Graham a Rooster

[Guest]

Williamson - most coaches start good young centres on the wing for a while. I expect this to happen.....SKD under real pressure, woohoo!

Pez was surprisingly impressive at centre on Sun, however I'm not sure he was tested much.

As stated before, a bit of competition for positions will do a WORLD of good for intensity and effort.

Mr Smith knows much more than I, he'll work it out.

Thinking about this, SKD should start with Newtown and work his way back into the team. Sometimes you need players to earn their spot back and that's what SKD needs. Maybe I've been too critical of him since Sunday because I have always thought he could develop before that but he just needs to work on a few things, and I'd prefer that wasn't in the NRL.

Therefore I'd like to see the following backline start next year off:

1. Minichiello
2. Sam Perrett
3. Aubusson
4. Graham
5. Earl/Williamson/Moeakiola/Towers (whichever one steps up in the pre-season)

And Mack, what do you think of Sisa Waqa as a centre? I think we really could be a strike centre. Has the build and speed for it. Hopefully he understands the game better this season and he could be in for a very handy one.

[Vasco]

Graham is a finisher, not a centre.

May as well blood Williamson and keep Aubusson there for now.

Graham and Perrett on the wing.

After Minichiello's performance last game, could be time to start looking for a fullback.

[Rooster_6]

Phil Graham fark me, the Roosters are going to come 15th next year. Is he really the best they could do? Really???

We had Brett Morris if we had more room in the salary cap... did you forget it actually does have a limit despite what opposition fans say??

[Guest]

Graham is a finisher, not a centre.

May as well blood Williamson and keep Aubusson there for now.

Graham and Perrett on the wing.

After Minichiello's performance last game, could be time to start looking for a fullback.

I think if Minichiello doesn't aim up for the first couple of games next season, we've got Perrett who is more than reliable for us and can do the job at the back more than adequately. If we bought Graham on the note that he plays on the wing, that is bad recruitment IMO. We obviously need a strike centre at the moment and that is the gap we need to feel. In buying Graham, SKD I'm sure would be on VERY short notice to perform now or not be re-signed. When is SKD contract up?

[Rooster_6]

Graham is a finisher, not a centre.

May as well blood Williamson and keep Aubusson there for now.

Graham and Perrett on the wing.

After Minichiello's performance last game, could be time to start looking for a fullback.

Agreed, great winger average centre.

[TheLoneRooster]

... did you forget it actually does have a limit despite what opposition fans say??

Oh come on R_6, are you being serious?

I don't have a problem with you but if you are being serious all I can say is get over yourself and your arrogance. If you aren't being serious and were using sarcasm, well, remember that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and you haven't even used it well.

[Rooster_6]

Oh come on R_6, are you being serious?

I don't have a problem with you but if you are being serious all I can say is get over yourself and your arrogance. If you aren't being serious and were using sarcasm, well, remember that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and you haven't even used it well.

I was being sarcastic although it is true that POS/board/Smith doesn't have much room under the salary cap to move, hence the signing is actually a good one and shouldn't really be complained about... do we really need a 300k winger?

[Guest]

Agreed, great winger average centre.

???

Graham played centre all season in his most successful seasons, 2003, and then 2005-2007.

He played wing/fullback in his debut season, and has played mostly on the wing this year, but he has always been a centre.

Josh Morris is only a finisher, and he plays centre. Watch the way he plays, no joke, he does little to no dirty work at all, a bit like the way Ettingshausen and Girdler were used near the end of their careers. Some centres like Matai, Delaney, etc love to come in and do a tonne of runs, while others like Graham tend to wait for broken field play or backline movements before blitzing the field.

[TheLoneRooster]

I was being sarcastic although it is true that POS/board/Smith doesn't have much room under the salary cap to move, hence the signing is actually a good one and shouldn't really be complained about... do we really need a 300k winger?

Cool mate, and no, we don't need a 300k winger (B Morris I assume?) but I really thought they could have done better than this particular journeyman.

[Chookies74]

Some centres like Matai, Delaney, etc love to come in and do a tonne of runs,

Hence why i was so impressed with Pez on Sun. He went looking for runs.

[Guest]

Hence why i was so impressed with Pez on Sun. He went looking for runs.

I think he was great and wouldn't mind him playing there next season. As I've said before, his game is based on workload so his position does not matter, his playing style is still the same.

