Rodwell or Elvis

[Inflictor]

Many have praised Rodwell for his vision, choice of passing and kicking on the weekend.
On the contrary plenty were not so impressed with Elvis.
Rodwell is probably a better defender too.
We have nothing to lose this year. It's a year to give the youngsters some NRL experience.
Do we give young Rodwell a shot Round 1 or stick with the old fella?

FFS

[ChookMaster]

We already know the answer to the question.

Chad will be our 7 until Sam is back.

[Headless Chook]

Many have praised Rodwell for his vision, choice of passing and kicking on the weekend.
On the contrary plenty were not so impressed with Elvis.
Rodwell is probably a better defender too.
We have nothing to lose this year. It's a year to give the youngsters some NRL experience.
Do we give young Rodwell a shot Round 1 or stick with the old fella?

FFS

Give us a break. Townsend is miles in front of Rodwell at this stage. Wait till Chad gets to play with Teddy, Gus, Rads, Connor and Lindsay before you want to sack him for a kid who played in a NSW Cup trial

[Bates]

Rodwell is a talented young man who is far from ready for 1st grade.

I wouldn't be surprised if our best 2025 halves combination is 6. Townsend 7. Walker. I'm not convinced that Sandon Smith will be our long term 6.

[rcptn]

Before feeding the kid too the wolves consider this that he has not played 1 minute of Jersey Flegg yet.

[King Salvo]

Rodwell is a talented young man who is far from ready for 1st grade.

I wouldn't be surprised if our best 2025 halves combination is 6. Townsend 7. Walker. I'm not convinced that Sandon Smith will be our long term 6.

Coach Robinson is though and he knows his players - you don't

["gaz"]

Many have praised Rodwell for his vision, choice of passing and kicking on the weekend.
On the contrary plenty were not so impressed with Elvis.
Rodwell is probably a better defender too.
We have nothing to lose this year. It's a year to give the youngsters some NRL experience.
Do we give young Rodwell a shot Round 1 or stick with the old fella?

FFS

I still feel like I can play at a high level’: Chad Townsend has heard the criticism, but veteran half is ready to prove his value to the Roosters

No team is under more scrutiny this season than the Roosters, but outside pressure isn’t a concern for the man who has been brought in to lead their attack.


Martin Gabor
3 min read
February 18, 2025 - 9:03AM
NewsWire


Veteran playmaker Chad Townsend knew that he was the third string half when he was signed by the Roosters last year, and while a lot has changed since then, he’s ready to step up and lead an attack that has its doubters following the departure of so many stars.

The 34-year-old is about to enter the 15th season of his career following stints with the Sharks, Warriors, Sharks again, Warriors again and then the Cowboys where he had 21 try assists from 20 games before he was dropped a few weeks out from the finals.

That could have been the end of his career, but Roosters coach Trent Robinson offered him a one-year lifeline that has now turned into an astute signing given Sam Walker and Brandon Smith will miss a large chunk of the season due to injury.

Had Walker not done his knee, Townsend would have been playing NSW Cup, but he now gets the chance to lead the team alongside Sandon Smith after the Roosters failed in their bid to sign Ben Hunt.
Sam Walker’s injury means Chad Townsend will have to play a bigger role for the Roosters in 2025.

“My mindset hasn’t really changed,” he said, ready to accept that Walker will come straight back in when he’s fit.

“I’ve always wanted to toe the line and be here for whatever role coach needs me to play.

“I still feel like I can play at a high level, and that’s why I decided to play on and didn’t retire last year.

“Some things happened that are out of my control, but I’ve always been someone who has tried to focus on things that I can control, and that’s got me to my 15th year in the game.

“I’m just trying to give it everything I can and to be the best player that I can be.”

The Roosters have long held the mindset that “we play for premierships”, but that will be tested this season given they’ve lost Luke Keary, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

It’s led to grave predictions that they’ll slide down the ladder and could miss the top eight, but Townsend isn’t feeling any extra pressure.

“Over the course of my career, I feel like I’ve learnt a lot on how to deal with certain things,” he said.

