Rooster's Transition

[caz]

having the academy is a good idea and credit to the club for setting up. one problem is that a low salary cap compared to barcelona's means you're less guaranteed to keeping players you have developed but the club would have first dibs.
the idea is good in theory and it needs great recruitment, club culture and coaching for it to work

[SunnyCoastChook]

Comparing the Roosters to Barcelona is a bit of a stretch but I get where you are coming from although we really do not need to look to far (i.e Penrith) to see it in action. The difference is they have a gold mine of juniors (including Western NSW) that they get first crack at.

I actually think we have been good at bringing players through from juniors. I think what is missing this year is that astute signing or two that compliments the rest I.e Cronk, Sonny Bill). Our signings the past few years have been interesting to say the least. I think Robson is perfect for next year but it is obvious that the number 6 is where our problems are

[Bondicigar]

Balance is good , every team imports .
even penrith

[Rooster_6]

Comparing the Roosters to Barcelona is a bit of a stretch but I get where you are coming from although we really do not need to look to far (i.e Penrith) to see it in action. The difference is they have a gold mine of juniors (including Western NSW) that they get first crack at.

I actually think we have been good at bringing players through from juniors. I think what is missing this year is that astute signing or two that compliments the rest I.e Cronk, Sonny Bill). Our signings the past few years have been interesting to say the least. I think Robson is perfect for next year but it is obvious that the number 6 is where our problems are

I agree we have a good record of bringing through juniors, just feels like we are doubling down on that.

I think there will always be an appetite to sign elite players like Reece Robson where we have gaps it's probably the mid tier talent signings we could forego.

Like with all due respect 800k for Leniu and 600k for Dom Young are overpays. We should be able to develop 21 year olds with similar potential levels of ability and be paying them a fraction of that.

Similarly we shouldn't be paying 500k for an 18yo Joseph SuaaliI.

We should be buying at the high end of the market for elite talent or at the low end of the market for value. Minimising our risk.

[SamKerrSimp]

Seeing the players that you guys fawn over is always hysterical, Zac Lomax fark me he's a winger who sulked his way out of an improving team who are on the way up because he wants to play centre where he is shit and get knocked out in off season boxing. Yeah I wish we paid $800k a year for that instead of blooding Robert Toia.

Anyone seen the 2015 Cowboys premiership winning squad lately? They had close to a dozen guys who played under 20s for the Roosters and the Broncos in the same game had a few themselves but we had to let them go because we were stacked in 2013-19 that's where we need to get back to.

My biggest worry of the last 1-2 years has been the "big name" signings: we dodged a massive bullet (no pun) with Fifita's backflip, Young & Cheese are some of the worst signings we've ever made, Leniu is an overpay who offers nothing. The club needs to stop overpaying on gambles and save it for sure things like SBW, Tedesco and Cronk.

[QWERTY]

Seeing the players that you guys fawn over is always hysterical, Zac Lomax fark me he's a winger who sulked his way out of an improving team who are on the way up because he wants to play centre where he is shit and get knocked out in off season boxing. Yeah I wish we paid $800k a year for that instead of blooding Robert Toia.

Anyone seen the 2015 Cowboys premiership winning squad lately? They had close to a dozen guys who played under 20s for the Roosters and the Broncos in the same game had a few themselves but we had to let them go because we were stacked in 2013-19 that's where we need to get back to.

My biggest worry of the last 1-2 years has been the "big name" signings: we dodged a massive bullet (no pun) with Fifita's backflip, Young & Cheese are some of the worst signings we've ever made, Leniu is an overpay who offers nothing. The club needs to stop overpaying on gambles and save it for sure things like SBW, Tedesco and Cronk.

Most of what you’ve said is correct but let’s be honest - the only you rank Leniu’s signing so low is due to the Las Vegas incident. This year, when he gets a chance at the starting side, is when we’ll see if he lives up to the hype.

