Official Match Day Thread: Roosters v Warriors

[The Marshall]

And the team he was aiming that comment at famously won the league and FA cup double that season lol Hansen has been mocked for 30 years over that comment and will get mocked for another 30

This team was characterized by the blend of experienced players like Robson and Bruce with the emerging "Class of '92" talents such as Giggs. The addition of Eric Cantona in November 1992 is often cited as the catalyst for the title charge.

[Chook2]

As for Gus Crichton's second row position can we focus on filling the right edge first that still hasn't had anyone's name on it since Aubusson retired.

i thought Victor did well last year on the edge. Really tightened up our defense and created a bit more space in attack through the middle.

Although rads is solid on the edge he is smaller and a little waisted there I think Wong was the next man but either isn’t what they thought yet or robbo hasn’t been able to develop him
hard when you see Preston killing it but at the time he was behind cords and critchon

[SamKerrSimp]

This is a FANTASTIC post.

Can I add, Robinson sees the Roosters as a team that sits away from the others. This crap about ' Roosters footy ' etc is dog poo. Just do the ' &% ucking basics !!

Am I correct in saying that we haven't been near a prelim since 2019.

He has everything: the players, cash, resources.

How about showing the fans some respect and get this team competitive from round 1.

I believe we conceded the most points ever in a prelim final only a few years ago in 2024 when Melbourne put 48 on us which was 2 weeks after an even worse performance against Penrith in week 1 of the finals that year.

[bondi paul]

Now into the 14th season under Robbo of further frustration by being head faaarked by officialdom. 25 or so games for the fans and club and team to endure.
The key to it is not allow the Roosters into the game as evident of last season and last nights 1st half game stats.
The media build up of us being a threat is part of the strategy, tall poppy syndrome plays a role.
Roosters losing and suspensions are good for ratings and click bait.
Post match tv summary’s are partial by not telling the complete story.
Constant rule changes that are officiated inconsistently is somewhat pre meditated with revenue in mind.
The citing of Cleary then appearing with Daddy and being let off was all part of the season opener media strategy for the comp and secondly the riff vs broncos.
The Roosters won’t win another premiership with PVL at the helm of the NRL.

[SamKerrSimp]

This team was characterized by the blend of experienced players like Robson and Bruce with the emerging "Class of '92" talents such as Giggs. The addition of Eric Cantona in November 1992 is often cited as the catalyst for the title charge.

That wasn't Hansen's point, he brushed aside the experience in the squad and he's even admitted he got it wildly wrong:

Full 'Can't win anything with kids' transcript

LYNAM : Well, United were scarcely recognisable from the team we've known over the last couple of seasons. What's going on, do you feel?

HANSEN : I think they've got problems. I wouldn't say they've got major problems. Obviously, three players have departed. The trick is always buy when you're strong, so he needs to buy players. You can't win anything with kids. You look at that line-up at Manchester United today and Aston Villa, at quarter-past two, when they get the teamsheet, it's just going to give them a lift, and it'll happen every time he plays the kids. He's got to buy players, simple as that.

LYNAM : But they have, as Alex Ferguson pointed out, they have got star names to come in, they've got Cole and Giggs and Cantona -

HANSEN : - and Cantona and Steve Bruce. Still not enough. The trick in winning the championship is having strength in depth. They just haven't got it.

Penrith just went to 5 straight NRL grand finals off the back of their kids, we've had the oldest and most experienced squad in the comp for a while now and we are pretenders every year. Penrith have lost kids every year so much so that an ex-Penrith team from 2020 would easily finish top 4 in the comp and they replace them with more kids and don't lose a step.

[Rooster_6]

Considering DCE was the last signing the club made of course it's all I can hang my hat on for now but I'm glad you mentioned the middle forward rotation because you conveniently left out the $800k marquee signing that's only good for coming off the bench for 30 minutes that has been burning a hole in our salary cap and forward rotation minutes that any number of promising young forwards at the club could be taking oh and then there was the massive David Fifita deal that he thankfully back flipped on.