“Where I’m at now in my life, I’m very grateful for what I’ve experienced and I’m very happy off the field so a lot of the stuff (that’s being said), I don’t let that faze me.

“I wouldn’t say I keep receipts about what people say about me now, but I would say that I’m still very much motivated to not prove people wrong but to prove to myself that I can still do this at a high level.”

Roosters skipper James Tedesco praised his new halfback when asked about his impact at the pre-season launch, but the proof will be in how the halves play, with Townsend and Smith keeping their cards close to their chest in Sunday’s loss to the Dragons.

“I thought we were pretty steady,” Townsend said, having spent the past few months getting to know his five-eighth over coffees and rounds of golf.

“We’ve been working really hard on our combination at training and getting to know each other, which has been great because I really enjoy working with him.

“I’m feeling really comfortable working with him at the moment. There’s some stuff that we didn’t put out (in the Dragons game) that we’ve been practising, but I’m feeling really comfortable with my style of play and his.

“I feel like I can bring the best out of him which is exciting for both of us.”

[HunchoRooster]

Coach Robinson is though and he knows his players - you don't

I hope you are right in that assessment as I like Sandon but I have a feeling he'll get the Lachy Lam treatment.

[Mickie Lane]

many have praised rodwell for his vision, choice of passing and kicking on the weekend.
On the contrary plenty were not so impressed with elvis.
Rodwell is probably a better defender too.
We have nothing to lose this year. It's a year to give the youngsters some nrl experience.
Do we give young rodwell a shot round 1 or stick with the old fella?

Ffs

ffs

[Rooster_6]

Based on trials looks like Rodwell and Elliott will be the 7 and 6 at NSW cup level, I think that’s a good progression for a kid who’s still SG Ball eligible, and hasn’t played footy in a long time due to taking time out of the game for HSC.

Wouldn’t mind seeing him get a taste of of first grade some time this year but you see so many prodigious teenage halfbacks come into the game and fade out before they even hit 21, hoping there’s a stronger long term plan for Rodwell than throw him to the wolves because we’re struggling for options, because he looks special.

[ARD]

Rodwell moved and kicked well, looked like he belonged but had zero impact on the game. There was something about him, that ‘it’ feeling but you can’t quantify it. It’s the first I’ve seen him suit up tbh, so I’m keen to see more. Hard to judge.

[Headless Chook]

Based on trials looks like Rodwell and Elliott will be the 7 and 6 at NSW cup level, I think that’s a good progression for a kid who’s still SG Ball eligible, and hasn’t played footy in a long time due to taking time out of the game for HSC.

Wouldn’t mind seeing him get a taste of of first grade some time this year but you see so many prodigious teenage halfbacks come into the game and fade out before they even hit 21, hoping there’s a stronger long term plan for Rodwell than throw him to the wolves because we’re struggling for options, because he looks special.

It was really difficult to get a line on Elliott on Sunday. When he came on there seemed to be 4 halves on the field at once and I wasn't sure who was playing what role. Really hope we get to see some of if him this weekend in a more defined space this weekend against the Knights.

What were your thoughts on Hugo Savala?

[Rooster90]

Based on trials looks like Rodwell and Elliott will be the 7 and 6 at NSW cup level, I think that’s a good progression for a kid who’s still SG Ball eligible, and hasn’t played footy in a long time due to taking time out of the game for HSC.

Wouldn’t mind seeing him get a taste of of first grade some time this year but you see so many prodigious teenage halfbacks come into the game and fade out before they even hit 21, hoping there’s a stronger long term plan for Rodwell than throw him to the wolves because we’re struggling for options, because he looks special.

Rodwell will play Flegg first - Savala will be #7 in the NSW Cup

[Vasco]

Rodwell is a talented young man who is far from ready for 1st grade.

I wouldn't be surprised if our best 2025 halves combination is 6. Townsend 7. Walker. I'm not convinced that Sandon Smith will be our long term 6.

I have my doubts about Sandon also.

[King Salvo]

Never heard Rodwell sing so it has to be Elvis

I assume folk want more of this

A little less conversation, a little more action, please

Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation (Album Master)