Hugo v DCE

[rcptn]

Hugo v DCE

Today, 11:13 AM
When starting with Walker

Hugo 5 wins 2 losses 71% win rate Pts For 203 Ptts Aga 108 Ave for 29 Ave aga 14

R19 St.George 24 - Roosters 31
R22 Manly 4 - Roosters 20
R23 Dolphins 12 - Roosters 64
R24 Roosters 32 - Canterbury 12
R25 Parramatta 30 - Roosters 10
R27 Roosters 36 - Souths 6
EF Roosters 10 - Cronulla 20

DCE 0 wins 1 loss 0% win rate Pts For 18 Pts Aga 42 Ave for 18 Ave aga 42

R1 Roosters 18 - Warriors 42

Let's see how this goes

Imho Savala is a better option a steady hand and running half has always been the winning option.

[Mickie Lane]

I can tell you how it’s going to go.
If we lose first 10 games DCE will be dropped for Hugo if we don’t lose the first 10 games DCE will stay in the run onside unless injured.
Robbo will not be swayed by pressure from the supporters unless we are 0 from 10

[Bates]

I can tell you how it’s going to go.
If we lose first 10 games DCE will be dropped for Hugo if we don’t lose the first 10 games DCE will stay in the run onside unless injured.
Robbo will not be swayed by pressure from the supporters unless we are 0 from 10

0 from 4 should be enough IF it's clear that DCE is no longer up for it.

Manly appeared to be more cohesive with their new halfback. Just my opinion.

Manly v Raiders was a great game! Turbo is all class. It's the little things he does.

[rcptn]

Robbo is stubborn but I don't think he is that stubborn.

[MKCS]

Daly Cherry-Evans based on the last full season him and Hugo played is significantly better than Hugo Savala, that's just factual.

Season 2025:

Daly Cherry-Evans:

Try Assists: 21, Tries: 4, Successful Tackles: 415, Tackle Breaks: 35, Offloads: 20, Linebreaks: 5, Linebreak Assists: 16, Kick Metres: 9547, 40/20 Kicks: 3, Errors: 16, Running Metres: 1563

Hugo Savala:

Try Assists: 10, Tries: 4, Successful Tackles: 450, Tackle Breaks: 20, Offloads: 5, Linebreaks: 6, Linebreak Assists: 2, Kick Metres: 6560, 40/20 Kicks: 0, Errors: 18, Running Metres: 974

---

If you look at the stats objectively these players are not even close. The stats prove that DCE is significantly the better playmaker, ball runner and kicker. Hugo beats him slightly in successful tackles made and offers one extra linebreak.

After reading those stats anyone arguing that Hugo is better than DCE is doing so in bad faith.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Look at as many stats as you like, but if you have watched the two of them play, as at 2026 Hugo is simply the better player.

He is the superior kicker, ball runner, passer, defender, support player. Has great footy nouse, is on young legs, and is all upside, just 20 odd games into his career. He runs straight. Cherry Evans runs cross field. That's what happens when players get old. They lose the confidence to run straight at the line and at defenders. Craig Wing was a good example. Added that awful sideways jink just before the defensive linev in his final season, which made him a sitting duck, where before when he stayed straight he could break the line or at least be super hard to stop.

Cherry Evans has had a long and somewhat illustrious career, but he is now finished. Looks like he's running in quicksand, everything he does is just a bit slower than it used to be.

Even if cherry evans improves to some degree on his dismal debut performance, he still won't be at Hugo's level. How can anyone not see that.

Hugo at 23 is all upside, for any 37yo (unless maybe you're Cam Smith) there is only downside.

I remember after Freddy retired he said in an interview he thought he was going along ok, but then all of a sudden, during a game, he realised he was done.

I've always suspected this was a Nick signing, he thought we could do another Cronk.

Hope the stubborn old bugger doesn't dig his heels in on this. People say give him 10 weeks. Are you mad. The season will be over.

Every week we persevere is a week Hugo and Sam don't have together. They gelled beautifully last season.

The only thing stupider than the signing itself would be stubbornly continuing to pick him.

[MKCS]

Look at as many stats as you like, but if you have watched the two of them play, as at 2026 Hugo is simply the better player.

He is the superior kicker, ball runner, passer, defender, support player. Has great footy nouse, is on young legs, and is all upside, just 20 odd games into his career. He runs straight. Cherry Evans runs cross field. That's what happens when players get old. They lose the confidence to run straight at the line and at defenders. Craig Wing was a good example. Added that awful sideways jink just before the defensive linev in his final season, which made him a sitting duck, where before when he stayed straight he could break the line or at least be super hard to stop.

