Free Willie??

[melon....]

wtf. Do you know who masoe is, have you watched him play?? He has not played first grade yet so I cant see how he has anything to do with first grades performances and he only played 4 games throughout the entire season because of injury which is also why he didnt get a game in firsts.

JWH to start?? You are talking about a 20 year old. We need experience up front early on. Also in terms of balance of the pack, JWH and Ryles starting together would be suicide - both very similar styles and builds except hargreaves is probably more aggressive. You need a worker who is a little more nimble to partner someone as big and powerful as Ryles. Myles would probably do the trick but is better used in the backrow imo.

Jones a wasted spot on the bench? The bloke is an out and out utility - can play halves, is competent enough in the centres and I reckon has the defensive competencies and spark to be a really good impact player around the ruck to give friend a break. How the hell is that a waste of a spot? What if friend or pearce or carney or one of the outside backs gets injured? We stick Ryles on the wing?

You just watch when miller, leilua, blair, cordner, te kiri, masoe, moeakiola, Williamson hit first grade. Just watch.

i know enough to say I cant trust "us" as you put it. We have proven for half a decaDE, that we cannot be trusted with pumpkins in the board room, not brains.

And who said anything about ryles starting kiddo.

If you think Jason Ryles is going to save us then there's no hope. Ryles is a complete waste...a bigger waste than Omeley. At least Omeley had something to offer, except our idiotic coach Fittler ****ed that up to.

Wake up, Ryles aint saving anyone. And JWH can start. Its about attitude not age, and this kids got what most players in their late 20s dont have - mongrel attitude.

As for Masoa, you over rate him massively. lets see how he goes against real forwards not under 20s.

[Guest]

i know enough to say I cant trust "us" as you put it. We have proven for half a decaDE, that we cannot be trusted with pumpkins in the board room, not brains.

And who said anything about ryles starting kiddo.

If you think Jason Ryles is going to save us then there's no hope. Ryles is a complete waste...a bigger waste than Omeley. At least Omeley had something to offer, except our idiotic coach Fittler ****ed that up to.

Wake up, Ryles aint saving anyone. And JWH can start. Its about attitude not age, and this kids got what most players in their late 20s dont have - mongrel attitude.

As for Masoa, you over rate him massively. lets see how he goes against real forwards not under 20s.

I didnt say ryles would save us what I have said is that he will give our side the leadership, go forward and workrate it needs. I think he will be a good acquisition because he is coming back from england because he wants to play footy in Australia. The difference with omeley and co is that we were their retirement fund whereas Ryles has left his retirement fund (uk/france) to come back because he wants to PLAY FOOTY IN AUSTRALIA. This to me suggests that attitudinally, his head is already in the right place. Add to this the fact that smith is not one to take back attitudes and generally turns lazy players into commited ones, I think this combination means that there is every chance of success for jase.

I agree that if your good enough your old enough and never said he couldn't start I just said he couldn't start with ryles for the benefit of team balance. I think Ryles at least at the begining of the season should start with FPN and JWH battling it out for the 'impact' forward role - competition between youngsters = more consistent and strong performances. Its also a good way to continue to develop FPN and also JWH imo.

[Guest]

i know enough to say I cant trust "us" as you put it. We have proven for half a decaDE, that we cannot be trusted with pumpkins in the board room, not brains.

And who said anything about ryles starting kiddo.

If you think Jason Ryles is going to save us then there's no hope. Ryles is a complete waste...a bigger waste than Omeley. At least Omeley had something to offer, except our idiotic coach Fittler ****ed that up to.

Wake up, Ryles aint saving anyone. And JWH can start. Its about attitude not age, and this kids got what most players in their late 20s dont have - mongrel attitude.

As for Masoa, you over rate him massively. lets see how he goes against real forwards not under 20s.

I agree, Ryles is a complete waste we dont need him. Any bet the first game agaisnt Rabbitohs he'll get injured or something and be out for the season. He is Injury prone + he wants to much money.

[melon....]

I didnt say ryles would save us what I have said is that he will give our side the leadership, go forward and workrate it needs. I think he will be a good acquisition because he is coming back from england because he wants to play footy in Australia. The difference with omeley and co is that we were their retirement fund whereas Ryles has left his retirement fund (uk/france) to come back because he wants to PLAY FOOTY IN AUSTRALIA. This to me suggests that attitudinally, his head is already in the right place. Add to this the fact that smith is not one to take back attitudes and generally turns lazy players into commited ones, I think this combination means that there is every chance of success for jase.