[Guest]

good signing imo. He along with penrith's michael gordon would be two great pickups that would give our backline some much needed speed. When we let mini go eventually id be replacing him with gordon straight away. I think these 2 have had a few injuries in their careers that has hampered their progress but they both offer no more in the point scoring and speed stakes than any other players, give a bit of experience both being mid-late 20s and have clean off-field records. These are the sorts of signings we need to be making. In terms of the make-up of the team, im lead to believe that cam ciraldo of newcastle will be on his way announced in the next couple of weeks which is another smart little signing imo by the club.

on the where graham should play debate, i say wing. Id rather see pez in the centres and graham on the wing than vice versa. He is defensively very good and has proven himself a really great finisher.

In terms of my side for next year, I really hope that we pickup ryles, ciraldo with graham and carney already unofficially confirmed. As I have already put forward and will do so in the future the team off the exact roster, heres my side including the players that we are strongly linked with/likely to get:
1. Carney
2. Graham
3. Perrett
4. Williamson/Linnett (reliant on pre-season form)
5. Miniciello
6. Anasta
7. Pearce
8. FPN
9. Friend
10. Ryles
11. Myles
12. Ciraldo/Conn
13. Maubs

14. Paea
15. Mason
16. Cherrington/Symonds (dependent on form)
17. Jones

I like the balance and look of this side. The first question that will be thrown at this side is carney at fullback. imo, anasta does not have the workrate and capabilities to play lock forward and is too slow for centre or I dare say fullback. His only position is 5/8 and I think he does a good job here. The idea of carney at fullback initially hit me with a great deal of suprise and I thought it would be a really poor decision. Having thought about it again, I think it could be crazy enough to work. Firstly, Carney has the speed and ability to break the line and support in attack that is characteristic of the best fullbacks going around so in terms of his natural game, I think it would work perfectly. It would also serve as a good way to slowly reintroduce him to first grade and proffessional footy giving him this sort of free role. Secondly, it is probably a real possibility as Smith has done a similar thing with Gidley turning a half into a fullback which has worked wonders. Personally, I dont think it should be a permanent move as once anasta retires, carney at 5/8 would be a great option however if it works out, considering we have one of the best young halves in the game (miller) coming through, this would allow us to accomodate pearce and miller in the halves as well as carney from fullback.

The argument regarding perrett in the back three I agree with as if carney plays 5/8 then perrett should be fullback imo however I would prefer him in the centres instead of graham as it wasnt that long ago that this bloke struggled far more than skd under the high ball and positionally on the wing. I thought he did really well as a centre in attack last time he played there as he has really good ball skills, can break tackles easily, good acceleration off the mark and hits holes really really well. Graham has that extra yard of pace, is defensively more capable on the wing and is arguably a better finisher than pez so that seems the best fit. If he can work on his one-on-one defence in the offseason, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the centres.

The pack I think has a nice balance to it. Mason on the bench adds that extra experience from the interchange and impact as well that might see him get back to his damaging best. I think as others have argued, myles works well in the backrow playing as almost a third prop except having the freedom to run a bit wider and therefore being able to shoulder a larger defensive workload as his role isnt primarily hit-ups anymore. Ryles would be a good pick-up in the experience stakes. Macks stats highlight not only the strong workrate of this bloke but what mack left out was his offload and linebreak assist stats. We are talking about a bloke that was the best prop in the game a few years ago. If we dont get him Id be inclined to go after clinton from the broncos who is also being shopped around for similar reasons and experience/hardness up front. I think FPN has come a long way in 2009 and has proven himself an exceptional starter with great ball skills and footwork at the line, a willingness to learn and a bit of mongrel. Maubs at lock is key. Would add some speed and skill from his days as a back but most importantly will serve to shoulder the workload left by fitzy. The other backrow spot therefore is left to be fought out by ciraldo and conn. Both now early 20s, have had injuries hamper their progression but no one doubts their abilities. Both have good workrates in defence and can play decent minutes. There is a lot of jeremy smith about conn including the fact that they both seem to be developing late and ciraldo is prior esc in the way he goes about his business which could be a handy sort of thing to have in the backrow.

All in all I think that is a well balanced side with a good mixture of youth and experience across the park. A bit experimentative but I think it needs to be and at least spark a little discussion

[Guest]

Where did you hear this about Cam Ciraldo???

