2024 Halves change - it’s time.

[dice]

What I think will happen if we persist with Keary and don't give the keys to Walker, is we will lose Walker. There have already been rumblings from his Dad and uncle that the Roosters style of play doesn't suit Sam's game. We'll end up losing him to either the Broncos or Dolphins. And that would be a tragedy.

Does any team suit his style of play?

Assuming the hype is true, the closest halfback I can think of to Walker in terms of lack of speed and size, but with skill and vision, is Thurston. Fittingly, Thurston only achieved success when Green slapped him over the head and got him to play a more structured game.

[zac]

sandon smith could be a good player but he's had one game as a starting half v the wooden spooners and it's a bit early to be dropping keary who this season has often shown glimpses of great footy

[ChookMaster]

I like Savala. Our NSW cup has a shit forward pack and is always behind the ball but he has 6 TA and 5 tries next to his name in 7 games so far does Hugo.

Anyone know more about him?

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Demote Keary.

You are more likely to see Bates at 6 and Batemans Bay at 7 then you are of seeing Keary demoted.

And praise the Lord for that.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Does any team suit his style of play?

Assuming the hype is true, the closest halfback I can think of to Walker in terms of lack of speed and size, but with skill and vision, is Thurston. Fittingly, Thurston only achieved success when Green slapped him over the head and got him to play a more structured game.

I think that's wrong. Walker is a gun. He's a great attacker. Bit of a free spirit. The sky is the limit with him I reckon. Lack of speed? I don't know if that's an issue for him. It is for Hutch. Walker is 21. I just hope we don't fark it up and lose him to persevere and drag out another season with an ageing player in Keary.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Demote Keary.

You are more likely to see Bates at 6 and Batemans Bay at 7 then you are of seeing Keary demoted.

or photos of 13 in Vegas.

But if Bates can play the running half role, I can handle the kicking and the steering us around the park role.

[A Country Member]

The team will be suffering a severe loss of experience next year to even consider ditching Keary. From just this week’s team, there are at least 3 confirmed starters leaving, with another 3-4 perhaps moving on.

That’s a fair turnover. Some may even call 2025 a rebuilding year?

[bondi paul]

The team will be suffering a severe loss of experience next year to even consider ditching Keary. From just this week’s team, there are at least 3 confirmed starters leaving, with another 3-4 perhaps moving on.

That’s a fair turnover. Some may even call 2025 a rebuilding year?

Logically your comment about losing experience makes sense.
I recall when the next man up mentality term was created during that covid season of horrific number of injuries the step up rookies performed really well. Marshke for example.
Robbo had no choice but play them. Funny that!
Not one of those players weren’t given the opportunity the following season which baffled me - yes the Robbo loyalty at play and made me also think at the time is he a insecure sycophant via his old boy network surrounding him.
I’m sure he would have pissed off those rookies/no name players.

May, Whyte and Wong should have been given the opportunity earlier last season rather than later.
What Robbo is doing with Wong is the same as he did with May. I’m sure the younger players aren’t confident of a getting a go in 1sts with the way Robbo works.
It then lends the question what’s the point of the academy ?
Robbo experimented last season with positional changes that failed yet he needs to show some respect to low grade performers and give them a go.
Fact - there are no current 1st graders he has developed in his 12 seasons at Easts other than Wong, May and Whyte. I maybe wrong here but E Butcher as well. Am I missing any ? like Manu and Radley ?
I don’t consider yet to make a break rugby Joe as being developed by Professor Robinson other than his goal kicking !
If the so called demise of Robbo as some suggest here,such as the tricoloured Francophile - Les Miserables, then it may have started the following season when he never gave the rookies a go.

[Chook2]

The halves could well be

6. Luke Keary
7. Sandon Smith

Another player to keep tabs on is Hugo Savala a tall half but one can play both roles - organising and running half - good kicking game and also a goal kicker of note.

Sam Walker continues to struggle to create opportunities on the right side, let alone run the ball, which is a major concern and the reason for his relegation to the Reggies in 2023, as it doesn't bring Joseph Manu or the dominator (Dom Young) into the game. Opposition D's then limit the Roosters offence by targeting James Tedesco and Luke Keary in numbers. The Games vs. Penrith as an example.

Talk about Luke Keary not taking the line on - Line Engaged - 5th with 54 - Sam Walker not listed in the top 50 where 15 line engaged is the lowest to make the cut - 50th

Luke Keary

Try Assist Stats

2017 - 16 - 26 games
2018 - 21 - 23 games
2019 - 22 - 22 games
2020 - 18 - 20 games
2021 - 7 - 3 games
2022 - 22 - 22 games
2023 - 19 - 26 games
2024 - 5 - 6 games

Running Metres

Broncos - 74 - 80 minutes
Manly - 30 - 75 minutes
Penrith - 86 - 80 minutes
Bulldogs - 106 - 80 minutes
Knights - 103 - 80 minutes
Storm - 69 - 80 minutes

Sam Walker

Try Assist Stats

2021 - 19 - 21 games
2022 - 16 - 25 games
2023 - 4 - 10 games
2024 - 1 - 5 games

Running Metres

Broncos - 48 - 80 minutes
Manly - 33 - 80 minutes
Souths - 25 - 47 minutes
Penrith - 16 - 80 minutes
Bulldogs - 0 - 18 minutes

What these stats don’t show is the running sideways and cramping the while side. Dropped balls, bad passes and intercepts Keary has thrown
He had become a liability now costing us games
He Is not as quick and confident now but still wants to play the ball runner game, not the game organiser
can’t bellieve robbo hasn’t changed this

[tloos1999]

I think they need to ditch the idea that Sam Walker will be a Organising /Game Management type of half and have him run the ball and mix his game up - run / pass and kick etc

Stats aren't great in offence - 1 Try Assist / 0 Line Breaks and Line Break Assists.

