Robbo - "We're not afraid to leave them out there to learn some footy".

[Bigchook]

Niko really needs a spell in NYC or NSW Cup. He is unbelievably ineffective and his confidence seems like it's hit an all time low.

Time to try that other chap Connor Watson. Seemed like he was 18th man on sunday.

He's 19. He's risen above reserve grade. He's not quite ready for first grade. I'd rather him with us developing quickly than stuck in the 20s carving up in a spastic comp.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Niko really needs a spell in NYC or NSW Cup. He is unbelievably ineffective and his confidence seems like it's hit an all time low.

Time to try that other chap Connor Watson. Seemed like he was 18th man on sunday.

Do you think a replacing one rookie with another is the answer? I am pretty sure Watson is injured anyway, not 18th man. He certainly was out with injury the previous week. His defence was terrible last season.

[2026]

I liked the presser.

[Mickie Lane]

IMO Nikorima would not be in the top 17 if everyone was fit & if Copley didnt get injured I dont think Mitchell would be in the side. So Robbo doesnt have much choice at the moment so it doesnt surprise me that he said "We're not afraid to leave them out there to learn some footy".

[2026]

IMO Nikorima would not be in the top 17 if everyone was fit & if Copley didnt get injured I dont think Mitchell would be in the side. So Robbo doesnt have much choice at the moment so it doesnt surprise me that he said "We're not afraid to leave them out there to learn some footy".

Ryan Matterson is also injured and may have been another option.

Big boy for a five eighth . 193cm , 103 kg

[shagger]

when is he due back?

[2026]

Next year.

[Roosterfarian]

Do you think a replacing one rookie with another is the answer? I am pretty sure Watson is injured anyway, not 18th man. He certainly was out with injury the previous week. His defence was terrible last season.

He was warming up with the first grade team so he would have been 18th man.

We have to try something at this point. You can see Niko Is struggling out there.

[novice chook]

He was warming up with the first grade team so he would have been 18th man.

We have to try something at this point. You can see Niko Is struggling out there.

Anyone posted in the defensive line next to SKD and Ferguson would be struggling at the moment. They are more of a hindrance than a help to anyone.

Nico will have his moments this season as he learns what being a first grader is all about. You put Connor Watson out there and the situation would be no different - only the name would change.

Nico will benefit more than anyone from Pearce returning to the side. Nico can go back to the bench, come on for impact and have little or no responsibility heaped on his shoulders. And more importantly, he can leave the defensively dumb duo to Pearce to deal with, which won't worry Pearce as he's used to covering for them.

[bondi-boy]

Any point in investing time and effort developing young players for the future?
No.
RTS.
Few U 20s with us ever make FG.

Better to just buy a team...NRL and media don't care what we do, how well we develop young players, how much time and effort we put in doing so...
they're happy to dance on our grave...look at the newspapers etc today...and the refereeing of our games this year.

[bondi-boy]

Robbo stated a few years ago that he wanted to make the roosters a team that was respected, a team that was always in the finals. He specifically used manly and Melbourne as examples of the type of success he wanted to instill in the roosters. He wanted to try and change the up and down swings and make it a smoother more consistent year on year footy club. So I guess if we go on to have a shit year, by his own objectives he will have failed in that regard.

"Can't win without the cattle" - Jack Gibson.
JWH, Cordner, Pearce ........

Minor Premiers last 3 years...with one Premiership...Trent should judge himself a success.

Last season, after that newspaper article about how we were being ripped off by the refs was published for the world to see...the refereeing of our matches became a lot fairer.
Now it seems to be back to the bad old days.

[Double]

"Can't win without the cattle" - Jack Gibson.
JWH, Cordner, Pearce ........

Minor Premiers last 3 years...with one Premiership...Trent should judge himself a success.

Last season, after that newspaper article about how we were being ripped off by the refs was published for the world to see...the refereeing of our matches became a lot fairer.
Now it seems to be back to the bad old days.

What about winning with the cattle you've got???

40 rep caps spread over 10 of our starting 17 in 2016 and still can't manage a win against the lesser sides...

Interested in the refereeing also... how has it been fairer?

[2026]

What about winning with the cattle you've got???

40 rep caps spread over 10 of our starting 17 in 2016 and still can't manage a win against the lesser sides...

Interested in the refereeing also... how has it been fairer?

Which 10 ?

Junior footy doesn't count!