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ROOSTERS SQUAD v BULLDOGS
Round 16 - 5:30pm, Saturday 22nd June
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
I find it a little difficult to get a read on last weeks game. The Eels are not a bad side, and on their day they will trouble anyone, especially at home. We played great for the first 20, but then their offloads started to kill us ... either we just stopped committing in the tackles, or they really upped their game. Maybe a bit of both.
Ultimately, it was a valuable 2 points for us, and we sit in 5th, just one win from the top 4. Interestingly, the Dolphins host the Storm on Friday night. A Storm win would see us with a chance to enter the 4. We are crazy odds to win this week, considering the players we have out. The Dogs are not a bad side, and only have Stephen Crichton in the Origin sides. Their defence is well organised, but they can struggle to score points. It's a winnable game, but it won't be a walk over. After a poor start to taking games to Gosford, the Roosters have won their past four games at Industree Group Stadium, and nine of their past 11 games against the Bulldogs.
With our Origin reps on duty this week, so we are missing some serious grunt from our pack. That said, there's still plenty of talent on display. Having Teddy is a bonus, but I'm going put a caveat on that ... he tends to overplay his hand when we're down a few troops, and can actually stifle our backs. I'd prefer to see him trust the guys that have come in and let things play out as normal. Otherwise our genuine strike weapons like Manu, Toops & Young will be starved of good ball. Speaking of Manu, I'm hoping for a big game from him ... he was disappointing against the Cows. The Cheese is also back from the naughty corner. We need him on his game this week. His punch through the ruck will go a long way to off-setting the missing guys. At least we know that Sandon will get some decent game time this time around.
Wong, Tupouniua and Steep* all come in to the side. King is 18th man. If he gets a run, hembecomes Rooster #1232.
I'd like to see Whyte used in the prop rotation for his second stint, with Wong covering lock. (As opposed to Wong being used at prop, even though he's been playing there in Reggies.)
Game 114 without our best 17.
I'm expecting a tough game, but as we approach the business end of the season, I also expect to see us begin steeling ourselves for September. We generally build into a season, performing stronger in the back end. We are in a better position at this point in the season than we've been for quite a while. Hopefully that bodes well for Top 4 finish. This is exactly the type of game we MUST win if we are to accomplish that.
***I'm hoping for nothing silly from JWH this week. If he stays on the field, Jazz will equal Aubbo's record of 306 games for the Roosters next week against the Tigers. He should then break it in Rnd 19 against the Dragons, becoming the most capped player in our 116+ year history.***
Roosters by 8
GO EASTS !!
ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Pauga
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Smith, B
10. May
11. Butcher, N
12. Radley
13. Whyte
INTERCHANGE:
14. Smith, Sandon
15. Steep*
16. Tupouniua
17. Wong
RESERVES:
18. King
19. Napa
20. Moriarty
21. Savala
22. Foketi
* Blake Steep (along with De La Salle Va'a and Jake Elliott) was named in the U19's SOO to be played on Thursday night (7:45pm on Nine, Fox etc). If he plays that game, he will have to back up 2 days later, barring injury.
Round 16 - 5:30pm, Saturday 22nd June
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
I find it a little difficult to get a read on last weeks game. The Eels are not a bad side, and on their day they will trouble anyone, especially at home. We played great for the first 20, but then their offloads started to kill us ... either we just stopped committing in the tackles, or they really upped their game. Maybe a bit of both.
Ultimately, it was a valuable 2 points for us, and we sit in 5th, just one win from the top 4. Interestingly, the Dolphins host the Storm on Friday night. A Storm win would see us with a chance to enter the 4. We are crazy odds to win this week, considering the players we have out. The Dogs are not a bad side, and only have Stephen Crichton in the Origin sides. Their defence is well organised, but they can struggle to score points. It's a winnable game, but it won't be a walk over. After a poor start to taking games to Gosford, the Roosters have won their past four games at Industree Group Stadium, and nine of their past 11 games against the Bulldogs.
With our Origin reps on duty this week, so we are missing some serious grunt from our pack. That said, there's still plenty of talent on display. Having Teddy is a bonus, but I'm going put a caveat on that ... he tends to overplay his hand when we're down a few troops, and can actually stifle our backs. I'd prefer to see him trust the guys that have come in and let things play out as normal. Otherwise our genuine strike weapons like Manu, Toops & Young will be starved of good ball. Speaking of Manu, I'm hoping for a big game from him ... he was disappointing against the Cows. The Cheese is also back from the naughty corner. We need him on his game this week. His punch through the ruck will go a long way to off-setting the missing guys. At least we know that Sandon will get some decent game time this time around.
Wong, Tupouniua and Steep* all come in to the side. King is 18th man. If he gets a run, hembecomes Rooster #1232.
I'd like to see Whyte used in the prop rotation for his second stint, with Wong covering lock. (As opposed to Wong being used at prop, even though he's been playing there in Reggies.)
Game 114 without our best 17.
I'm expecting a tough game, but as we approach the business end of the season, I also expect to see us begin steeling ourselves for September. We generally build into a season, performing stronger in the back end. We are in a better position at this point in the season than we've been for quite a while. Hopefully that bodes well for Top 4 finish. This is exactly the type of game we MUST win if we are to accomplish that.
***I'm hoping for nothing silly from JWH this week. If he stays on the field, Jazz will equal Aubbo's record of 306 games for the Roosters next week against the Tigers. He should then break it in Rnd 19 against the Dragons, becoming the most capped player in our 116+ year history.***
Roosters by 8
GO EASTS !!
ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Tupou
3. Pauga
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Walker
8. JWH
9. Smith, B
10. May
11. Butcher, N
12. Radley
13. Whyte
INTERCHANGE:
14. Smith, Sandon
15. Steep*
16. Tupouniua
17. Wong
RESERVES:
18. King
19. Napa
20. Moriarty
21. Savala
22. Foketi
* Blake Steep (along with De La Salle Va'a and Jake Elliott) was named in the U19's SOO to be played on Thursday night (7:45pm on Nine, Fox etc). If he plays that game, he will have to back up 2 days later, barring injury.
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