Robbo lost the dressing room

[On the Nose]

The coach is just an easy target. The Robbo detractors love to give him no (or little) credit for our premierships - "Our team was stacked, Robbo got lucky" - and give him all the blame for our rough patch - "it all boils down to one man".

Last game showed he clearly still has the dressing room.

The problems are largely, in my opinion:

- team disharmony. Certain players with attitude problems. This is the big one, as without harmony you aint getting close to a premiership. A couple are already being moved on, any others either will be or will have straighted themeselves out and grown up

- aging players in key positions. Teddy and Keary are still great players, but clearly not at performance levels from yesteryear. It is possibly Keary has an unrecoverable anxiety about running at the line due to head injury. I dont blame him, we only get one brain and the CTE stories probably scare the shit out him. Might be time to hang up the boots.

- Crichton's issues. I am not blaming him, it's a shame it happened and I hope he gets better as soon as possible. But he is a leadership figure in the playing group, and so it would have had an impact.

- Radley - directly cost us 1 or 2 matches through reckless behaviour, and put us on the back foot in others. Hoping he'll pull his head in and improve. I'm sure certain players in the playing group hold (or hopefully, held in the past) some resentment about his brain snaps.

C'mon! Robbo has made some really weird decisions this year. But the funniest (not ha ha unless you are the opposition) is playing Hutch at centre against speed machines and doubling down by calling him the next Aubo. What did he expect? He painted the target on himself. Most Robbo detractors on this site, as I can see, are only referencing his recent performance not his overall achievements with the club.

[Stewie Griffin]

C'mon! Robbo has made some really weird decisions this year. But the funniest (not ha ha unless you are the opposition) is playing Hutch at centre against speed machines and doubling down by calling him the next Aubo. What did he expect? He painted the target on himself. Most Robbo detractors on this site, as I can see, are only referencing his recent performance not his overall achievements with the club.

Exactly. Criticism of Robbo is about the past few years and nothing to do with his premiership wins or previous build of the culture. It's dumb to conflate the two. Credits in the bank usually have an expiry date, especially in first class sport.

[GateKeeper]

Obviously losing games affects the general atmosphere of any club, people look for reasons, the blame game starts.
Hard times can bring people together or tear them apart, we are struggling right now.
I feel Robinson has made some errors, and has certainly lost some of the aura of invincability he once had.
It doesn't take much to put a team out of balance.
The issues with....
Suaalii moving to centre failed
Walker being dropped instead of coached when we had no replacement, failed
Manu moving to 5/8 failed,
Keary moving to half failed,
Teddy feeling all the pressure and struggling with the captaincy,
Crighton missing the preseason and his mental health issues,
Hutchison being out of his depth and putting pressure on players around him,
Lodge obviously a divisive character when things don't go his way.
Smith, the big import who struggles to perform at hooker.
Radley the loose cannon, who's immaturity surely wears thin with teammates.
There are plenty of issues, and it's up to the coach to fix them.

Finally someone has made sense.

[roosterchook]

C'mon! Robbo has made some really weird decisions this year. But the funniest (not ha ha unless you are the opposition) is playing Hutch at centre against speed machines and doubling down by calling him the next Aubo. What did he expect? He painted the target on himself. Most Robbo detractors on this site, as I can see, are only referencing his recent performance not his overall achievements with the club.

Apart from the Master Jack Gibson, Robbo is the next best coach the roosters have ever had in my opinion. But this year he’s been very weird. It’s as if he’s got all his money on us not making the 8 expecting a big windfall because I don’t believe any other coach with our roster would have wasted it like Robbo has this year. It’s as if he’s been deliberately selecting losing teams and not gone for the best formula knowingly. Walker was 3rd highest point scorer in the comp last year yet he dumps him and we can’t score for peanuts. Suualii was great on the wing. There’s something seriously up with him this year. But he was awesome previous years.

[Steakface]

Apart from the Master Jack Gibson, Robbo is the next best coach the roosters have ever had in my opinion. But this year he’s been very weird. It’s as if he’s got all his money on us not making the 8 expecting a big windfall because I don’t believe any other coach with our roster would have wasted it like Robbo has this year. It’s as if he’s been deliberately selecting losing teams and not gone for the best formula knowingly. Walker was 3rd highest point scorer in the comp last year yet he dumps him and we can’t score for peanuts. Suualii was great on the wing. There’s something seriously up with him this year. But he was awesome previous years.

