My take.......

[Mickie Lane]

You and I have as much chance as Collins of starting in round 1. SST will start in the front row with JWH, unless they want to ease him in from the bench after his knee surgery, then it would be Napa. Tetevano will be the other bench front rower. Those 4 are certainties. I am not sure if they will start Maubs or Matterson in the second row alongside Cordner. Liu will be Lock. The bench will be Napa or JWH, Matterson or Maubs plus Radley and Tetevano.

If the Broncos are starting with Lodge I think the Roosters should throw Collins in at the deep end & start him. I forgot about Tetevano. I dont think Tetevano is big enough to play as a middle forward but he does show aggression so I would have him in the 17 in place of probably Butcher. But in saying that I think Butcher is a tough bastard & would be ideal off the bench rotating at 13. If Friend is going to be allowed to play for up to 70 minutes then I think Radley is a waste on the bench.

[Cockadoodledoo]

If the Broncos are starting with Lodge I think the Roosters should throw Collins in at the deep end & start him. I forgot about Tetevano. I dont think Tetevano is big enough to play as a middle forward but he does show aggression so I would have him in the 17 in place of probably Butcher. But in saying that I think Butcher is a tough bastard & would be ideal off the bench rotating at 13. If Friend is going to be allowed to play for up to 70 minutes then I think Radley is a waste on the bench.

Collins is not that big and is not that highly rated at the club tbh.. He is well down the pecking order.. Butcher will likely be the odd man out and 18th man to start the season. Radley can cover many positions so would be valuable to have off the bench but I think Friend needs less minutes. He makes a lot of stupid mistakes at the back end of each half due to fatigue. He shouldn't play more than 60 minutes.

[Bondicigar]

I dont care who robbo picks with his rotation as long as they do there job , im a little concerned with robbos ability to flick the switch

[Parkway_Drive]

Tetevano is not that small.

I believe he is our 3rd biggest forward in the probable 17 to play the Tigers.

According to the NRL stats, he is 189cm and about 110kgs.

Not sure if they are accurate but thereabouts is big enough to play in the middle especially as he shows more mongrel than the rest of our middle forwards.

NB, Stats say he weighs more than JWH, but I think JWH and Napa are both bigger than Tetevano, making him 3rd biggest.

[Louis N]

Yes.

I wouldn't let Friend captain the boat that sails in the bathtub with my grandkids.

Your line deserves an encore Eddie.

When Robbo chose Friendy and Pearce as co-captains I reached for the aspirin too. You just knew that Mitch was going to stuff up again as he'd already had too many chances. And jake - well it was a reward for effort. And Robbo probably thought that because they handled the ball so much at dummy half and first receiver that they should be captains.

A lot different when Big Jack went against the grain and named Arthur Beetson captain over the great Ron Coote, after Coote had captained Australia. It was a master stroke and both played better still. Gibson did it using a decent psychology test and Beetson ticked all the boxes. I'm sure Cronk does too. Cordner too is not afraid to tell a team mate what he thinks of a poor effort. Captaincy should never be an old mates act or just a reward for service. Never works that way.

[eddie]

Your line deserves an encore Eddie.

When Robbo chose Friendy and Pearce as co-captains I reached for the aspirin too. You just knew that Mitch was going to stuff up again as he'd already had too many chances. And jake - well it was a reward for effort. And Robbo probably thought that because they handled the ball so much at dummy half and first receiver that they should be captains.

A lot different when Big Jack went against the grain and named Arthur Beetson captain over the great Ron Coote, after Coote had captained Australia. It was a master stroke and both played better still. Gibson did it using a decent psychology test and Beetson ticked all the boxes. I'm sure Cronk does too. Cordner too is not afraid to tell a team mate what he thinks of a poor effort. Captaincy should never be an old mates act or just a reward for service. Never works that way.

Thankyou.
Friend worries me.
There's a lot about his game I admire......................but he worries me, and doesn't strike me as captaincy material at all.
I'm unsure if he's a "team player".

Probably one of the very few things I would disagree with Robbo on.