I stand by my comments and we will see more big name signings this year and next in positions we already have young talent in.

I'll make another bold prediction: Rex Bassingthwaite won't be the guy to replace Teddy when he finally calls it a day we'll sign an established fullback from somewhere else.

You're hyperfixating on one signing and trying to extrapolate it across a club strategy that includes 100+ contracted players. It's recency bias at best.

No club had more debutants play more games than the Sydney Roosters last year. You might disagree with one signing, but you can't disagree with the facts.

I don't think people truly realise how much money Nick has sunk into our pathways too, go speak to some of the people on the ground and you will quickly find out that it's not bullshit.

[SamKerrSimp]

You're hyperfixating on one signing and trying to extrapolate it across a club strategy that includes 100+ contracted players. It's recency bias at best.

No club had more debutants play more games than the Sydney Roosters last year. You might disagree with one signing, but you can't disagree with the facts.

I don't think people truly realise how much money Nick has sunk into our pathways too, go speak to some of the people on the ground and you will quickly find out that it's not bullshit.

Of course it's recency bias when it's the most recent signing the club have made.

The club would rather spend $800k on a 30 minute bench prop from Penrith than a first grade Roosters debutant on half the money who can play more than twice the minutes. Spare me the "go and talk to people on the ground" stuff, Politis can sink in all the money he wants in to youth development he is still going to go out and make marquee signings whenever he can he's shown it with DCE, he showed it with Fifita, he showed it with Young, he showed it with Smith, he showed it with the dud from Penrith - all big profile and money signings (Fifita didn't even show up) and all big flops.

The club made so many debutants last year because we had a ton of injuries to deal with.

[player 1]

Now into the 14th season under Robbo of further frustration by being head faaarked by officialdom. 25 or so games for the fans and club and team to endure.
The key to it is not allow the Roosters into the game as evident of last season and last nights 1st half game stats.
The media build up of us being a threat is part of the strategy, tall poppy syndrome plays a role.
Roosters losing and suspensions are good for ratings and click bait.
Post match tv summary’s are partial by not telling the complete story.
Constant rule changes that are officiated inconsistently is somewhat pre meditated with revenue in mind.
The citing of Cleary then appearing with Daddy and being let off was all part of the season opener media strategy for the comp and secondly the riff vs broncos.
The Roosters won’t win another premiership with PVL at the helm of the NRL.

Agree with all this, well said.

Especially that Easts won't get near another GF with Vlandys as ringleader. This is a guy remember who made a "joke" in Vegas after we'd humiliated broncos (soon to be overshadowed by the monkey circus) about Easts' "brown paper bags" payments to players.

[Roosterfarian]

We will smash Souths next week. I don’t think there is cause for panic stations.

Fix up our discipline and we will be right. My only worry this season is our depth in outside backs. Pauga is horrific and with Talua likely gone for the season, we are scraping the barrel.

Remember…we are notoriously bad starters. But I’d rather hit form in August-September than March-April.

Cheer up folks.

[Rooster_6]

Of course it's recency bias when it's the most recent signing the club have made.

The club would rather spend $800k on a 30 minute bench prop from Penrith than a first grade Roosters debutant on half the money who can play more than twice the minutes. Spare me the "go and talk to people on the ground" stuff, Politis can sink in all the money he wants in to youth development he is still going to go out and make marquee signings whenever he can he's shown it with DCE, he showed it with Fifita, he showed it with Young, he showed it with Smith, he showed it with the dud from Penrith - all big profile and money signings (Fifita didn't even show up) and all big flops.

The club made so many debutants last year because we had a ton of injuries to deal with.

Young, Leniu & Smith were all signed in a time when the club was still in the first couple of years of setting up the academy. Most of the kids were still in Harold Matthews and SG Ball. Is the suggestion that we should've graduated them straight into First Grade?

Citing injuries is a rewriting of history.

Toia got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Manu.
Smith for his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Suaalii
Whyte got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace JWH
Foketi got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Tupouniua
Steep got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace May

Sure players like Ioelu, Savala and Losalu got opportunities through injuries but that's the whole point of a squad and developing talent internally.

