Trent Robinson interview - SEN

[Rooster_6]

Really good interview, talks through his early life growing up, finding coaching and his coaching career to date. Probably of more immediate interest though;

> Asked if this is a rebuilding year... Said he's very focused on playing a lot of the young players this year, wants to get a lot of minutes into them but obviously still wants them to believe in what they can do.

> Said he signed Reece Robson because of they style of player he is, labelled him a tough 80minute defensive hooker who has good service and a slick running game. Said historically the Roosters have succeeded when having these types of players, highlighted Elwyn Walter, Simon Bonetti & Jake Friend as examples of this.

> Confirmed he has told Cheese this will be his last year, but committed to him for 2025.

> Acknowledged that playing Terrell May in every game this year and then moving him on would be confusing to a lot of people but said that he wants to attack the game in a certain style of way and May just doesn't fit that style. Said he feels like he's well stocked in that area with players who can play the style he is after and moving May on allows some space for those players to come in and develop. Said that if people were thinking it was to make way for a signing they are wrong and they are happy with the depth at the club in this position.

Full video if anyone wants to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyoX...hJoelandFletch

[Bates]

Busting to know what this "certain style of way" is and why May who is approaching the best years of his footy career wouldn't be able to adjust. After all, Robbo has had the biggest influence on Mays style.

So so strange!

[Chook2]

It’s utterly perplexing the situation I still don’t think I have seen this before and why May and other players still don’t understand
never have I seen a player who has just re signed on a bargain deal the club had who is just starting to reach his potential and in his prime move him on for no gain - no new player we have just weakened the position for no reason!

Yes a player like the Vaa bros will eventually improve but we have them anyway and still many roster spots to fill so why the hell let a gun player go just for the sake of they don’t fit our style? Yea in a few years time it will be “this is why we moved may on” as someone has stepped up but coming into a year allready loosing jwh and 5 of our top 17 and $4m of player talent why we need to move another on is interesting

what confidence does this give anyone in the team other then you could get a call any minute to say your not required anymore

[Rooster_6]

Busting to know what this "certain style of way" is and why May who is approaching the best years of his footy career wouldn't be able to adjust. After all, Robbo has had the biggest influence on Mays style.

So so strange!

Think it's pretty clear now that Robinson wants to move back to that power running game from his forwards.

More typical of the forwards like Moa, Taukeiaho, Liu, Hargreaves & Cordner.

[Rooster_6]

It’s utterly perplexing the situation I still don’t think I have seen this before and why May and other players still don’t understand
never have I seen a player who has just re signed on a bargain deal the club had who is just starting to reach his potential and in his prime move him on for no gain - no new player we have just weakened the position for no reason!

Yes a player like the Vaa bros will eventually improve but we have them anyway and still many roster spots to fill so why the hell let a gun player go just for the sake of they don’t fit our style? Yea in a few years time it will be “this is why we moved may on” as someone has stepped up but coming into a year allready loosing jwh and 5 of our top 17 and $4m of player talent why we need to move another on is interesting

what confidence does this give anyone in the team other then you could get a call any minute to say your not required anymore

I don't think the situation is perplexing at all, it seems pretty straight forward to me. You might disagree with the decision but to me there is a clear and very explainable rationale. Robinson wants to move back to a power running game and May doesn't fit that style so he's moved him on and will instead invest those minutes into players who more naturally fit the style he wants his forward pack to play.

I was critical of Robinson for not getting the balance right with his spine this year so I think in terms of roster management this is a step back in the right direction, there's a strong consideration around balance and cohesion.

I'm excited to see us returning back to a power running forward pack and backing strong defensive based players like Robson. It concerned me when our ethos was to recruit on attacking ability first which was confirmed by Robinson in a previous interview early this year or last year.

I think we all agreed that something needed to change if we want to compete with the elite sides so I'm not perplexed and personally having given it consideration I'm optimistic we are heading in a better direction even if we might not see the fruits of that for another 18months.

[Yak]

Totally agree R6. Those stats you brought up the other week about his average run metre gain are pretty damning. To be fair they would bump up slightly if you counted metres made after an offload. But he was clearly always a one-pace prop. His tackle efficiency is really high because he has such a big engine and is a naturally strong guy. One thing I noticed at the back end of the year and in particular when he played for Samoa was that on a few line breaks he would be the one at fault and wouldn’t even lay a hand on the runner. That doesn’t go down as even an ineffective tackle yet is so meaningful to the result. That’s the drawback of middles that are one-paced like that. They sometimes don’t have the acceleration when they really need it.

If he doesn’t suit the playing style then why would you carry him for 2025 as a prop who would chew up big minutes in turn restricting the minutes of Whyte, Wong, Steep, both Va’a boys who all have more punch and explosiveness than May does. He obviously sees them as the future and the more of them that we can get to crossing the 50 game mark in 2026 then the better our chances will be that year. Everyone on here would be livid if those boys showed more promise this year and then left the club because their path was blocked.

May works for the Tigers because they have no other decent props. Klemmer is a plodder, as is Twal. Seyfarth is decent but would probably not make our bench. Pole is probably their only middle with any impact. Of course he’s going to do well at the Tigers. But he’d have to change the type of player he is for me to be disappointed by his release in a year’s time.

