Oi when does the Cheese start training with us?

[roostermcgregor]

"Originally posted by Waylander

You can’t be serious. Smith runs from dummy half at least twice as much as Verrills. Verrils averaged 39.9m per game last year. Smith averaged 96m in 2021 when he was still playing predominantly hooker.


I don't doubt that the Cheese makes more metres. He is a much more powerful ball runner than Verrills.
But is he just as good at picking out his support players, when those players are coming through in numbers?
2 different players, 2 different attacking styles.
All I have said is that I think there will need to be some significant adjustments made to the Roosters attacking game, before it flows again.

[FlamingRooster]

With the Cheese at hooker, the Roosters will be tougher in the forwards, more imposing in defence.
But don't be surprised to see the attack suffer with Verrills gone.
Sam was fast out of dummy half, and exploited the quick play the ball
It might take Robinson more than half a season to get the attack ironed out.

You haven't watched the Cheese much if you think a) he's not fast out of dummy half b) doesn't exploit the quick play the ball.
This is the guy that forced Harry Grant to the bench last year, and probably would have been the same this year if he hadn't announced his signing with the Roosters. The guy is phenomenal at hooker in both offence and defence. Verrills was good at both, nothing more nothing less.

[FlamingRooster]

"Originally posted by Waylander

You can’t be serious. Smith runs from dummy half at least twice as much as Verrills. Verrils averaged 39.9m per game last year. Smith averaged 96m in 2021 when he was still playing predominantly hooker.


I don't doubt that the Cheese makes more metres. He is a much more powerful ball runner than Verrills.
But is he just as good at picking out his support players, when those players are coming through in numbers?
2 different players, 2 different attacking styles.
All I have said is that I think there will need to be some significant adjustments made to the Roosters attacking game, before it flows again.

Yes. Far better.

[FlamingRooster]

Robbo is not keen on dummy halves running or kicking one has to say.

He wants the ball players/organisers to have as many tackles as possible to do their thing with the ball.

i.e opposition kick on the last to Tedesco - one tackle - one of the wingers or both have a hit up that's 2 or 3 tackles used before the other players get back on side and if the dummy half has a run that's 3 or 4 tackles used leaving only 1 or 2 tackles for the ball players/organisers to do something with the ball before kicking on the last tackle.

I thought when Hutch was playing dummy half and kicking that this is a change as it's the easiest place to kick from as you have more time from that position to kick than your other kickers have.

Verrills had one kick all season for 7 kicking metres- Hutch when playing hooker and kicking averaged 87 kicking metres per game the limited times he kicked.

Hutch has far and away a longer kicking distance range than Walker and Keary both have. Smith in 2021 averaged 21 kicking metres per game

every club does this though, including Melbourne. Smith and Grant still imposed their will on the game more so than every other hooker in the league. Friend was a consistent kicker out of dummy half, specifically when he didn't trust his halves.

[Bondicigar]

Can't wait to see the cheese get back his best hooker In the game status in the red white and blue

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I read the other day the Cheese & his partner Feta have bought a nice Cottage in Bondi.

I really hope the Cheese doesn't go off for us next year & plays lots of game time.

Gouda one!

[redwhiteblue]

Think you're right Mac....Verrils was terrific in those last couple of months when we surged, don't think Cheese provides same from dummy half.

You've made me hungry putting Mac & Cheese in the same post..I know nothing about this player as I don't watch other teams much but his brothers are Cam & Bert and they have a sister also named Brie..

[Jacks Fur Coat]

You've made me hungry putting Mac & Cheese in the same post..I know nothing about this player as I don't watch other teams much but his brothers are Cam & Bert and they have a sister also named Brie..

Haha didn't even mean that.

[rented tracksuit]

You've made me hungry putting Mac & Cheese in the same post..I know nothing about this player as I don't watch other teams much but his brothers are Cam & Bert and they have a sister also named Brie..

Oh RWB, not bad but I thought you were gone until next year?
On a side note, can you pls stop pming me. I’m not interested in that sort of thing.

[roostermcgregor]

"Originally posted by FlamingRooster


You haven't watched the Cheese much if you think a) he's not fast out of dummy half b) doesn't exploit the quick play the ball.
This is the guy that forced Harry Grant to the bench last year, and probably would have been the same this year if he hadn't announced his signing with the Roosters. The guy is phenomenal at hooker in both offence and defence. Verrills was good at both, nothing more nothing less.


I've seen the Cheese scatter defensive structures with his running game, and if he is as phenomenal at dummy half like everyone says he is going to be, I am going to be a very happy Easts fan.
If it turns out to be the case, as you say it will be, I am looking forward to our team being almost unstoppable in 2023..

[King Salvo]

You haven't watched the Cheese much if you think a) he's not fast out of dummy half b) doesn't exploit the quick play the ball.
This is the guy that forced Harry Grant to the bench last year, and probably would have been the same this year if he hadn't announced his signing with the Roosters. The guy is phenomenal at hooker in both offence and defence. Verrills was good at both, nothing more nothing less.

Grant was out injured for 1/2 or so of the season in 2021

Smith averaged 56 minutes per game in 2021 so no way an 80 minute player as some are suggesting

[Eggspert]

With The Cheese replacing Verrills & hopefully Lodge replacing SST & T.May stepping up we have the best forward pack in the NRL.

Just need to fix one centre spot & we should breeze into the top 4. (Depending injury)

[Noosa Rooster]

Seems like the expectation/confidence is similar to this time last year and look how that turned out!

I’m expecting the same slow build that has been a trademark of the T Robbo style we’ve seen over the years. Provided we keep players on the field instead of injured or suspended I would be disappointed if we’re not close at the pointy end but do expect we’ll also lose a few we are expected to win along the way.

[King Salvo]

With The Cheese replacing Verrills & hopefully Lodge replacing SST & T.May stepping up we have the best forward pack in the NRL.

Just need to fix one centre spot & we should breeze into the top 4. (Depending injury)

They don't need to fix much player wise at all now that Keary and Walker are in their right positions.

Finding a way of playing 80 minutes week to week as a team is the challenge ahead to be considered a real contender.

[King Salvo]

Seems like the expectation/confidence is similar to this time last year and look how that turned out!

I’m expecting the same slow build that has been a trademark of the T Robbo style we’ve seen over the years. Provided we keep players on the field instead of injured or suspended I would be disappointed if we’re not close at the pointy end but do expect we’ll also lose a few we are expected to win along the way.

I think some get carried away - I don't see Penrith/Storm/Parra/Souths/Cows/Sharks/Manly post jumper/Raiders for instance going backwards in 2023 and others will improve also such as the Dogs for an example - most others will improve as well one assumes.

Penrith is still a level or 2 above the rest and that won't be changing in 2023 or for a few years yet.

The Roosters have to close that gap as will others if they are to seriously challenge Penrith from completing a 3 peat or more.