Sign the Don Nick

[Les Tricolores]

I can see it now.

2025
Bennett arrives.

We sign:

Hunt
Gagai
Oates

Yet he didn’t sign any of them for the Dolphins

They are all still good players btw … even Oates

[Les Tricolores]

Not relevant.

Bennet has been coaching in the NRL for 35 fkn years for crying out loud.

Including 15 odd years at the Broncos, where had more or less had the pick of the talent from basically all of QLD.

Side by side

Bennett:
Years coaching in the NRL: 35
Premierships: 7
Grand final appearances: 10

Robbo:
Years coaching in the NRL: 11
Premierships: 3
Grand final appearances: 3

More than acceptable record against Skelator.
Bennett is a great coach, one of the all time greats. Can't take that away.
But anyone who thinks Bennett is that much better is simply wrong.

The 90s/2000s Broncs were stacked … much like the 2010s/2020s Roosters

[Rocky Rhodes]

I can see it now.

2025
Bennett arrives.

We sign:

Hunt
Gagai
Oates

Yes, yes....finally we got an organizing halfback.

Bring on the Don.

And Gagai too...10x the centre of the media Myth JS....Awesome

Bring on the Don

And Oakes too....way way better than some union nufty Mark Nawhathisbignamewawa

Bring on the Don...hehe

[The Godfather]

Tough one because most if not all the players at the club signed because Robinson is the coach (obviously money as well) yet how many players could you say are actually consistently paying better footy under him?

[HunchoRooster]

I don’t particularly like him either Huncho but he is still the Don

2020 Origin miracle aside … and that was the most astounding display of coaching you will see

3 seasons with the Rabbits … 3 prelims … a narrow loss to Penrith in the GF

4 seasons with the Broncs … 2 prelims … a narrow loss in the GF

3 seasons with the Knights … his one blemish … still 1 prelim

2 seasons with the Dragons … 2 minors … 1 prelim … a win in the GF

So prior to starting up the Dolphins … 12 seasons … 2 minors … 7 prelims … 3 GF appearances… 1 title

At 4 different clubs!

That’s bloody impressive … and well beyond any other current coach’s capability

Rabbitohs had made a couple of prelims before that.

He also totally farrked Brisbane, Saints and Newy after leaving them with backended contracts.

The only coach who could come in and guarantee something is Bellamy, who wont come.

[King Salvo]

There was nothing wrong with the Hutchinator, who finished with a 62% winning percentage in his 71 games for the Roosters.

I predict the Dominator (Dom Young) will become another pen favourite like the Hutchinator. - 45 tries in 55 NRL Games

[The Godfather]

62% wins is great ….just none of that 62% winning included an NRL grand final win for the roosters, which, unless I have misinterpreted what Coach Robinson has been saying was his goal for the team and I dare say were Coach Robinson interested in retaining the services of the Hutchinator he would still be here as you well know that the quality of Coach Robinsons coaching attracts the top players

[Vasco]

The 90s/2000s Broncs were stacked … much like the 2010s/2020s Roosters

You honestly think those Roosters teams were/are as stacked as those Broncos teams?

[King Salvo]

62% wins is great ….just none of that 62% winning included an NRL grand final win for the roosters, which, unless I have misinterpreted what Coach Robinson has been saying was his goal for the team and I dare say were Coach Robinson interested in retaining the services of the Hutchinator he would still be here as you well know that the quality of Coach Robinsons coaching attracts the top players

What NRL Coaches goal wouldn't be to win the comp ?

Coach Robinson wanted to retain the Hutchinator but could not provide the opportunity to be a starting half that the Dogs could provide.

The Roosters also have a number of up and coming halves so one needs to look at the now and the future when making recruitment and retention decisions as well.

It was a pity the Roosters couldn't retain Cassius Tia a player they brought over from New Zealand from the Roosters New Zealand Academy to play Harold Matthews Cup in 2021. Formed the best halves combo in SG Ball last year with Haydan Ritchie - Cassius 6 and Haydan 7

Gould raiding the Roosters junior ranks again

[Les Tricolores]

You honestly think those Roosters teams were/are as stacked as those Broncos teams?

The number of premierships would suggest no … the Broncos had some great players … but if so I don’t think the difference would be much … what did they beat us by in 2000? 14-6?

[The Godfather]

What NRL Coaches goal wouldn't be to win the comp ?

Coach Robinson wanted to retain the Hutchinator but could not provide the opportunity to be a starting half that the Dogs could provide.

The Roosters also have a number of up and coming halves so one needs to look at the now and the future when making recruitment and retention decisions as well.

It was a pity the Roosters couldn't retain Cassius Tia a player they brought over from New Zealand from the Roosters New Zealand Academy to play Harold Matthews Cup in 2021. Formed the best halves combo in SG Ball last year with Haydan Ritchie - Cassius 6 and Haydan 7

Gould raiding the Roosters junior ranks again

Cameron Ciraldo…..obviously

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Speaking of coaches the first sacking for the year is about to be announced...poor old Jason Demetriou. He couldn't control the egos at that club. Ben Hornby to take the reins apparently.

[The Brain]

Don't think that will ever happen unless he let Nick bend him over first

[Steakface]

The 90s/2000s Broncs were stacked … much like the 2010s/2020s Roosters

That just underscores that coaching is just one piece of the puzzle, doesn't it?

We've got a good team now, but it is not a 'stacked' team.

The Roosters team over the past two decades has been much closer to the rest of the pack than you realise.

The main differences to me that set us apart & gave us success for the period were a combination of:

1. SBW (for a period - not much needs to be said. A generational talent and a standout leader)
2. Cronk (best halfback of his generation and a standout leader)
3. Teddy (with possible exception of Slater, generational best fullback)
4. Robbo (mentoring, man management and creating belief)
5. Uncle Nick (leadership stability and creating love and loyalty for the club)

Outside of that, we had many good players across the period, but they were certainly were not significantly better than what you'd find at similar competitive clubs.

The Broncos however had carte blanche on all the best talent in an entire state for that whole period. They were legit stacked. And being a one horse town, always had better facilities and money flowing in too.

[Les Tricolores]

That just underscores that coaching is just one piece of the puzzle, doesn't it?

We've got a good team now, but it is not a 'stacked' team.

The Roosters team over the past two decades has been much closer to the rest of the pack than you realise.

The main differences to me that set us apart & gave us success for the period were a combination of:

1. SBW (for a period - not much needs to be said. A generational talent and a standout leader)
2. Cronk (best halfback of his generation and a standout leader)
3. Teddy (with possible exception of Slater, generational best fullback)
4. Robbo (mentoring, man management and creating belief)
5. Uncle Nick (leadership stability and creating love and loyalty for the club)

Outside of that, we had many good players across the period, but they were certainly were not significantly better than what you'd find at similar competitive clubs.

The Broncos however had carte blanche on all the best talent in an entire state for that whole period. They were legit stacked. And being a one horse town, always had better facilities and money flowing in too.

Yes a good coach can only improve a squad so much … no one is winning a premiership with an SG Ball team … but it is not an insignificant amount … a poor coach can of course absolutely deconstruct a side … see Demetriou at present as a perfect example

The Broncos were indeed stacked for a considerable period for all the reasons you mention … but I wouldn’t think the difference is that great between them and what we’ve been able to put on the field … we’ve been in 8 GFs the last 20 odd years after all

I do believe we’ve had the best squad these last few years (since 2021) … you could reasonably argue against whether that has been the exact case … it is not entirely quantifiable … but this year not so much … it is pretty clear cut