SYDNEY ROOSTERS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

[Waylander]

ROOSTERS v RABBITOHS

Round 27 - Friday 7th September, 8:00pm
Accor Stadium, Sydney

OK, I was seriously contemplating a defeatist, disconsolate write up, but F it, we might have our backs against the wall, but we aren't quite done yet. Beaten up we may be, but we're not beaten. Where there's life, there's hope, and as long as the Roosters can put a team on the field that's still breathing I'm not going to stop hoping against hope that we can we can still put a dent in this comp. Understrength? Yes. Powerless? NO. We still have a team that includes 7 internationals, plus an Origin player. Half the comp would be in envy of the team we can still field.

Souths are a rabble, and if there's one thing can cheer me up it's giving them another hiding this year. I travelled to Sydney to watch Jazz's 300th against the Vermin, and walked away deliriously happy (yes, the beers helped). To do that again would be wonderful. There's no reason we can't dominate this match, regardless of who we are putting on the field.

Congrats to De La Salle Va'a who makes his debut off the bench this week. Good luck young man!! Xavier is also on the extended bench, along with Elliott & Nawaqanitawase.

Plenty of team changes, with the body count from last week at 4. Toops also rested (I assume) ...
In: Sandon, ZDC, Wong, Pauga, Sua'ali'i & DLS Va'a
Out: Sam, Cheese, Rads, Toops, Jennings & Nat

Unavailable: JWH, Sammy, Cheese, Rads, Egan & Nat.

The count goes ever on: 123

DON'T GIVE UP YET. LET'S GET BEHIND THE BOYS AND CHEER THEM ON.

Roosters by 14.


GO EASTS !!

ROOSTERS:
1. Teddy
2. Pauga
3. Sua'ali'i
4. Manu
5. Young
6. Keary
7. Smith, Sandon
8. Leniu
9. Watson
10. Collins
11. Crichton
12. Tupouniua
13. Whyte

INTERCHANGE:
14. ZDC
15. Wong
16. Va'a, DLS
17. May

RESERVES:
18. Jennings
19. Steep
20. Nawaqanitawase
21. Elliott
22. Va'a, X

[FlamingRooster]

Plv a proud uncle for sure

[caz]

yeah, we need to re-boot. we are no longer the team which is as likely to win the comp as the storm or panthers but what we are is a team with sone good players who have made the finals and will have two bites of the cherry. game on.
sounds like toops has been given a rest. no guarantee this will be the team that runs out at 8pm but looking for sandon to be solid. kick his kicks, make his tackles, have the odd run and connect with the talent outside him.
it's not every team that makes the finals and regardless of what happened last week we want to make the most of the opportunity

[nayfo]

Thanks Waylander once again.

Anyone got any info on how Sandon has been going in reserve grade TY. Haven’t watched any reserve grade games TY myself

[A Country Member]

In the email from the club they listed the team from Round 25 against the Titans. With both Walker and Smith named. Huh?

[King Salvo]

In the email from the club they listed the team from Round 25 against the Titans. With both Walker and Smith named. Huh?

Just amended it - new email

[HunchoRooster]

Strange one. I would've rested more than just Toops.

Praying it doesn't backfire. There should be far more than just DLS V'aa debuting this week.

[A Country Member]

Thanks Waylander once again.

Anyone got any info on how Sandon has been going in reserve grade TY. Haven’t watched any reserve grade games TY myslef

Watch here Nayf

[RoosterBooster]

Intern on the Roosters emails, three amended emails sent !!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Geez I think Robbo has made a blue here. It's almost like he's doing a fly-over to show we still have strength before the real war begins. It's still a very strong team.

If ever we were going to rest guys, this had to be the moment.

I hold grave fears of giving Souths a free hit to nobble us further before the play-offs. Burgess and Milne will undoubtedly have a go, nothing for them to lose.

I'm normally an eternal optimist about us going all the way, but if we lose Ted or Kez here it becomes extremely challenging. FFS.

[007]

A fair bit of unpredictability with that side and that's not a bad thing. Naming that side, I would say they are definitely going for the win, and I think that's the way to go. Regardless of where we end up (3rd or 4th), we've been in good form, so I think naming a strong side is a good thing. Wighton, Mitchell and Murray all out evens up the ledger a fair bit.

I think (and hope) Sandon Smith will play well - the talent is there so he has an excellent opportunity to showcase his skills. Brandon Smith has been OK, but I don't think we lose anything with Connor Watson and ZDC on the bench is good. Whyte for Butcher - yes, thankyou. Tupouniua has been playing well but we will miss Radley. Wong - some x factor there in my opinion but also happy with his selection. Tupou's a champion but Pauga is a handy replacement. JWH - yes, the Roosters grow an extra leg when he's on the field but penalties, sin bins etc. can cost us but would still rather him there but so be it. DLS Va'a - well done on making your debut - good luck. Start your debut with a victory please, the only thing better than beating that wanker Russell Crowe and his fellow wankers is beating crybaby Ezra and his fellow crybaby's. Yes, the Broncos are now my most hated team and have been since Monkeygate.

[gragra]

Agree absolutely.....counting on penrith to lose to the Titans , if we win, is a real hail Mary long shot. And if we lose to Souths, Penrith can then rest players against the Titans without any loss of position and our guys will have missed a rest.

[Vasco]

Geez I think Robbo has made a blue here. It's almost like he's doing a fly-over to show we still have strength before the real war begins. It's still a very strong team.

If ever we were going to rest guys, this had to be the moment.

I hold grave fears of giving Souths a free hit to nobble us further before the play-offs. Burgess and Milne will undoubtedly have a go, nothing for them to lose.

I'm normally an eternal optimist about us going all the way, but if we lose Ted or Kez here it becomes extremely challenging. FFS.

Yep. I get you always want to beat Souffs but we can't afford any more injuries or suspensions.

Bennett will be in Hornby's ear about getting under our skin as it could benefit him in the semis

[Inflictor]

I'm happy with the side. We need to have one game with our new halves combo and hooker to see what we do right and wrong with the likely line up going into the semis.

I doubt we would go in with the high intensity just because it is Souffs.

[Lydon]

I have a feeling Robbo has gone this way to run some combos heading into the semis..

I know Sandon has been in the squad and system for a while now but the way we played in attack with Walker out last Sunday was scary bad..

So maybe Robbo thinks best to play a game together with Sandon running the ship,with an eye towards the following week!

Hopefully it doesn’t back fire as we can’t afford to lose any more players.