[Guest]

good signing imo. He along with penrith's michael gordon would be two great pickups that would give our backline some much needed speed. When we let mini go eventually id be replacing him with gordon straight away. I think these 2 have had a few injuries in their careers that has hampered their progress but they both offer no more in the point scoring and speed stakes than any other players, give a bit of experience both being mid-late 20s and have clean off-field records. These are the sorts of signings we need to be making. In terms of the make-up of the team, im lead to believe that cam ciraldo of newcastle will be on his way announced in the next couple of weeks which is another smart little signing imo by the club.

on the where graham should play debate, i say wing. Id rather see pez in the centres and graham on the wing than vice versa. He is defensively very good and has proven himself a really great finisher.

In terms of my side for next year, I really hope that we pickup ryles, ciraldo with graham and carney already unofficially confirmed. As I have already put forward and will do so in the future the team off the exact roster, heres my side including the players that we are strongly linked with/likely to get:
1. Carney
2. Graham
3. Perrett
4. Williamson/Linnett (reliant on pre-season form)
5. Miniciello
6. Anasta
7. Pearce
8. FPN
9. Friend
10. Ryles
11. Myles
12. Ciraldo/Conn
13. Maubs

14. Paea
15. Mason
16. Cherrington/Symonds (dependent on form)
17. Jones

I like the balance and look of this side. The first question that will be thrown at this side is carney at fullback. imo, anasta does not have the workrate and capabilities to play lock forward and is too slow for centre or I dare say fullback. His only position is 5/8 and I think he does a good job here. The idea of carney at fullback initially hit me with a great deal of suprise and I thought it would be a really poor decision. Having thought about it again, I think it could be crazy enough to work. Firstly, Carney has the speed and ability to break the line and support in attack that is characteristic of the best fullbacks going around so in terms of his natural game, I think it would work perfectly. It would also serve as a good way to slowly reintroduce him to first grade and proffessional footy giving him this sort of free role. Secondly, it is probably a real possibility as Smith has done a similar thing with Gidley turning a half into a fullback which has worked wonders. Personally, I dont think it should be a permanent move as once anasta retires, carney at 5/8 would be a great option however if it works out, considering we have one of the best young halves in the game (miller) coming through, this would allow us to accomodate pearce and miller in the halves as well as carney from fullback.

The argument regarding perrett in the back three I agree with as if carney plays 5/8 then perrett should be fullback imo however I would prefer him in the centres instead of graham as it wasnt that long ago that this bloke struggled far more than skd under the high ball and positionally on the wing. I thought he did really well as a centre in attack last time he played there as he has really good ball skills, can break tackles easily, good acceleration off the mark and hits holes really really well. Graham has that extra yard of pace, is defensively more capable on the wing and is arguably a better finisher than pez so that seems the best fit. If he can work on his one-on-one defence in the offseason, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the centres.

The pack I think has a nice balance to it. Mason on the bench adds that extra experience from the interchange and impact as well that might see him get back to his damaging best. I think as others have argued, myles works well in the backrow playing as almost a third prop except having the freedom to run a bit wider and therefore being able to shoulder a larger defensive workload as his role isnt primarily hit-ups anymore. Ryles would be a good pick-up in the experience stakes. Macks stats highlight not only the strong workrate of this bloke but what mack left out was his offload and linebreak assist stats. We are talking about a bloke that was the best prop in the game a few years ago. If we dont get him Id be inclined to go after clinton from the broncos who is also being shopped around for similar reasons and experience/hardness up front. I think FPN has come a long way in 2009 and has proven himself an exceptional starter with great ball skills and footwork at the line, a willingness to learn and a bit of mongrel. Maubs at lock is key. Would add some speed and skill from his days as a back but most importantly will serve to shoulder the workload left by fitzy. The other backrow spot therefore is left to be fought out by ciraldo and conn. Both now early 20s, have had injuries hamper their progression but no one doubts their abilities. Both have good workrates in defence and can play decent minutes. There is a lot of jeremy smith about conn including the fact that they both seem to be developing late and ciraldo is prior esc in the way he goes about his business which could be a handy sort of thing to have in the backrow.

All in all I think that is a well balanced side with a good mixture of youth and experience across the park. A bit experimentative but I think it needs to be and at least spark a little discussion

A couple of things Ciraldo has a poor workrate and

How do you think Carney would go under the high ball?

I have my doubts

[Guest]

Phil Graham most likely not going to come to Roosters just heard it on NRL News but we might be getting Cameron Ciraldo.