Cherry Evans has had a long and somewhat illustrious career, but he is now finished. Looks like he's running in quicksand, everything he does is just a bit slower than it used to be.

That just isn't true, if he was the superior kicker, runner, passer, defender and support player then the stats would indicate that but they indicate the opposite. Stats don't lie and based on those 2025 stats DCE is significantly better than Hugo Savala.

Somewhat illustrious career just seems disrespectful as well. He's done it all, most players would kill in cold blood for a career half as successful.

[rcptn]

It's not necessarily about individual stats. It's about how playing styles combine Walker and DCE are both very off the cuff. I cannot remember any grand final winning team not having runner usually 58 and a steady game manager usually the halfback. If you have a runner at halfback ala Alfie Langer in 1992 1993 you need steady organizer like Kevin Walters at 58.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

That just isn't true, if he was the superior kicker, runner, passer, defender and support player then the stats would indicate that but they indicate the opposite. Stats don't lie and based on those 2025 stats DCE is significantly better than Hugo Savala.

Somewhat illustrious career just seems disrespectful as well. He's done it all, most players would kill in cold blood for a career half as successful.

Wow. You decide on who's the better player by looking at 20 odd games worth of stats, in complete and utter isolation. Playing in different teams. You must be joking. But I know you're actually serious...

You take no account of his role at Manly, and Hugo's role here.

You take no account of who their halves partners were, and what their respective roles were at the time.

No account of at what stage of the game and in what games against which opponents those stats were generated.

And you have the hide to say anyone who think's differently is acting in "bad faith?".

You're in fantasy land bro.

[Barron's Dream]

Hugo will only get better whereas DCE is on a steep decline.

[Inflictor]

Wow. You decide on who's the better player by looking at 20 odd games worth of stats, in complete and utter isolation. Playing in different teams. You must be joking. But I know you're actually serious...

You take no account of his role at Manly, and Hugo's role here.

You take no account of who their halves partners were, and what their respective roles were at the time.

No account of at what stage of the game and in what games against which opponents those stats were generated.

And you have the hide to say anyone who think's differently is acting in "bad faith?".

You're in fantasy land bro.

Annual stats also don't show that Hugo played 11 games at halfback all without Sammy and winning 7 of those games beating teams like Broncos, Sharks and Storm and unlucky losses to Raiders and Dogs. His stats are actually quite good compared. He was the best player against the Tigers trial until he came off. A pre-season looks to have improved him from last year so we have very good depth in the halves compared to last year.

I think what we missed from both Sammy and DCE are those pinpoint kicks to Toups and Marky on the goal line. Not one hit the target on Friday. Very frustrating. Hugo's kicking is superior to both Sammy and DCE as is his defence. And a big unit who doesn't need that extra forward to help him. His attack doesn't need to be as good as Sammy. But he adds value with his own playmaking as well as those pinpoint bombs and his backing up.

DCE is wearing our jersey and I will support him and hope he kills it throughout the year. I think he deserves 6-8 games. Cronk and Teddy started the 2018 season 4-4 and many wrote them both off.

MK you are going to have a busy year this year sticking up for your pin-up boy.

[Bates]

DCE get's to experience something special next round where we bounce back and smash Souffs.

He'll earn his money with truckloads of traffic directed down his channel. Wong most likely to chaperone DCE however I would save that responsibility for Foketi who was born to play RL.

[Bates]

Hugo and Sammy are so well balanced. Savala is the perfect foil!

It's the game management that's the issue.

[milanja]

0 from 4 should be enough IF it's clear that DCE is no longer up for it.

Manly appeared to be more cohesive with their new halfback. Just my opinion.

Manly v Raiders was a great game! Turbo is all class. It's the little things he does.

Because he is an organising halfback, with a great kick and simple game plan.

our two halves are like crabs, need someone to just play the traditional role, which neither did.

what are Robbos instructions? And were they being followed?
Because there looked like there was no traditional game plan in place.

[Headless Chook]

It's not necessarily about individual stats. It's about how playing styles combine Walker and DCE are both very off the cuff. I cannot remember any grand final winning team not having runner usually 58 and a steady game manager usually the halfback. If you have a runner at halfback ala Alfie Langer in 1992 1993 you need steady organizer like Kevin Walters at 58.

Melbourne did ok with Hughes and Munster who are both run first halves. Kevvie never became an organising half until Alfie left. He was always a running 5/8th