I agree that if your good enough your old enough and never said he couldn't start I just said he couldn't start with ryles for the benefit of team balance. I think Ryles at least at the begining of the season should start with FPN and JWH battling it out for the 'impact' forward role - competition between youngsters = more consistent and strong performances. Its also a good way to continue to develop FPN and also JWH imo.

Lets see how Smith thinks. Thats teh thing with Smith, just when you think you know the knob, he surprises everyone. Who knows what he's going to do. The only thing i hope he achieves is tells the suits to stay the **** away from his roster.

Jason Ryles - will need to start again. He can start by learning to play the ball facing the opposition's goal line. id have this dopey prick doing that for at least the first 6 weeks of official training.

[Vasco]

I love it how people get excited about our under 20s.

They were rubbish.

Expect more rubbish in 2010.

[Guest]

You just watch when miller, leilua, blair, cordner, te kiri, masoe, moeakiola, Williamson hit first grade. Just watch.

roz a 5 or 6 years ago we had all 3 grades in the Grand Final...you would have expected some quality youngsters to come thru but still to see anything of that group of youngsters who were the ants pants in their divisions...

I've been watching and waiting and whilst they may look good in those graes it's taking the next step up that is the main one to make...and hardly any have made that step up...

[Guest]

I love it how people get excited about our under 20s.

They were rubbish.

Expect more rubbish in 2010.

no these players would all be from the sg ball side bar a couple - cant see how a couple of class players can influence a side especially considering both of them (masoe and williamson) spent most of the year injured or suspended and when on the feild were recovering from injuries. The rest of the players are from our highly successul sg ball side apart from leilua who we have signed for next year from st merge - current australian schoolboys player who got man of the match first up.

Yet these are the same blokes saying our juniors I crap I bet as the same people who say why did we let hannat go etc. Hypocritical really. I think most of you have never watched them play more than once or twice of at all. Cant see how that heeds an informed judgement. Comeon start talking about how we wish we had our own inglis etc. Newsflash. Maybe blair, williamson and te kiri are our inglis, slater, folau. All of whom have shown great potential and unrivaled performances coming through the grades so I cant see how it could be otherwise. The thing is that I am not talking about this with rose coloured galsses either. If you ask any junior rep selectors or talent scouts they will echo the praises myself, footy and mack put on a lot of these blokes. You dont get man of the match, player of the tour, score 4 tries because you are average. I think you will find even slater and inglis didnt have such strength in their performances as juniors as the likes of cordner, leilua and Williamson in particular

[Guest]

roz a 5 or 6 years ago we had all 3 grades in the Grand Final...you would have expected some quality youngsters to come thru but still to see anything of that group of youngsters who were the ants pants in their divisions...

I've been watching and waiting and whilst they may look good in those graes it's taking the next step up that is the main one to make...and hardly any have made that step up...

the difference between these and those sides is that players that go on have individual brilliance. Look even at the current two NYC grandfinalists. I struggle to find more than a couple that may go on to play first grade from each side. Thats because they are all decent players therefore make up a good side at that level but none of them are really good enough to go on.

We take the alternate approach - buy 5 superstars and 12 hacks. Therefore 5 go on, 12 dont instead of maybe 2 going on and the rest dont but winning a junior competition. Team cohesion is how comps are won at any grade. Individuals dont and at that level, if you are going to be somewhere you are individually brilliant. That box is ticked for us and osullivan himself has made exactly the same comments concerning our junior rep program. It was something to the effect of we dont intend to win the NYC it is just a development opportuinty. If we win it good but the goal is first grade. Not sure if you agree but thats what id like us to win so therefore have no qualms with the recruitment policy

[Billy Gunn]

the difference between these and those sides is that players that go on have individual brilliance. Look even at the current two NYC grandfinalists. I struggle to find more than a couple that may go on to play first grade from each side. Thats because they are all decent players therefore make up a good side at that level but none of them are really good enough to go on.

