Official match day thread: Roosters v Saints

[Chook2]

The dragons will struggle this year
a full strength side while we were missing Teddy, toops, Billy smith, walker, cheese, Collins , Angus, rads and 2 butcher’s along with extra steep, Roberts, Seve and ZDC
toia looked good as did Whyte
whyte needs to start with Collins - Spencer is a bench prop
Spencer stood up for chooks mid seasons and origin
next week will be a better indication

[roosterchook]

It’ll be a different story when our top players return although we still need to be able to beat the top teams.

[gragra]

Most of the no name of this group look like light weight triers without being great back ups for when injuries occur to the best in the squad. Dom unfortunately still a sieve in defence. Sandon looked v sharp, Chad competent without being anything special, Mark and Toia v solid..

[Mr Whippet]

English rugby union could do us a massive favour and sign this guy. The club needs to stop buying these dud "star" signings like Young and Cheese

To be fair, before they were signed, there was much comment on this Site, that we should go after them.

[Headless Chook]

My take on last night.

1. It was a trial game
2. Nobody got hurt
3. We are still sitting in equal first on the premiership ladder

[Headless Chook]

The dragons will struggle this year
a full strength side while we were missing Teddy, toops, Billy smith, walker, cheese, Collins , Angus, rads and 2 butcher’s along with extra steep, Roberts, Seve and ZDC
toia looked good as did Whyte
whyte needs to start with Collins - Spencer is a bench prop
Spencer stood up for chooks mid seasons and origin
next week will be a better indication

And Connor Watson to come back as well.

It was amusing listening to the commentary saying how good the Dragons looked and that the Roosters looked off the pace. Nearly as amusing as reading some of the meltdowns on here because our NSW Cup team got run over by the Dragons 1st string NRL team. Don't know what some people were expecting

[Vasco]

Biggest thing that I will be keeping an eye on is how Marky N and Toia go defensively, if they are going to lock down those centre positions they will need to prove over the next couple of weeks they won't be defensive liabilities.

I think Toia's biggest problem will be defending alongside Young, who is dead set useless in defence.

[roosterproud]

And Connor Watson to come back as well.

It was amusing listening to the commentary saying how good the Dragons looked and that the Roosters looked off the pace. Nearly as amusing as reading some of the meltdowns on here because our NSW Cup team got run over by the Dragons 1st string NRL team. Don't know what some people were expecting

I laughed at that as well. I also enjoyed hearing that the roosters most nrl experience player on the field was Ethan King at 1 game of NRL. hahahahaha. loved it.

copied from hutchorooster::

Not a great game. None of the young blokes stepped up. Despite being about 8ft tall, V'aa looked like he got injured every time he made a carry. Still a bit off first grade I think.

Spencer missed some really basic tackles including falling for the dummy from the ever dynamic and mercurial Kyle Flanagan. Rodwell looked ok in the sense he had a good kicking game, decent boot on him but he's using other young blokes and NSW Cup stock.

I think a few of the young blokes stood up. Tom Rodwell looked goods on the wing. defends good and not afraid to go hard in attack. Toby Rodwell showed enough to be confident about a future here,
I totally agree the Dela sa VAa is not first grade material. simple footy done bad. no quick play the balls, medium run impacts slow to his feet, rubbish defensive read and no mongrel.
i like seeing 23 Hugo and 25 Tyreece play together. good combo. give these two a year together in nsw cup.
salesi foketi went hard with a bit of Sam Moa about him. tuff cannonball. along with the 28 at the end of the game Aholoka Toia

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Thought Whyte looked strong in the middle. Can see the raps on Toia, looking forward to watching him break it out this year. Both Rodwells look promising. Good to the see the Va'as get some minutes together against a battle hardened pack.

Our 'points for' will take a drop this year obviously, Keary and Walker on either side of the ruck gave us probably the most potency in attack in the comp.

Losing two champions in one hit like Kez and JWH can't really be replaced. Not just on the park, but the culture and standards they set off it. And we have lost other talent of course and not replaced them.

Will be very surprised if we make the playoffs this year. On the plus side there's opportunity for some younger guys to hit the ground running and bust it out.

[Rooster_6]

I thought Whyte’s attacking runs were really good. It’s just a shame about his goal line defence, he just doesn’t cover.
I thought Rodwell looked really good this second half.
I do think Toia and Mark N will be a good centre combo but limited ball to both we didn’t get to see much.

It’s disappointing that watching all of those YouTube videos and any other player podcast, interviews etc every player was throwing up how we have been focusing on defence, yet that was probably our biggest downfall all night.

Harsh on Whyte for that try IMO, Leniu gets caught overchasing which is caused by Va'a not pushing up into the line and getting caught on his heels. That is never Whyte's tackle to make. Sure some of your elite defenders there might be making a cover tackle but not your primary yardage carrier.

[Rooster_6]

I can’t see anything to write home about. Rodwell is playing against a NSW Cup team, so not much to gauge from

Dom Young hasn’t learnt to defend nor run straight on hit ups.

Whyte and Leniu’s defence in the middle is bog average

Townsend and Smith did zip, but they were behind a cumbersome forward pack

bottom 8

Every time I see Rodwell play I'm super impressed, his reading of structure is ridiculous for a kid who's still SG Ball eligible. It was the passes he didn't throw tonight that were just as impressive as some of the ones he did which created space for Toia and Elliott.

[Rooster_6]

Not a great game. None of the young blokes stepped up. Despite being about 8ft tall, V'aa looked like he got injured every time he made a carry. Still a bit off first grade I think.

Spencer missed some really basic tackles including falling for the dummy from the ever dynamic and mercurial Kyle Flanagan. Rodwell looked ok in the sense he had a good kicking game, decent boot on him but he's vsing other young blokes and NSW Cup stock.

Sandon laid on the try well but his defence and other last tackle options were putrid. Looks unsure of himself.

Mark N does not look as good as I thought. Hoping he was going at 50% because its a trial game after all.

I know I'm kind of repeating myself but again wasn't Spencers fault, he had to over chase because Va'a doesn't move up into the defensive line. It's easy to be made to look foolish in that kind of scenario but you can't blame Spencer he essentially had no defender on his outside shoulder and ended up overchasing.

[Big Dog]

Only a trial game, but bloody hell, we look slow and ordinary.

There is no line speed, and our attack looks flat.

This is going to be a long season !

Our seasons have started slow and ordinary for some time now.

[dice]

1. S Wong has lost pace and looks slow. Will struggle to make the 17.

I made a similar comment when I first saw him play last year. I don't think it is correct to say he has lost pace. He never had any.

[roosterproud]

good to see Robbo hasnt changed our game plan. one winger off the ruck first ,second and third play a forward running then a kick straight to the opposition full back