The persistence with odd positional changes has been a mistake.

But I also take umbrage at the continual claim we are a "GF squad" or "best roster n the game". It is a good roster, but it is not clearly 'the best', unless you bought into News Corpse pronouncements pre season.

- Hutch - does 'a job' but is not quite up to 1sts
- Suallii - got a good little highlights reel from last year, but highlights aside has not really lived up to the hype. He is good, but is he THAT good? Its debateable.
- Toops - still a machine, but is aging and no doubt carrying injuries making him less effective
- with the exception of Manu and Toops, the rest of our 3-4 line is really quite average (Momo, Allan, Smith, Pauga)
- Walker - is a great talent, but is not even close to the likes of Hunt, Cherry Evans, Cleary, Hughes, Reynolds etc at steering a team around the park. I though Robbo's rationale for dropping him was sound, but it has unfortunately backfired due to injury.
- Smith (Brandon) - is not good enough at hooker for longer stints. Needs to be a no.13 in my opinion to get value.
- Lodge - had a purple patch last year, but really...he has never been a standout. Never been remotely close to getting a rep jersey throughout his career. A bad influence on team harmony. Happy to see the back of him to be frank.
- Radley - has been, generally, dogshit for 2 years and clearly has big discipline issues on field which can (and has) single handedly lose games.
- Teddy - brilliant player still (imo), but slower. Needs to develop playmaking skills (like Slater did) to dominate like in the past. Granted, possibly carrying injury too.
- The Butchers - I think they certainly have a place, they are very capable and Nat gets a really unfair bagging. However, it's unlikely they will become say top3 in the NRL in their respective positions over their career.

[Headless Chook]

The persistence with odd positional changes has been a mistake.

But I also take umbrage at the continual claim we are a "GF squad" or "best roster n the game". It is a good roster, but it is not clearly 'the best', unless you bought into News Corpse pronouncements pre season.

- Hutch - does 'a job' but is not quite up to 1sts
- Suallii - got a good little highlights reel from last year, but highlights aside has not really lived up to the hype. He is good, but is he THAT good? Its debateable.
- Toops - still a machine, but is aging and no doubt carrying injuries making him less effective
- with the exception of Manu and Toops, the rest of our 3-4 line is really quite average (Momo, Allan, Smith, Pauga)
- Walker - is a great talent, but is not even close to the likes of Hunt, Cherry Evans, Cleary, Hughes, Reynolds etc at steering a team around the park. I though Robbo's rationale for dropping him was sound, but it has unfortunately backfired due to injury.
- Smith (Brandon) - is not good enough at hooker for longer stints. Needs to be a no.13 in my opinion to get value.
- Lodge - had a purple patch last year, but really...he has never been a standout. Never been remotely close to getting a rep jersey throughout his career. A bad influence on team harmony. Happy to see the back of him to be frank.
- Radley - has been, generally, dogshit for 2 years and clearly has big discipline issues on field which can (and has) single handedly lose games.
- Teddy - brilliant player still (imo), but slower. Needs to develop playmaking skills (like Slater did) to dominate like in the past. Granted, possibly carrying injury too.
- The Butchers - I think they certainly have a place, they are very capable and Nat gets a really unfair bagging. However, it's unlikely they will become say top3 in the NRL in their respective positions over their career.

I agree with your synopsis about our squad. I find it amusing actually. There are posters on here that bag a lot of our players and can't believe that they're in the side and then turn around and say 'but we have a high quality squad and should be doing better!'

So which is it? You can't have it both ways

[Qld Chook]

This roster should be playing finals and competing for a comp. Anyone who doesn’t think so, doesn’t know footy.

All this jazz that it’s not and it was just the media is dribble.
Plain and simple.

Coaching decisions that have previously mentioned have cruelled this season and as a fan I’m embarrassed tbh. 2023 season should be know as a massive failure in the clubs history.

[Qld Chook]

I agree with your synopsis about our squad. I find it amusing actually. There are posters on here that bag a lot of our players and can't believe that they're in the side and then turn around and say 'but we have a high quality squad and should be doing better!'