We take the alternate approach - buy 5 superstars and 12 hacks. Therefore 5 go on, 12 dont instead of maybe 2 going on and the rest dont but winning a junior competition. Team cohesion is how comps are won at any grade. Individuals dont and at that level, if you are going to be somewhere you are individually brilliant. That box is ticked for us and osullivan himself has made exactly the same comments concerning our junior rep program. It was something to the effect of we dont intend to win the NYC it is just a development opportuinty. If we win it good but the goal is first grade. Not sure if you agree but thats what id like us to win so therefore have no qualms with the recruitment policy

Roz answer me this. Why were our U20's so bad this year, be honest with your assessment.

[Guest]

Roz answer me this. Why were our U20's so bad this year, be honest with your assessment.

poorly coached for starters much like first grade - illdisciplined. The quality of the players also wasnt quite up to scratch. Those I have mentioned played very little u20s and if they did, they were standouts. The thing is that lower grades footy is about trying to make first grade thats it from a players perspective so I cant see cohesiveness as a team as ever going to be an inevitability. Interestingly, the NYC team had a resurgence about half way through the seaosn where they almost looked like making the 8 and that was actually when players like williamson werent injured and cordner and blair were coming into the setup.

[Guest]

I expect to see Cherrington or Masoe play a big role in stepping into the position vacated by Mason.

I would like to see Cherro play a full-season starting in the backrow, see what he is capable of. He might be a bit of a tool at times, but he is big, strong, mobile, and he RARELY goes down in tackles - he always looks for an offload. That is a great asset to have.

There's no way Masoe will have a big role this year. FFS Cherrington is barely fit enough to get out his 20 min spells.

[Guest]

i know enough to say I cant trust "us" as you put it. We have proven for half a decaDE, that we cannot be trusted with pumpkins in the board room, not brains.

And who said anything about ryles starting kiddo.

If you think Jason Ryles is going to save us then there's no hope. Ryles is a complete waste...a bigger waste than Omeley. At least Omeley had something to offer, except our idiotic coach Fittler ****ed that up to.

Wake up, Ryles aint saving anyone. And JWH can start. Its about attitude not age, and this kids got what most players in their late 20s dont have - mongrel attitude.

As for Masoa, you over rate him massively. lets see how he goes against real forwards not under 20s.

JWH is a freakn Machine, he will hurt people out there and I LOVE IT. Best buy for us this year when it comes to forwards. His last game for manly he was VERY dominant.

[Billy Gunn]

poorly coached for starters much like first grade - illdisciplined. The quality of the players also wasnt quite up to scratch. Those I have mentioned played very little u20s and if they did, they were standouts. The thing is that lower grades footy is about trying to make first grade thats it from a players perspective so I cant see cohesiveness as a team as ever going to be an inevitability. Interestingly, the NYC team had a resurgence about half way through the seaosn where they almost looked like making the 8 and that was actually when players like williamson werent injured and cordner and blair were coming into the setup.

I think resurgence is a bit much Roz......

Were they poorly coached both this year and last year? Maybe they just had the same attitude as the first grade team......Shithouse !!!

That team with those players you mentioned had 58 points scored against them in the last round and most didn't break a sweat maybe they were on the 13+ sting also.

[Guest]

Roz answer me this. Why were our U20's so bad this year, be honest with your assessment.

A lot had to step up to first grade, injuries hammered them, suspensions also didn't serve them too well.

Include into the u/20s side - Friend, Jones and Symonds as well as a healthy Williamson and we're talking a pretty mean team.





As a side note, on the topic of Jones on the bench - why are people so against it ? Many clubs leave a utility spot on the bench. Most of the top clubs only had to use 3 players in games with the 4th either getting a 10 min run or nothing at all e.g Dragons, Dogs.
The key is to really work our fitness this off-season.

[Guest]

I think resurgence is a bit much Roz......

Were they poorly coached both this year and last year? Maybe they just had the same attitude as the first grade team......Shithouse !!!

That team with those players you mentioned had 58 points scored against them in the last round and most didn't break a sweat maybe they were on the 13+ sting also.

yes attitude as well which is a combination of the fact that a lot of the top players were nursing injuries/suspensions (williamson/masoe) whilst the rest of the good players were in firsts (symonds, jones, friend). I think the fact that so many stepped up really capably this year from the same side that came last in the NYC last year supports my theory. Symonds, Jones and Friend have been really really good. Not just by roosters standards but overall have shown and given plenty. I dare say those i mentioned like williamson, cordner leilua etc have more to give than these blokes in terms of natural ability lets hope the results continue to improve (as in transition to frist grade/first grade conversion rate)