Will we have a late season resurgence?

[Bates]

Lodge would great at the right price. I don't think we should pay overs and compromise our salary cap for another prop. Money better spent elsewhere!

[Bates]

Everyone is a smarter player than Rads, including all players in every club from 1st grade through to under 7s.
If Lodge is creating friction within the team, then goodbye. If not, I’m happy for him to stay. He’s been playing consistently well since he arrived.
I’d have Whyte, May and Brown ahead of the two Butchers, we need more size and aggression.
I’d have Turpin instead of Radley to give the Cheese 20-25 mins per game rest and when he’s not carrying an injury, that’s when we will see his best.
Not against Watson at lock, just not sure at this stage.

I'd keep Egan. He's only 23 and developing nicely considering our form. Actually I think he's going to be 1 of the games best forwards when he's 27/28.

[Steggles]

I'd keep Egan. He's only 23 and developing nicely considering our form. Actually I think he's going to be 1 of the games best forwards when he's 27/28.

He certainly offers more than Nat.

[4 the all in brawl]

King Dribbler has to be kidding right? Add to the repeat, repeat, repeat his coaching accreditation from 1983 to coach u/7s, the guru Wok Warren Ryan’s words of wisdom, Atlanta Braves, blah, blah, blah. Biggest dribbler on this forum, perhaps in Australia.

Actually The World......

[roosterchook]

Anything can happen but the next few games will decide our fate. We know what’s at stake and what we must do- win and keep winning and by huge margins.

[roosterchook]

Hi Zac. We desperately need to jag a win for confidence. From there I think we'll be ok. Look at the Tigers go.

I watched that game last night. No fluke they played like a champion team and if they continue like that will be hard for any team to put away. The way they played as a team put us to shame. Why can’t we play like that?

[MKCS]

I think we will finish 7th or 8th and it'll be like last year where it is a nail biting run to the finals. We will probably be bundled out in Round 1 of the finals again and as others have said we'll simply make up the numbers.

Disagree on 6 needing to be let go ASAP.
For me it's only two i'd like to see depart at end of year

Lodge: surplus to requirements with the signing of Spencer Leuni. Will be demanding decent coin to stay, and although he is a good prop I don't agree he is value for money. I like his quick play the ball but thats about it. My sixth sense tells me he isn't jiving with the playing group either, which would be exactly the case as in the past at the Storm, Warriors etc.

Suallii: For two reasons - 1. His heart doesnt seem to be in it, and 2. He is young and still learning, and is getting a really getting a battering of criticism (some of it unwarranted/over the top) from fans, and the media too. I think he is probably craving an opportunity well away from the spotlight and viciousness that is the NRL circus. I do actually like the guy though.

2014:

1 Teddy
2 Toupo
3 Manu
4 B Smith
5 Young
6 Keary (in the worst case scenario that Keary decides to retire, I'd hope we get Hunt who is the best alternative experienced option on the market)
7 Walker
8 Collins
9 Cheese
10 Leinu
11 Sitili
12 Gus
13 Watson

14 N Butcher
15 E Butcher
16 JWH
17 Radley

Watson is a smarter player than Rads, very strong for his size, and probably the fittest player too. He is more than capable of being a starting 13 imo. I'd like to see him given a crack. We need a change there in my opinion.

Radley is quite simply a liability, however his love for the club and take no prisoners attitude is still an important one to have in the club. I'd rather see him have a simpler job, and come off the bench and cause mayhem against a tiring opposition.

JWH to ease in off the bench to conserve his game minutes throughout the season.

Cheese will get better. Walker will be better next year too.

Keary is a champion, and unless he feels it's time to go I have no problem with him continuing on. As we saw last game, when he switches it on he is among the best in the comp still. And his experience is needed.

Young and Smith are specialists in their positions and add great pace and finishing ability to one side.

I don't see Billy Smith being a good long term option, I'd get rid of Smith, Keary, Lodge and Suaalii which would free up maybe 1.5 million?

I'd recruit a centre for around 500k mark, looking at centres off contract there aren't many good ones but the Roosters should simply scout the best of a bad bunch and try to make it work on a one year deal, could be rocks but also could be diamonds.

I'd use the remaining million to go into the market for a good half, the options are quite slim with 5/8 options only really being Jaeman Salmon who Keary is much better than already whilst halfback options we have Brooks who is probably better than Keary at this point but is horribly inconsistent.

[King Salvo]

I think we will finish 7th or 8th and it'll be like last year where it is a nail biting run to the finals. We will probably be bundled out in Round 1 of the finals again and as others have said we'll simply make up the numbers.



I don't see Billy Smith being a good long term option, I'd get rid of Smith, Keary, Lodge and Suaalii which would free up maybe 1.5 million?

I'd recruit a centre for around 500k mark, looking at centres off contract there aren't many good ones but the Roosters should simply scout the best of a bad bunch and try to make it work on a one year deal, could be rocks but also could be diamonds.

