about his form in 18/19 all you want, but I have already said on other posts, the old Latrell of those years is dead and buried.
So get over him.
Besides, he is going to take up an awful lot of cap space at Souffs, or the Dolphins - I glad he is gone from the Roosters.

[milanja]

mmm dunno about that, Manu wasnt the player he is now back then, although still did some great things during that timeline

Agree that Manu was nowhere near the quality he is now, his defence was atrocious( still not great now, but improved) and he didn’t see as much ball, as our attack favoured the left side, and Manu never went looking for the ball back then.

but imagine having both of them as Centers now.

[weplayforprems]

I just don't get the Latrell "love" on this forum.
Sure, he formed a great centre pairing with Manu in 2018 & 2019
But he left after that, and in no way was that the best centre pairing in the RWB.
Latrell left us at his peak.
He has been on a downward spiral ever since, with injury concerns, suspensions, fitness issues, and one media person today even described him as "lazy"
He missed 2 finals series and this stuff will plague him in the future- I am sure of it
You can reminisce about his form in 18/19 all you want, but I have already said on other posts, the old Latrell of those years is dead and buried.
So get over him.
Besides, he is going to take up an awful lot of cap space at Souffs, or the Dolphins - I glad he is gone from the Roosters.

How many better centre pairings have we had over Manu and Latrell? I’ve been a fan since 95 and I don’t think we’ve had a better one in that timeframe. If you’re picking a team of the last 25 years it’s those two and only Michael Jennings in the discussion. Trell’s flick pass won us a premiership no one (refs included) wanted us to win. Plenty of us will always have a soft spot for him based purely on that, even if his Souffffffs carryon since that day is disappointing. I take solace in the fact he won’t win a thing at that joint.

[ism22]

How many better centre pairings have we had over Manu and Latrell? I’ve been a fan since 95 and I don’t think we’ve had a better one in that timeframe. If you’re picking a team of the last 25 years it’s those two and only Michael Jennings in the discussion. Trell’s flick pass won us a premiership no one (refs included) wanted us to win. Plenty of us will always have a soft spot for him based purely on that, even if his Souffffffs carryon since that day is disappointing. I take solace in the fact he won’t win a thing at that joint.

What about Skidz?

I feel like BJ may also have featured if he stayed away from KFC and his ex.

[weplayforprems]

What about Skidz?

I feel like BJ may also have featured if he stayed away from KFC and his ex.

SKD is nowhere near those 3 IMO

[Eggspert]

What about Skidz?

I feel like BJ may also have featured if he stayed away from KFC and his ex.

Will always remember SKD for his GF try against Manly & his intercept try against Tigers in 2010

But will remember him more for that Broncos finals game intercept he threw & his constant mistakesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Prefer to remember BJ when he was 30kg lighter while playing for us.

[roostermcgregor]

"Originally posted by weplayforprems

How many better centre pairings have we had over Manu and Latrell?


Try Mark Harris and John Brass for size.

[King Salvo]

LOL BB, suaalii had one of the best debut years a winger has had, nobody should be nibbling on this bait surely

mmm did you see Ian Schubert play in his debut year as an 18 year old in 1975

Suaalii needs to improve his D and awareness in D as does Manu on that right side- Manu rushing out of the D line and Suaalii coming in when he should be staying out in D

Suaalii's Tackle efficiency - 68% - 82 tackles made and 38 tackles missed
Manu's Tackle efficiency - 84% - 332 tackles made and 63 tackles missed

The Roosters right side conceded 43% of the tries scored against the Roosters in 2022.

https://www.statsinsider.com.au/nrl/left-right

I do have a gut feeling that Suaalii won't be a long term League player though - has a PO for 2024 although a reported 10 mill 5 year offer from the ARU maybe too good to knock back as certainly won't get anywhere near this in the NRL

[King Salvo]

"Originally posted by weplayforprems

How many better centre pairings have we had over Manu and Latrell?


Try Mark Harris and John Brass for size.

They were the best I have seen at the Roosters - Harris's size and pace made him more than a handful to tackle and the Silky passing skills of Brass

[Headless Chook]

They were the best I have seen at the Roosters - Harris's size and pace made him more than a handful to tackle and the Silky passing skills of Brass

Different game obviously back then. Brass was the perfect inside centre with the silky skills and great hands and Harris was the destroyer with the pace, power and swerve. Manu and Mitchell played on opposite sides of the field so rarely linked up. They do have two premierships to their one though

[007]

Different game obviously back then. Brass was the perfect inside centre with the silky skills and great hands and Harris was the destroyer with the pace, power and swerve. Manu and Mitchell played on opposite sides of the field so rarely linked up. They do have two premierships to their one though

Brass played in 74/75. Harris played in 74 - was injured in 75. Manu and Mitchell 18 and 19.

[Headless Chook]

Brass played in 74/75. Harris played in 74 - was injured in 75. Manu and Mitchell 18 and 19.

I know. I was referring to the combination of Manu and Mitchell compared to the Harris/Brass combination

[eddie]

Different game obviously back then. Brass was the perfect inside centre with the silky skills and great hands and Harris was the destroyer with the pace, power and swerve. Manu and Mitchell played on opposite sides of the field so rarely linked up. They do have two premierships to their one though

You nailed it...............There are no centre combinations anymore.
Harris and Brass remain number one with me.