Puts a lot on the shoulders of Keary and Tedesco to create something in offence if Walker is not contributing and the better teams work this out pretty quickly and team up in D on Keary and Tedesco as we have seen in games vs Penrith and Storm

With Manu and the Dominator (Dom Young) outside him on the right side he needs to bring these players into the game

Needs to be below 4 and preferable in the 2 to 3 range for passes to run ratio as a running half - A 6 passes to run ratio was what he was at in 2023 before being relegated.

Walker

Broncos - 56 receipts - 3.6 passes to run ratio - 10 runs (80 minutes)
Manly - 33 receipts - 6.00 passes to run ratio - 4 runs (80 minutes)
Souths - 35 receipts - 6.33 passes to run ratio - 3 runs (47 minutes)
Penrith - 53 receipts - 6.29 passes to run ratio - 7 runs (80 minutes)
Dogs - 7 receipts - 0 running metres - HIA - 5 passes ( 18 minutes)
Knights - DNP
Storm - DNP

Keary

Broncos - 57 receipts - 2.41 passes to run ratio - 17 runs (80 minutes)
Manly - 36 receipts - 2.88 passes to tun ratio - 8 runs (75 minutes)
Souths - DNP
Penrith - 43 receipts - 2.31 passes to run ratio - 16 runs (80 minutes)
Dogs - 69 receipts - 3.13 passes to run ratio - 16 runs ( 80 minutes)
Knights - 71 receipts - 3.57 passes to run ratio - 14 runs (80 minutes)
Storm - 63 receipts - 3.38 passes to run ratio - 13 runs ( 80 minutes)

Tedesco

Broncos - 30 receipts - 0.65 passes to run ratio - 20 runs ( 80 minutes)
Manly - 26 receipts - 0.75 passes to run ratio - 16 runs ( 80 minutes)
Souths - 41 receipts - 0.74 passes to run ratio - 23 runs ( 80 minutes)
Penrith - 41 receipts - 0.83 passes to run ratio - 23 runs ( 80 minutes0
Dogs - 4 Receipts - 0.33 passes to run ratio - HIA - 4 runs (22 minutes)
Knights - DNP
Storm - 34 receipts - 0.50 passes to run ratio - 22 runs ( 80 minutes)


A fallacy to suggest that Keary isn't running the ball or engaging the D line: 5th in line engagements with 54 (6 games), i.e., an average of 9 per game; Walker not in the top 50 where 50th has 15 line engagements; another example of why Walker should be a running half instead when not prepared or willing to take the D Line on, which not all halves want to for obvious reasons or are that type of half.

Line Engaged - Keary is engaging the line more the past 3 1/4 seasons than he has since 2017 which goes against the "opinions" on here his time is up and is "gun shy" in taking the line on as a result of previous concussions.

Keary

2017 - 130 - 2nd - 26 games
2018 - 88 - 10th - 23 games
2019 - 107 - 14th - 22 games
2020 - 132 - 2nd - 20 games
2021 - ACL
2022 - 143 - 7th - 22 games
2023 - 156 - 8th - 26 games
2024 - 54 - 5th - 6 games

Cronk

2018 - 95 - 9th - 26 games
2019 - 111 - 10th - 23 games

Walker

2021 - 108 - 11th - 22 games
2022 - 93 - 18th - 25 games
2023 - Number Not Listed - 10 games
2024 - Number Not listed as not in Top 50 - 5 games

How are those stats going superstar?

[Steggles]

How are those stats going superstar?

Salvo must have fired up Sam to deliver a master class. Thanks Salvo.

[King Salvo]

How are those stats going superstar?

Brilliant Analysis of what Sam Walker had to do - Gould and Johns even said the same thing about the way Sam Walker should play

" I think they need to ditch the idea that Sam Walker will be a Organising /Game Management type of half and have him run the ball and mix his game up - run / pass and kick etc "

How's your campaign to get rid of Coach Robinson and Luke Keary going - took a hit today

[Bates]

Here we go.

[tloos1999]

Brilliant Analysis of what Sam Walker had to do - Gould and Johns even said the same thing about the way Sam Walker should play

" I think they need to ditch the idea that Sam Walker will be a Organising /Game Management type of half and have him run the ball and mix his game up - run / pass and kick etc "

How's your campaign to get rid of Coach Robinson and Luke Keary going - took a hit today

Never seen someone so consistently in the wrong, try so wholeheartedly to convince themselves that they are right. The only people who agree with your shonky takes are probably from the burner forum accounts you’ve made for yourself. But whatever helps you sleep at night.

Good on Keary and Robinson - was a great win - one that means nothing when we still haven’t competed with genuine contenders since 2020. Here’s hoping this win kickstarts our season - at least you and I can find common ground in that wish.