Official Trial Day Thread: Roosters v Eels

[Avalon Rooster]

He seems smaller and thinner than a couple of years ago.
His legs are like match sticks.

and his fingers are coated in butter

[bondi.boy]

and his fingers are coated in butter

I like him...and hope he does well, but atm he's not really top shelf first grade standard.
Hopefully he can add muscle /strength to his frame.

[bondi.boy]

Like first trial against Tigers at Newcastle, Eels were quick and slick.
Quick and slick.
Quick, hard running...quick running, slick passing, something we can only dream of so far.
Skilful, sweeping back line moves, way too good for our left side and right side defences.
Oh well, hopefully things will improve next game. If they don't, the Warriors will run all over us and Souths will eat us alive at Allianz.

[Mr Whippet]

The only take out of trials for me....

Dragons and knights are in big trouble.

Souffs and parra will be in the fight for the 8 .

thats bout it .

Throw Wests Tigers in the mix as well.

[caz]

you can't read too much into trials but nor are they irrelevant.
i thought there were some positives like sammy's attacking potency and billy's try saving tackle. dce didn't put in a motm performance but he's clearly no chad townshend. benny looks dangerous at dh. teddy is still teddy.
on the negative side it's clear our back up 3/4s need work on defence. rodwell would probably be next man up at this stage.
wong had a bad read for their second try - he seemed to think he had to cover two players but he really had only one, and pretty much didn't lay a hand on him. but apart from that i thought he looked alright.
angus obviously made a few errors but he looks big and strong. maybe stop the offloads for a few rounds.

[Avalon Rooster]

I like him...and hope he does well, but atm he's not really top shelf first grade standard.
Hopefully he can add muscle /strength to his frame.

he's 30 years old. he has the frame he has

[HDTONE]

I think that first 40 when we were close o full strength shows what we can do.

Whyte just continues to get belter and better. Love the aggro when Spence came on, but Sammy shows he can run the side. We'll be right up there this year barring injury but we need blokes to stop wreck less passes and as usual have respect for possesion.

[Bates]

I'd start the season with Foketi at right edge( assuming he's fit) and give him an opportunity to lock that position down. Everything he does is with purpose! Imo he's ready. The more game time the better.

N Butch prop rotation.

Benny 9 until Robson is back.

Watson 13 until Radley is back.

[Rooster90]

Ioelu & Sammy Walker the standouts

Middle defense is still soft and that has been our weakness for years - is Cheika the new defensive coach? hopefully they are just learning a new system

[GrubBER]

Ioelu & Sammy Walker the standouts

Middle defense is still soft and that has been our weakness for years - is Cheika the new defensive coach? hopefully they are just learning a new system

Robson was signed for this, he will make a difference

[BTRD]

Shocking 2nd half - again.

Whyte - outstanding. Collins , Walker and Foketi were good.

Concreter only 9 minutes. And the bloke in 21 got 3 minutes.- don't get this.

I am hoping Mr DCE can get Wong into holes.

I won't tee off on the coach - however he looks and talks with no energy or originality.

DCE said before the game he has been learning the ' Roosters way ' - Holy f ' ing Moly , please don't tell me he is being indoctrinated into the Roosters cult.

Slow starts to the season produce duck eggs. You must finish top 4 to have a chance.

I still believe we can play in the GF this year - but our DEFENSE across the board needs to improve immensely.

Looking forward to round 1.

["gaz"]

Some of our reserves had played 60 minutes at Henson Park finished about 3.30 then left to play at Gosford in the second half.

[Steggles]

I'd start the season with Foketi at right edge( assuming he's fit) and give him an opportunity to lock that position down. Everything he does is with purpose! Imo he's ready. The more game time the better.

N Butch prop rotation.

Benny 9 until Robson is back.

Watson 13 until Radley is back.

I’d also love to see Foketi on the right edge, but with Steep locking down 13 rather than Watson. Steep was terrific again yesterday and seems to improve with each game.

It will be interesting when Radley returns.

["gaz"]

Yeah nah, Rodwell can hold his own against players of his age which was the case last weekend.

He's 84 kg and 5'11" so not a wee man by halves standards.

He also has very sound tackling technique.

Yes, that may be so Bates
However watch the first half you will see Butcher intercept the forwards as they run at Rodwell.
It may of been an instruction to play that way so he can help protect Walker during the season.

["gaz"]

I'd start the season with Foketi at right edge( assuming he's fit) and give him an opportunity to lock that position down. Everything he does is with purpose! Imo he's ready. The more game time the better.

N Butch prop rotation.

Benny 9 until Robson is back.

Watson 13 until Radley is back.

Imo - Watson's value is on the bench, he will come on for Benny after 25 minutes and barring injury N Butcher has locked down No 12 jumper, and Steep 13