So which is it? You can't have it both ways

Players are out of form - pretty simple. It’s the coaches job to get them in form, by picking them in position, getting them playing to their strengths and setting up attacking/defence structures that suit the players. This year that hasn’t been done. When in form they are an immensely talented squad.

Jeez it’s not to hard to remember this time last year when we were in form with pretty much the same roster and went on a 8 game blitz. What’s changed? I was hoping they would just carry that into the start of this year but the coach had other ideas and started to tinker with something that didn’t need tinkering.

I like Robbo, but this year is a forgettable one from him. Hopefully he learns from it and we don’t do a repeat next year.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

The persistence with odd positional changes has been a mistake.

But I also take umbrage at the continual claim we are a "GF squad" or "best roster n the game". It is a good roster, but it is not clearly 'the best', unless you bought into News Corpse pronouncements pre season.

- Hutch - does 'a job' but is not quite up to 1sts
- Suallii - got a good little highlights reel from last year, but highlights aside has not really lived up to the hype. He is good, but is he THAT good? Its debateable.
- Toops - still a machine, but is aging and no doubt carrying injuries making him less effective
- with the exception of Manu and Toops, the rest of our 3-4 line is really quite average (Momo, Allan, Smith, Pauga)
- Walker - is a great talent, but is not even close to the likes of Hunt, Cherry Evans, Cleary, Hughes, Reynolds etc at steering a team around the park. I though Robbo's rationale for dropping him was sound, but it has unfortunately backfired due to injury.
- Smith (Brandon) - is not good enough at hooker for longer stints. Needs to be a no.13 in my opinion to get value.
- Lodge - had a purple patch last year, but really...he has never been a standout. Never been remotely close to getting a rep jersey throughout his career. A bad influence on team harmony. Happy to see the back of him to be frank.
- Radley - has been, generally, dogshit for 2 years and clearly has big discipline issues on field which can (and has) single handedly lose games.
- Teddy - brilliant player still (imo), but slower. Needs to develop playmaking skills (like Slater did) to dominate like in the past. Granted, possibly carrying injury too.
- The Butchers - I think they certainly have a place, they are very capable and Nat gets a really unfair bagging. However, it's unlikely they will become say top3 in the NRL in their respective positions over their career.

How do you measure the quality of a squad ? I think our squad has certainly underperformed.....
which means they would be expected to perform better.... why?
Because they have better qualifications than their current performances show.
It's not the individuals ability that's lacking here, it's the teamwork.
Getting a group of talented individuals to perform as a team is down to the COACH,
thats what they get paid for.
I would suggest that our squad measures up against any other squad based on the following criteria
Games played... experience.
Level achieved in the game.. ... representative level achieved, State, National,
Teddy, Toops, Manu, Suaalii, Keary, Radley, Sitili, Angus, JWH, Smith, Collins have all played origin or international footy.
Even Allen and Brown have played origin,
Walker has only missed out because of his age.
So to say you take umbrage at the claim that we are a GF squad is ridiculous.

[Rooster90]

What makes this season so strange is that Robbo managed to get a squad that included Sam Walker as a rookie 7, Hutch at 6, Marschke at 9 and the likes of Ben Thomas, Tuku Hau Taphua playing regular NRL into the finals.

Can't blame injuries, it is purely down to coaching and as many have suggested there is numerous bad examples....

[Stewie Griffin]

How do you measure the quality of a squad ? I think our squad has certainly underperformed.....
which means they would be expected to perform better.... why?
Because they have better qualifications than their current performances show.
It's not the individuals ability that's lacking here, it's the teamwork.
Getting a group of talented individuals to perform as a team is down to the COACH,
thats what they get paid for.
I would suggest that our squad measures up against any other squad based on the following criteria
Games played... experience.
Level achieved in the game.. ... representative level achieved, State, National,
Teddy, Toops, Manu, Suaalii, Keary, Radley, Sitili, Angus, JWH, Smith, Collins have all played origin or international footy.
Even Allen and Brown have played origin,
Walker has only missed out because of his age.
So to say you take umbrage at the claim that we are a GF squad is ridiculous.

Yeah definitely. The bookies had us near the top to start the year for a reason - our roster.

