Mitchell Pearce re-signs?

[Guest]

No one ever believes me when I say this but I reckon that Cooper Cronk is the most overrated halfback our game has ever seen.

Take C.Smith out of the equation and he wouldn't even know how to tie his own shoe laces. Just my Opinion....

I completely agree - Ive said many times that at 22, Cronk hadnt even debuted in first grade let alone sewn up a starting halfback role. Pearce has stacks more talent and in a good side (like Cronk), he will absolutely excel. Thurston is the only half in the league I would take over him but that said, Thurston wants more money and is coming into his 30s whether Pearce is only early 20s. Its fantastic news. Youd be silly to be disappointed.

EDIT: Just watched the full Pearce interview and I was very impressed. Not only did he speak well but you sense a lot more confidence and maturity about him compared to years gone by. He certainly seems to have grown up and into his leadership role. He also looks really fit, well and happy which is a big plus. Exciting times

[Guest]

I cannot wait to see the man play. Season kick off can't come soon enough.

[Burnt Rooster]

They kept his hamstring injury quiet, he better be right for the vermin game.

[Guest]

1. Minichiello (2013 - retiring)
2. Tuivasa-Sheck (2016)
3. Kenny-Dowall (2015)
4. Jennings (2016)
5. Moga (2014)
6. Maloney (2015)
7. Pearce (2017)
8. Kennedy (2014 - unsure?)
9. Friend (2015)
10. Hargreaves (2015)
11. SBW (2013 - potential extension to 2014)
12. Guerra (2015)
13. Cordner (2016)

14. Aubusson (2013)
15. Nuuausala (2013)
16. Tasi (2013 - unsure?)
17. Evans (2014)

Reserves: Oldfield (wing - 2014), Tupou (wing - 2014), Henry (utility back - 2013), Napa (prop - 2015), Moa (prop - 2014), Ailaomai (prop - 2013), Symonds (backrow - 2014), Arona (backrow - 2014), Bosden (backrow - 2013), Seluini (hooker - 2013), Mortimer (utility half - 2013)

Unsure about Langi, Tago or Wells.

Now we dont just have to be excited for this year but for a few years to come we are going to be up there with the best teams! Must congratulate our management on such good work over the last year in blooding our young players and making some quality signings. Usually we just give them crap but credit where credit is due. Great work.

[Bansai Pipeline]

I completely agree - Ive said many times that at 22, Cronk hadnt even debuted in first grade let alone sewn up a starting halfback role

I used to think Cronk was overrated and made to look good by Cameron Smith.

But then I watched last year's Grand Final.

He killed it.

And Smith played appallingly.

[Bansai Pipeline]

The more I think about this signing, the less stoked I am about it.

On the one hand I'm happy he's shown loyalty.

On the other, I remember some of the woeful plays he made last year.

Lets be honest. He's a pretty thick footy player. He takes bad options. And we struggle to score when in attacking positions.

Obviously there are people at the club who hold him in high regard.

I'm hoping they're seeing something I'm missing.

[The Brain]

The more I think about this signing, the less stoked I am about it.

On the one hand I'm happy he's shown loyalty.

On the other, I remember some of the woeful plays he made last year.

Lets be honest. He's a pretty thick footy player. He takes bad options. And we struggle to score when in attacking positions.

Obviously there are people at the club who hold him in high regard.

I'm hoping they're seeing something I'm missing.

Your kidding Bansai Im more looking forward to what rooting talent he can pull this year!
I wanna hang off his shoulder

[Guest]

The main thing Pearce needs to improve on is his 4th & 5th tackle options, especially when the Roosters are on the oppositions line.
Hopefully someone has taught him to role the ball into the in-goal & get repeat sets of 6. If the team gets repeat sets of 6 he then can go for the cross field kick for the wingers if they havn't scored up the middle or 1 pass off the ruck.

If he is getting repeat sets of 6 not many teams can hold out for more than 3 sets of 6.