I'd use the remaining million to go into the market for a good half, the options are quite slim with 5/8 options only really being Jaeman Salmon who Keary is much better than already whilst halfback options we have Brooks who is probably better than Keary at this point but is horribly inconsistent.

mmm Get rid of 4 players and try to sign others who are not as good and gamble on the slim possibility that it may work out

I seem to recall that type of recruitment was in vogue in the late 80's/early to mid or so 1990's at the Roosters.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Getting rid of the Handbrake would be my first move, at least that would show the other players what standard is not acceptable.
This will get a reaction, but I think Toops and JWH should retire gracefully. Too many injuries in their future.
Suaalii has to go. He's not handling the scrutiny or the pressure.
Angus can go and Sitili and Radley.
Momi, can go
We need to keep Teddy, Manu, Billy Smith, Paulo, Keary, Walker, Lodge, Brown, the Butchers, Collins, May, Whyte, Turpin, Cheese,..... Watson ??
We need a HOOKER, dummy half, we need a young upcoming 5/8th and we need a 14, a real good one, maybe Pearce?

[Steggles]

I think we will finish 7th or 8th and it'll be like last year where it is a nail biting run to the finals. We will probably be bundled out in Round 1 of the finals again and as others have said we'll simply make up the numbers.



I don't see Billy Smith being a good long term option, I'd get rid of Smith, Keary, Lodge and Suaalii which would free up maybe 1.5 million?

I'd recruit a centre for around 500k mark, looking at centres off contract there aren't many good ones but the Roosters should simply scout the best of a bad bunch and try to make it work on a one year deal, could be rocks but also could be diamonds.

I'd use the remaining million to go into the market for a good half, the options are quite slim with 5/8 options only really being Jaeman Salmon who Keary is much better than already whilst halfback options we have Brooks who is probably better than Keary at this point but is horribly inconsistent.

So you want us to get rid of our players, free up some cash to go to the market for a new centre and a half, but then you say there’s no good ones out there to buy so let’s buy a dud and hope for the best. I’m not sure this strategy makes a lot of sense.

I can’t understand so much hate for Lodge. The guy has been consistently one of our best since he joined the club, always runs hard, hits hard. He and Collins are the only ones that can actually bend the defensive line these days; JWH gets stopped in his tracks as soon as he gets to the line.

There’s also little love for Billy Smith here. He’s had 3 games back from an ACL, was our best against the Cowboys and close to our best against the Panthers and had an average game against the Dragons. On balance, he’s been going better than most of the team and he has shown that he can run the ball, break a tackle and put a bit of venom in tackles as well. I reckon the mistakes are because he’s trying to do more than his share in a team that’s performing like a busted arse and maybe trying to make up for lost time. If he can stay major injury free, I think he has huge potential, but must be given some time. Look at how much time the rest of the plodders are being given; years in some cases.

[Ray Stehr]

Waiting for the Roosters to hit form is like waiting for Harold Holt to arrive home from his underwater adventures.

[rooster till i die]

A late season surge will be welcomed but it will only gloss over a very poor season .
Questions need to be asked and answered , there are no excuses this year .
The chooks defence over the last few weeks has been diabolical, it's all about attitude and that sits with the coach....

Defence bad, but now officially the worst attack in the NRL.

[top_joe]

If we can get all of our injuries out of the way now and have none later we will win the comp!

[The Brain]

we are relying on too many blokes who we think are capable of getting us over the line...6 must go.

[King Salvo]

The current Roosters squad is 28 players out of 30 allowed and they also have the maximum 6 players on development contracts

Off contract 2023

• Corey Allan
• Jaxson Paulo - PO ( Player option for 2024)
• Fletcher Baker - signing with Brisbane
• Nathan Brown
• Thomas Deakin ( Development Contract)
• Drew "The Hutchinator" Hutchison
• Vuate Karawalevu ( Development Contract)
• Matthew Lodge - Unlikely to be re-signed
• Billy Smith
• Jake Turpin
• Connor Watson

The 4 highlighted should be re-signed in my view - Paulo yet to take up his player option - may see a better opportunity for regular NRL at another club

Not sure if Allan/Brown/Karawalevu/Turpin will be extended though

Baker - reportedly has signed with Brisbane.
Lodge's asking price will most likely mean he will be looking for another club
Brown was on 600k at Parramatta- ditto Lodge
Karawalevu - there is a footballer there but will the Roosters show the patience to re-sign him?- Currently on a development contract
Turpin - Tyler Moriarty/Thomas Deakin will be pressing for promotion to the top 30 squad in 2024
Allan - The signings of Dominic Young and Lewis Murphy may mean there is no place for him in 2024- Ditto Paulo


Signings/Re-signings

• JWH (2024)
• Toops (2024)
• Dominic Young (2027)
• Lewis Murphy ( 2024)
• E Butcher ( 2025)
• Victor Radley (2027)
• Joseph Suaalii (2024)
• James Tedesdo (2025)
• Sam Walker ( 2025)
• Sandon Smith (2024) Development contract extension - needs to be promoted to the top 30 squad ASAP.