And it does all come down to our coaching staff and preparation. Not the players individually. I've only been critical of two players Hutch, who just isn't up to a high performing NRL team standard (not his fault). And Teddy who doesn't have the skillset to play for his supports and use passes and football smarts to link. Thats a big handicap for us. Despite all his heart and efforts which no-one can deny.

[roosterchook]

I agree with your synopsis about our squad. I find it amusing actually. There are posters on here that bag a lot of our players and can't believe that they're in the side and then turn around and say 'but we have a high quality squad and should be doing better!'

So which is it? You can't have it both ways

We have the players to go a long way but strategy and bad selection choices have prevented that. Injuries and bad refereeing are a factor but I think poor coaching decisions are to blame for our current demise I.e. not disciplining Rads, dropping Walker, playing Manu, Suuali out of position. Not using Toups enough. No variety by Keary on 5th tackle etc.

[Johnny Brass]

The persistence with odd positional changes has been a mistake.

But I also take umbrage at the continual claim we are a "GF squad" or "best roster n the game". It is a good roster, but it is not clearly 'the best', unless you bought into News Corpse pronouncements pre season.

- Hutch - does 'a job' but is not quite up to 1sts
- Suallii - got a good little highlights reel from last year, but highlights aside has not really lived up to the hype. He is good, but is he THAT good? Its debateable.
- Toops - still a machine, but is aging and no doubt carrying injuries making him less effective
- with the exception of Manu and Toops, the rest of our 3-4 line is really quite average (Momo, Allan, Smith, Pauga)
- Walker - is a great talent, but is not even close to the likes of Hunt, Cherry Evans, Cleary, Hughes, Reynolds etc at steering a team around the park. I though Robbo's rationale for dropping him was sound, but it has unfortunately backfired due to injury.
- Smith (Brandon) - is not good enough at hooker for longer stints. Needs to be a no.13 in my opinion to get value.
- Lodge - had a purple patch last year, but really...he has never been a standout. Never been remotely close to getting a rep jersey throughout his career. A bad influence on team harmony. Happy to see the back of him to be frank.
- Radley - has been, generally, dogshit for 2 years and clearly has big discipline issues on field which can (and has) single handedly lose games.
- Teddy - brilliant player still (imo), but slower. Needs to develop playmaking skills (like Slater did) to dominate like in the past. Granted, possibly carrying injury too.
- The Butchers - I think they certainly have a place, they are very capable and Nat gets a really unfair bagging. However, it's unlikely they will become say top3 in the NRL in their respective positions over their career.

That's my take on our squad as well Steakface, I don't think we are as strong as a lot of other teams but the press has built us up on the names that aren't as good as they were when we won comps but now we are paying higher salaries for them.
To win comps in any sport the coach must build a culture of loyalty and trust within the group to form a bond and its natural to repay those players with bigger contracts when that success comes.
Unfortunately the younger players we have incorporated into the squad with those senior players haven't risen to the level of the champions we had previously.

[Qld Chook]

How do you measure the quality of a squad ? I think our squad has certainly underperformed.....
which means they would be expected to perform better.... why?
Because they have better qualifications than their current performances show.
It's not the individuals ability that's lacking here, it's the teamwork.
Getting a group of talented individuals to perform as a team is down to the COACH,
thats what they get paid for.
I would suggest that our squad measures up against any other squad based on the following criteria
Games played... experience.
Level achieved in the game.. ... representative level achieved, State, National,
Teddy, Toops, Manu, Suaalii, Keary, Radley, Sitili, Angus, JWH, Smith, Collins have all played origin or international footy.
Even Allen and Brown have played origin,
Walker has only missed out because of his age.
So to say you take umbrage at the claim that we are a GF squad is ridiculous.

Well put. Anyone who thinks our squad shouldn’t be challenging this year doesn’t have a clue.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

I must admit, first of all, that I barely watch the game these days -- the rules are laughable. A bad joke. I can't stomach it for more than 10 or 15 minutes before turning it off and doing something more pleasurable -- like using a cheese-grater on my face.

But putting that aside, the Roosters simply look a jaded team. How many players did we take into that World Cup at the end of last season? How many of our players had a decent off-season? It takes its toll. And I know it's not just us. It might explain why there's been no standout team this season and why results have been so unpredictable.