Official match day thread: Roosters v Saints

[Jacks Fur Coat]

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

You're being a bit harsh RP....at least we are still clear about how we are going to play, and are ready to go after it.

[BTRD]

At this stage Whyte needs to start. Spencer on the bench. I wonder if our bench may have a surprise selection come round 1.

[King Salvo]

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

Maybe Dom's problem last year was defending outside Joseph Manu who was no great shakes as a defender and a regular in the top 50 missed tackles - 2 occasions even top 25

Comparing Dom's tackle efficiency against other 190cm plus winger it's not that bad - Dom being the tallest at 200 cm - Jason Saab next at 199cm's

• Dom Young - 80% tackle efficiency
• Toops - 81% tackle efficiency
• Will Warbrick - 77% tackle efficiency
• Ronaldo Mulitalo - 76% tackle efficiency
• Jack Bostock - 81% tackle efficiency
• Jason Saab - 81% tackle efficiency

Maybe their height plays a part as it can do when outleaping opponents for the ball for tries.

Brian To'o - one of the shortest if not shortest wingers at 182 cm has the best tackle efficiency for a winger - To'o's not going outleap many wingers for the ball especially the one's above.

Brian To'o - 89% tackle efficiency

[Waylander]

Unfortunately, stats don't tell the whole story. When you panic & rush in off your wing, and the opposition runs straight through were you were SUPPOSED to be, untouched, it doesn't count as a missed or ineffective tackle, because you didn't actually attempt one. It's still a major error though.

["gaz"]

First trial done and dusted

Some of what I took from the game

Saints:
Goal - Play to win (Watch Flanno's body language in the coach's box very animated he came to win)
How - Use full first grade team
(Will Flanno do the same next week? I wonder)

Roosters:
Goal - 1. Match fitness for Flegg/NSW Cup and NRL
2. Give the young players a taste of NRLlevel footy and how does the team handle pressure
3. Let new combos develop
4. Assess players
How - Pick this side to fit goals above. Robbo doesn't mind seeing his trial teams face adversity to see how they respond under pressure
Also this side was not balanced for competitiveness for example as many as 6 halves were in the squad they were sometimes played out of position just to give them a run
(Next weeks team will be different again full of players who haven't played and more likely the squad will resemble our R1 Squad)
(Note: Robbo, Holbrook and Morris all observing and taking notes from coach's box)

[Schooner]

I thought Tayler Losalu was much better than De La Salle Vaa although he was playing the weaker team in second half. He was very good in Cup last year. I'd like to see him get some bench time in NRL along with Steep Roberts and Wong. If Billy Smith is fit I'd consider moving Mark N to wing and dropping Young. Other than speed he doesn't have anything: lost in defence and panics when caught in attack. He needs a lot more instinctive football knowledge while Mark N looks like he could learn the job quickly.

[Rooster_6]

Maybe Dom's problem last year was defending outside Joseph Manu who was no great shakes as a defender and a regular in the top 50 missed tackles - 2 occasions even top 25

Comparing Dom's tackle efficiency against other 190cm plus winger it's not that bad - Dom being the tallest at 200 cm - Jason Saab next at 199cm's

• Dom Young - 80% tackle efficiency
• Toops - 81% tackle efficiency
• Will Warbrick - 77% tackle efficiency
• Ronaldo Mulitalo - 76% tackle efficiency
• Jack Bostock - 81% tackle efficiency
• Jason Saab - 81% tackle efficiency

Maybe their height plays a part as it can do when outleaping opponents for the ball for tries.

Brian To'o - one of the shortest if not shortest wingers at 182 cm has the best tackle efficiency for a winger - To'o's not going outleap many wingers for the ball especially the one's above.

Brian To'o - 89% tackle efficiency

2025 and still blaming Dom Young’s deficiencies on a guy that’s in Japan.

[Vasco]

Maybe Dom's problem last year was defending outside Joseph Manu who was no great shakes as a defender and a regular in the top 50 missed tackles - 2 occasions even top 25

Comparing Dom's tackle efficiency against other 190cm plus winger it's not that bad - Dom being the tallest at 200 cm - Jason Saab next at 199cm's

• Dom Young - 80% tackle efficiency
• Toops - 81% tackle efficiency
• Will Warbrick - 77% tackle efficiency
• Ronaldo Mulitalo - 76% tackle efficiency
• Jack Bostock - 81% tackle efficiency
• Jason Saab - 81% tackle efficiency

Maybe their height plays a part as it can do when outleaping opponents for the ball for tries.

Brian To'o - one of the shortest if not shortest wingers at 182 cm has the best tackle efficiency for a winger - To'o's not going outleap many wingers for the ball especially the one's above.

Brian To'o - 89% tackle efficiency

I'm referring to his reads in defence. He couldn't read a picture book.

[Vasco]

I thought Tayler Losalu was much better than De La Salle Vaa although he was playing the weaker team in second half. He was very good in Cup last year. I'd like to see him get some bench time in NRL along with Steep Roberts and Wong. If Billy Smith is fit I'd consider moving Mark N to wing and dropping Young. Other than speed he doesn't have anything: lost in defence and panics when caught in attack. He needs a lot more instinctive football knowledge while Mark N looks like he could learn the job quickly.

I agree. I'm not a Dom Young fan at all.

[Keith]

I thought it was pretty good but hard to watch with just one out runs most of the time. , I liked the look of some of the young guys.
plenty to work with.

[SamKerrSimp]

Dominic Young's lack of defense was a thing at Newcastle it isn't something to blame on Manu or Toia he always has and always will be a dud

[King Salvo]

2025 and still blaming Dom Young’s deficiencies on a guy that’s in Japan.

You're one of Dom Young's biggest critics though - I don't think you thought much of him from day one

[King Salvo]

Dominic Young's lack of defense was a thing at Newcastle it isn't something to blame on Manu or Toia he always has and always will be a dud

Nope Dom is Good - at the Knights 43 tries in 51 games - 80% tackle efficiency too

You can see why Coach Robinson wanted him - but what does he know

Best tries from Dom Young’s historic 2023 NRL season: 2023 Highlight Reel | NRL on Nine

Some of the "duds" tries for England in the last World Cup in 2022 - 11 tests for England and 18 tries - yeh must be a "dud" to play International Football

Every Dom Young Try at the RLWC2021 - played in 2022

[Lydon]

Toby Rodwell looks like a natural organising 7..

I can’t wait for the Walker and Rodwell partnership for years to come,future looking bright!

[Rooster_6]

You're one of Dom Young's biggest critics though - I don't think you thought much of him from day one

I'm not sure what that has to do with the validity of my point, you're definitely his biggest defender... so what, it's ok to have a strong opinion? Why did Brett Morris never have any issues defending outside of Joey Manu? It's a flawed argument.

Perfect example, a simple 3 on 3 that Dom Young turns into a 3 on 2 and ends up on the floor for the next play the ball. A better centre or half would've taken advantage of that opportunity with a cut out pass or tap on.

3 on 3, you can already see Young's body turning inwards and you know exactly where he's headed, a good ball playing fullback like a Kalyn Ponga or Latrell Mitchell has already clocked this by now and is taking advantage of this 100% of the time.




Young tightens in, simple cut out or bat on and winger is unmarked or even an offload through the line.




Young misses the tackle that he jammed in on, Toia makes the one on one tackle and Young has to scramble back for the next play.