[ROC181]

Tetevano is not that small.

I believe he is our 3rd biggest forward in the probable 17 to play the Tigers.

According to the NRL stats, he is 189cm and about 110kgs.

Not sure if they are accurate but thereabouts is big enough to play in the middle especially as he shows more mongrel than the rest of our middle forwards.

NB, Stats say he weighs more than JWH, but I think JWH and Napa are both bigger than Tetevano, making him 3rd biggest.

Just because you have a big frame, doesn't mean you're going to walk over everyone else like Mose and TRex...Both big boys that actually didn't do much with that. Tetevano punches above his weight when he charges.

[Mickie Lane]

Your line deserves an encore Eddie.

When Robbo chose Friendy and Pearce as co-captains I reached for the aspirin too. You just knew that Mitch was going to stuff up again as he'd already had too many chances. And jake - well it was a reward for effort. And Robbo probably thought that because they handled the ball so much at dummy half and first receiver that they should be captains.

A lot different when Big Jack went against the grain and named Arthur Beetson captain over the great Ron Coote, after Coote had captained Australia. It was a master stroke and both played better still. Gibson did it using a decent psychology test and Beetson ticked all the boxes. I'm sure Cronk does too. Cordner too is not afraid to tell a team mate what he thinks of a poor effort. Captaincy should never be an old mates act or just a reward for service. Never works that way.

Dual captains. Thats the one area I think that Robbo has stuffed up. Its a sign of weakness & eventually you lose the dressing room. You pick a captain & vice captain, end of story.
All this co captain or leadership group is giving the wrong message. Ivan Cleary has picked 5 captains, pathetic.

[RoosterFanNZ]

bernard lewis out for the season with acl injury

[Mickie Lane]

bernard lewis out for the season with acl injury

Ah well that the season then for the Roosters. There no chance of winning the comp without Bernard Lewis.
Nah thanks for that RoosterFanNZ, I hope he fully recovers & plays another 12 years in FG at the Chooks & also represent NSW & Australia & then becoming captain.

[RoosterFanNZ]

Ah well that the season then for the Roosters. There no chance of winning the comp without Bernard Lewis.
Nah thanks for that RoosterFanNZ, I hope he fully recovers & plays another 12 years in FG at the Chooks & also represent NSW & Australia & then becoming captain.

yeah doubt he wouldve played but just that little bit less depth, bit sad when it happens to young players

[Jacks Fur Coat]

bernard lewis out for the season with acl injury

If true thats awful news for the young fella.

i notice him in the training pics over the off season and recall him being part of our nines tournament win last year.

Wish him all the best in recovery.

[Louis N]

bernard lewis out for the season with acl injury

Really tough luck. Sorry for the young guy. He was a flyer and hope he can recuperate and regain his pace.

[Steakface]

I think Napa should be starting from the bench with Collins & JWH starting & SST at 13. I would start the season with Latrell & Manu in the centres & the other 3 on my bench would be Liu, Butcher & Radley. Matterson just doesnt do it for me, he has no aggression.

I really don't think Collins is good enough yet to be a starting prop.

I like Butcher, but he is a really small lad and it's going to take him a lot of time to be really effective in first grade. Will be a great 80 minute lock/second rower in about 2 - 3 years, not yet.

Matterson is seriously underrated. The bloke is massive - bigger physically than JWH last i saw - but can play big minutes, and has silky passing and kicking skills from his time as a five-eighth. He's got it all, the mongrel can be added later. Just needs to grow up a bit, he'll be right.

The best bench for us right now IMO is definitely:

Liu
Titsvano
Matto
Radley

Collins & Butcher will get plenty of game time during the year as injuries plague the squad. Who knows, Cranky Franky might pop his head up somewhere.

[Bondicigar]

Dual captains. Thats the one area I think that Robbo has stuffed up. Its a sign of weakness & eventually you lose the dressing room. You pick a captain & vice captain, end of story.
All this co captain or leadership group is giving the wrong message. Ivan Cleary has picked 5 captains, pathetic.

Thats a sign of a coach frightened to make the tough calls.