I think you are blinded by your hate of the DCE signing and overreacting massively.

[Rocky Rhodes]

New season, same old same old..same Robbo

Missed a golden opportunity to get a rare first up win and get the ball rolling as the warriors best two players were out, Metcalf and Barnett.

Worse start that last yr IMO, doubt the warriors will win the comp like the broncs...likely borderline top 8.

Only positive was the form of Billy Smith.

[SamKerrSimp]

Young, Leniu & Smith were all signed in a time when the club was still in the first couple of years of setting up the academy. Most of the kids were still in Harold Matthews and SG Ball. Is the suggestion that we should've graduated them straight into First Grade?

Citing injuries is a rewriting of history.

Toia got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Manu.
Smith for his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Suaalii
Whyte got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace JWH
Foketi got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Tupouniua
Steep got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace May

Sure players like Ioelu, Savala and Losalu got opportunities through injuries but that's the whole point of a squad and developing talent internally.

I think you are blinded by your hate of the DCE signing and overreacting massively.

Citing Toia as an example is a complete re-writing of history because he would've played first grade in 2023 or 24 at the latest if it wasn't for a season ending injury 2 years in a row when Manu and Suaalii were both in the team and Billy Smith has been in the first grade team since 2018, not copping either of those as an example particularly the latter you have to be joking with that one.

Naufahu Whyte debuted in 2021 and had his breakout season in JWHs final year in fact I would argue it was his performances for NZ that elevated him in the pecking order last year.

Good shout on Tupouniua though chalk him up as another Roosters debutant that was kicked out of the club because Politis and Robinson had signed Fifita. Jeez we treat our young developed players we did it to two of them within 6 months, or maybe it's because May and Tupouniua didn't come through an "academy" it doesn't count.

Of course we didn't sign anyone to replace Terrell May when we kicked him out of the club during the off season, brain dead move to kick out a starting forward when there's no one to go out and replace him with and boy hasn't that move backfired in a spectacular way. Blake Steep would've still got a chance if May was at the club since he made his debut for the club while May was still here.

[Bates]

Young, Leniu & Smith were all signed in a time when the club was still in the first couple of years of setting up the academy. Most of the kids were still in Harold Matthews and SG Ball. Is the suggestion that we should've graduated them straight into First Grade?

Citing injuries is a rewriting of history.

Toia got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Manu.
Smith for his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Suaalii
Whyte got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace JWH
Foketi got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace Tupouniua
Steep got his opportunity as we didn't sign anyone to replace May

Sure players like Ioelu, Savala and Losalu got opportunities through injuries but that's the whole point of a squad and developing talent internally.

I think you are blinded by your hate of the DCE signing and overreacting massively.

Is it better than looking externally though R6?

Are we more inclined to to give player x a go as we've invested in them and miss the opportunity of signing players like Keaon who are ready to go top tier athletes?

[Rooster_6]

Citing Toia as an example is a complete re-writing of history because he would've played first grade in 2023 or 24 at the latest if it wasn't for a season ending injury 2 years in a row when Manu and Suaalii were both in the team and Billy Smith has been in the first grade team since 2018, not copping either of those as an example particularly the latter you have to be joking with that one.

Billy Smith has been in the first grade team since 2018 in the same way that I've been in the gym since 2018.

That'll do me, agree to disagree. Time will tell.

[Rooster_6]

Is it better than looking externally though R6?

Are we more inclined to to give player x a go as we've invested in them and miss the opportunity of signing players like Keaon who are ready to go top tier athletes?

Yes in my opinion there are significant advantages around wage control, increased squad continuity/cohesion, more stability due to higher retention rate & whilst they are still in their developing stage they are more malleable so can be moulded to the clubs needs.

Don't think it should ever stop us from looking for good pickups on the open market though, for example I think Reece Robson is a fantastic piece of business in a role that we are short on for talent. I also don't mind the signing of Garrick given the lack of wingers coming through our pathways at the moment.

It should never be an all or nothing approach to junior development, there needs to be balance IMO.