[Cockadoodledoo]

He reminds me of Shane Watson.

A manufactured player.

I think the same about Pearce though.

[Bansai Pipeline]

The main thing Pearce needs to improve on is his 4th & 5th tackle options, especially when the Roosters are on the oppositions line.
Hopefully someone has taught him to role the ball into the in-goal & get repeat sets of 6. If the team gets repeat sets of 6 he then can go for the cross field kick for the wingers if they havn't scored up the middle or 1 pass off the ruck.

If he is getting repeat sets of 6 not many teams can hold out for more than 3 sets of 6.

Can you teach that?

Or do some players have it (like Josh Reynolds) while others don't (like Pearce).

[Guest]

Can you teach that?

Or do some players have it (like Josh Reynolds) while others don't (like Pearce).

Hopefully.

[Rooster_6]

Neither Smith nor Pearce are manufactured, they're just traditional organisers.

If what they can do (especially Smith, revolutionising the game from dummy half) was manufactured then a lot more clubs would have decent halfbacks. It's a a natural talent that's rare these days; when supported with creative players, a decent forward pack & a disciplined game plan it goes a huge way to achieving success.

There's a reason why in 2010 the coaching staff awarded Pearce the Jack Gibson medal, there's a reason why in 2011 Stuart labeled Pearce the best out and out halfback in the game & there's a reason why in 2012 both Freddy & Johns continued to defend and back Pearce after the origin series loss.

Creative playmakers are far more celebrated in the Rugby League community but that doesn't mean they're more valuable, I think Cam Smith is by far and away the best player in the game.

I get where people are coming from when they say he's manufactured, creativity in attack doesn't come naturally to him and a lot of the tries he does lay on are through good pass selection and set plays. But I disagree strongly, his game as a whole isn't manufactured and showing the football intelligence to be able to organise a side should be far more celebrated than it is.

Pearce is crucial to any Premiership aspirations we have.

[Guest]

Neither Smith nor Pearce are manufactured, they're just traditional organisers.

If what they can do (especially Smith, revolutionising the game from dummy half) was manufactured then a lot more clubs would have decent halfbacks. It's a a natural talent that's rare these days; when supported with creative players, a decent forward pack & a disciplined game plan it goes a huge way to achieving success.

There's a reason why in 2010 the coaching staff awarded Pearce the Jack Gibson medal, there's a reason why in 2011 Stuart labeled Pearce the best out and out halfback in the game & there's a reason why in 2012 both Freddy & Johns continued to defend and back Pearce after the origin series loss.

Creative playmakers are far more celebrated in the Rugby League community but that doesn't mean they're more valuable, I think Cam Smith is by far and away the best player in the game.

I get where people are coming from when they say he's manufactured, creativity in attack doesn't come naturally to him and a lot of the tries he does lay on are through good pass selection and set plays. But I disagree strongly, his game as a whole isn't manufactured and showing the football intelligence to be able to organise a side should be far more celebrated than it is.

Pearce is crucial to any Premiership aspirations we have.

I think the reference to the manufactured player was Cronk, not Smith.

[Rooster_6]

Hahaha yeh, read that totally wrong.

[Guest]

The more I think about this signing, the less stoked I am about it.

On the one hand I'm happy he's shown loyalty.

On the other, I remember some of the woeful plays he made last year.

Lets be honest. He's a pretty thick footy player. He takes bad options. And we struggle to score when in attacking positions.

Obviously there are people at the club who hold him in high regard.

I'm hoping they're seeing something I'm missing.

I honestly believe he has been hamstrung the last couple of years by a hopeless, egotistical 5/8 and a glacial backline. A couple of the games we lost last year (Souths and Saints spring to mind) he had pretty much iced (Souths with the try and Saints with kicks to the corners) only for dumb players to make dumb plays and give up a winning lead (like Brad Takarangi coming out of the line to create a gap for Souths second last try).

I expect he will shine this year.