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ROOSTERS SQUAD v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Round 8 - 4:05PM, Thursday 25th April
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Arguably the biggest clash of the regular season, the Roosters v Dragons ANZAC Day clash is always an emotion charged, rugged affair. I love these games. I love the tradition, I love the atmosphere, I love the big moments ... who could forget Freddy's magnificent individual try in the 2004 game? Brilliant stuff. Our overall record however is not great in these games (9-12), but we have won 4 of the last 6. We're as consistent as a Melbourne weather forecast, swinging between moments of brilliance and bumbling mediocrity faster than you can say "Roosters Footy." The Dragons have been inconsistent too, but have managed to put together a couple of decent performances in the last 2 weeks.
We're getting desperate and need this big, emotive, occasion ... we badly need something to light a fire underneath our under performing team and lift them to the dizzy heights of their (purported) potential (poo-tential?). This game does mean a lot to the players, especially Jaz who ALWAYS lifts for this game. Hopefully a little fire and brimstone from the forwards can set the tone for a dominant win. That's what I know as "Roosters Footy" ... go through the middle. Win the arm wrestle and earn the right to play more expansively later in the game and in good field position.
This is a must-win game for mine. We simply cannot afford another loss and to slip further behind on the ladder. We need to find form and find it now. Following this week we have the Bronco's (A), Warriors (H), Sharks (A) & the Raiders (A). Not an easy run. If we keep playing like we have been, our season could be over before the bye in round 14. God help us if that happens .... the meltdown on here will be biblical.
Walker and Dom Young are back, but let's not get too excited. The last time they played we managed to put together worst 40 minutes of our season to date, so thier inclusion is no silver bullet. It does however give some more room to Kez. No disrespect to Watson, but he didn't really present as a viable attacking or kicking option last week, which made Keary's job much more difficult and allowed the Storm to read the play with relative ease. I much prefer having Watson at 14 and playing as a running lock or using his speed out of dummy half to create a point of difference. Nice to see Xavier Va'a named on the extended bench. No Sitili anywhere?
Left center is still an issue. Get well soon Billy, we need you fit and firing.
Roosters by ..... a minor miracle.
GO EASTS !!
ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Suaalii
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Smith, B
10. Collins
11. Chrichton
12. Butcher, N
13. Radley
INTERCHANGE:
14. Watson
15. Whyte
16. Butcher, E
17. May
RESERVES:
18. Jennings
19. Wong
20. Dockar-Clay
21. Va'a
22. Pauga
Round 8 - 4:05PM, Thursday 25th April
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Arguably the biggest clash of the regular season, the Roosters v Dragons ANZAC Day clash is always an emotion charged, rugged affair. I love these games. I love the tradition, I love the atmosphere, I love the big moments ... who could forget Freddy's magnificent individual try in the 2004 game? Brilliant stuff. Our overall record however is not great in these games (9-12), but we have won 4 of the last 6. We're as consistent as a Melbourne weather forecast, swinging between moments of brilliance and bumbling mediocrity faster than you can say "Roosters Footy." The Dragons have been inconsistent too, but have managed to put together a couple of decent performances in the last 2 weeks.
We're getting desperate and need this big, emotive, occasion ... we badly need something to light a fire underneath our under performing team and lift them to the dizzy heights of their (purported) potential (poo-tential?). This game does mean a lot to the players, especially Jaz who ALWAYS lifts for this game. Hopefully a little fire and brimstone from the forwards can set the tone for a dominant win. That's what I know as "Roosters Footy" ... go through the middle. Win the arm wrestle and earn the right to play more expansively later in the game and in good field position.
This is a must-win game for mine. We simply cannot afford another loss and to slip further behind on the ladder. We need to find form and find it now. Following this week we have the Bronco's (A), Warriors (H), Sharks (A) & the Raiders (A). Not an easy run. If we keep playing like we have been, our season could be over before the bye in round 14. God help us if that happens .... the meltdown on here will be biblical.
Walker and Dom Young are back, but let's not get too excited. The last time they played we managed to put together worst 40 minutes of our season to date, so thier inclusion is no silver bullet. It does however give some more room to Kez. No disrespect to Watson, but he didn't really present as a viable attacking or kicking option last week, which made Keary's job much more difficult and allowed the Storm to read the play with relative ease. I much prefer having Watson at 14 and playing as a running lock or using his speed out of dummy half to create a point of difference. Nice to see Xavier Va'a named on the extended bench. No Sitili anywhere?
Left center is still an issue. Get well soon Billy, we need you fit and firing.
Roosters by ..... a minor miracle.
GO EASTS !!
ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Suaalii
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Smith, B
10. Collins
11. Chrichton
12. Butcher, N
13. Radley
INTERCHANGE:
14. Watson
15. Whyte
16. Butcher, E
17. May
RESERVES:
18. Jennings
19. Wong
20. Dockar-Clay
21. Va'a
22. Pauga
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