[MKCS]

I guess in regards to Lomax or Holmes the Roosters won't spend above 800k for a centre or winger and the Roosters had faith in Billy Smith, Nawaqanitawase, Toia and Pauga

I think the Billy Smith experiment is over, he's been part of the top 30 for 5 years now managing on average just 5 games a year, it sucks for him but he's young enough that he can head to Super League, prove himself and potentially come back to the Roosters or another NRL side.

We can't rely on Billy Smith hopefully coming good, we need to go into the market and pick up another world class back with youth on their side. Cobbo is the answer here.

[Chook2]

Walker's injury has really hurt, our great attack last year was centred around him.

I guess in regards to Lomax or Holmes the Roosters won't spend above 800k for a centre or winger and the Roosters had faith in Billy Smith, Nawaqanitawase, Toia and Pauga
We missed out on Hunt and got Robson for 2026 instead

Both players signed at new clubs for $600k so it would have been under that

[Mickie Lane]

Comparing the Roosters to Barcelona is a bit of a stretch but I get where you are coming from although we really do not need to look to far (i.e Penrith) to see it in action. The difference is they have a gold mine of juniors (including Western NSW) that they get first crack at.

I actually think we have been good at bringing players through from juniors. I think what is missing this year is that astute signing or two that compliments the rest I.e Cronk, Sonny Bill). Our signings the past few years have been interesting to say the least. I think Robson is perfect for next year but it is obvious that the number 6 is where our problems are

Walker would be dynamite at 5/8
I think Sandon should be the halfback or Hugo Savala
I personally would like to see Hugo Savala (194cm 96kg) given a crack at halfback because he's big & Walker at 5/8 who is also putting on more size.

[MKCS]

Seeing the players that you guys fawn over is always hysterical, Zac Lomax fark me he's a winger who sulked his way out of an improving team who are on the way up because he wants to play centre where he is shit and get knocked out in off season boxing.

He was always a good centre just a much better winger. He'd add a lot to us I think if willing to play left centre, his goalkicking alone would be a welcome addition to our squad right now especially with Sandon's struggles.

[SamKerrSimp]

Most of what you’ve said is correct but let’s be honest - the only you rank Leniu’s signing so low is due to the Las Vegas incident. This year, when he gets a chance at the starting side, is when we’ll see if he lives up to the hype.

I rank Leniu low because he's on massive coin and can't play more than 20 minutes at the most. All this run it from the fence is a load of crap the guy is a load of crap ineffective with the runs and nothing in defence.

[SamKerrSimp]

He was always a good centre just a much better winger. He'd add a lot to us I think if willing to play left centre, his goalkicking alone would be a welcome addition to our squad right now especially with Sandon's struggles.

The first thing Shane Flanagan at the Dragons did was point out that Lomax was statistically the worst centre in the comp, moved him to the wing and refused to budge on it so we saw Lomax kill it and immediately sulk out to Parramatta.

[Bates]

The above is model is tricky imo. By the time the current crop of young guns are ready to win a comp, the likes of Teddy, Toops, Radley, Collins, Gus etc are either retired or contemplating a stint over in the ESL. The majority of your top 17 needs to be around the same age for it to work.

[Easts75]

I agree we have a good record of bringing through juniors, just feels like we are doubling down on that.

I think there will always be an appetite to sign elite players like Reece Robson where we have gaps it's probably the mid tier talent signings we could forego.

Like with all due respect 800k for Leniu and 600k for Dom Young are overpays. We should be able to develop 21 year olds with similar potential levels of ability and be paying them a fraction of that.

Similarly we shouldn't be paying 500k for an 18yo Joseph SuaaliI.

We should be buying at the high end of the market for elite talent or at the low end of the market for value. Minimising our risk.

Hoe many halves have we brought through in the last 20 years ?

[Rooster_6]

Hoe many halves have we brought through in the last 20 years ?

Not many - it’s definitely our greatest area of opportunity but the club have addressed that with Cooper Cronk as the halves coach across all grades from Under 17’s to First Grade.

Will be interesting to see if we have more luck with the crop coming through currently.