[Chook2]

I don't think the situation is perplexing at all, it seems pretty straight forward to me. You might disagree with the decision but to me there is a clear and very explainable rationale. Robinson wants to move back to a power running game and May doesn't fit that style so he's moved him on and will instead invest those minutes into players who more naturally fit the style he wants his forward pack to play.

I was critical of Robinson for not getting the balance right with his spine this year so I think in terms of roster management this is a step back in the right direction, there's a strong consideration around balance and cohesion.

I'm excited to see us returning back to a power running forward pack and backing strong defensive based players like Robson. It concerned me when our ethos was to recruit on attacking ability first which was confirmed by Robinson in a previous interview early this year or last year.

I think we all agreed that something needed to change if we want to compete with the elite sides so I'm not perplexed and personally having given it consideration I'm optimistic we are heading in a better direction even if we might not see the fruits of that for another 18months.

It’s a balancing act and I agree the spine was off but this has nothing to do with May with the spine! Collins isn’t a power runner either! If you go to far the other way and try and have to many Spencer’s you get guys gassed after 15 min! Our front row will be very weak around origin time with only Whyte there and maybe young Vaa bros or butchers
my other thoughts are how do we have no $ to buy anyone?
spencer and Whyte are not defensively strong either at times

we had plenty of well highly paid players who underperformed last year and didn’t step up when required - so I just find it hard to call out one first year first grader on minimal money who plays different to others and many here believe was our best front rower this year

jwh wasn’t on the field, Collins got smashed and Leniu was gassed after 4 runs

but anyway feeling 2025 maybe the year of blooding a few new guys then going all in for 2026 with a similar side plus a recruit or two like Robson who is a step in the right direction for sure

[Lydon]

Although it sounds exciting that the Club has identified we need to go back to a power game through the middle,it scares me to bits knowing the leader of the charge will be Lindsay Collins..

He was running at snails pace last year and getting smashed left right and centre,which is a little concerning..

[Thirteen]

Robbo is obviously not going to air his dirty laundry in public but it sounds pretty pathetic saying that May doesn’t fit our style. I guess he has to say something to justify letting him go. I think I’d prefer if he said we had to let him go, but I cannot reveal the reasons.

[Thirteen]

Although it sounds exciting that the Club has identified we need to go back to a power game through the middle,it scares me to bits knowing the leader of the charge will be Lindsay Collins..

He was running a snails pace last year and getting smashed left right and centre,which is a little concerning..

Lindsay is an absolute rag doll. I don’t watch Australian games but I find it hard to believe he’s one of the best props in Australia. When was the last time you saw Jarred, JFH or AFB get pumped. Lindsay is easy pickings for opposition defence. Nothing worse than seeing your front rower get smashed all the time. Not much authority there.

[Chook2]

Lindsay is an absolute rag doll. I don’t watch Australian games but I find it hard to believe he’s one of the best props in Australia. When was the last time you saw Jarred, JFH or AFB get pumped. Lindsay is easy pickings for opposition defence. Nothing worse than seeing your front rower get smashed all the time. Not much authority there.

And this makes you wonder why we keep Lindsay on $750k a year when May is stronger on $450k a year and younger with more upside

[Mr Whippet]

Totally agree R6. Those stats you brought up the other week about his average run metre gain are pretty damning. To be fair they would bump up slightly if you counted metres made after an offload. But he was clearly always a one-pace prop. His tackle efficiency is really high because he has such a big engine and is a naturally strong guy. One thing I noticed at the back end of the year and in particular when he played for Samoa was that on a few line breaks he would be the one at fault and wouldn’t even lay a hand on the runner. That doesn’t go down as even an ineffective tackle yet is so meaningful to the result. That’s the drawback of middles that are one-paced like that. They sometimes don’t have the acceleration when they really need it.

If he doesn’t suit the playing style then why would you carry him for 2025 as a prop who would chew up big minutes in turn restricting the minutes of Whyte, Wong, Steep, both Va’a boys who all have more punch and explosiveness than May does. He obviously sees them as the future and the more of them that we can get to crossing the 50 game mark in 2026 then the better our chances will be that year. Everyone on here would be livid if those boys showed more promise this year and then left the club because their path was blocked.

May works for the Tigers because they have no other decent props. Klemmer is a plodder, as is Twal. Seyfarth is decent but would probably not make our bench. Pole is probably their only middle with any impact. Of course he’s going to do well at the Tigers. But he’d have to change the type of player he is for me to be disappointed by his release in a year’s time.

Absolutely brilliant post.
Deserves to be read and reread so many of us can reset our confidence for 2025.

[Bates]

Think it's pretty clear now that Robinson wants to move back to that power running game from his forwards.

More typical of the forwards like Moa, Taukeiaho, Liu, Hargreaves & Cordner.

So why did he move away from it in the first place if it was so successful?

[HunchoRooster]

I think I'm done with Robbo mentally and so I don't get anything out of his interviews anymore. Never seen a guy say so much without saying anything.

I will very gleefully and happily eat crow should his methods win us another premiership.

[Bondicigar]

So why did he move away from it in the first place if it was so successful?

I couldn't imagine a coach telling his forwards to run a bit softer