R6's RLWC2013 Rooster Reviews

[Hawkeye]

Can't see how Papalli is more talented than Cordner. Boyd is a lot more of an all rounded player than Papalli, has a lot more all round footballing skill ... Papalli is more about brute strength !

[Tommy Smith]

Agreed.

I don't think Boyd will always get the credit he deserves, simply because he isn't "flashy". (Well I think he is because he has an insane ability to run the right line and ghost through a defensive line, but a lot of his work tends to escape the eye).

He reminds me of a Steve Menzies; not necessarily in the way he plays the game but more the fact that he combines just the right amount of physical attributes (without being a physical freak) with exceptional footballing IQ. He is essentially as natural a footballer as you will find in the forwards.

He's also extremely tough, a sensational defender and a born leader. And as has also been mentioned he has some ball playing skills (not to mention a kicking game, see his grubber for Mini Rnd 1 2012!!) and these talents will only get better with time.

[rwbfl]

Agreed.

I don't think Boyd will always get the credit he deserves, simply because he isn't "flashy". (Well I think he is because he has an insane ability to run the right line and ghost through a defensive line, but a lot of his work tends to escape the eye).

He reminds me of a Steve Menzies; not necessarily in the way he plays the game but more the fact that he combines just the right amount of physical attributes (without being a physical freak) with exceptional footballing IQ. He is essentially as natural a footballer as you will find in the forwards.

He's also extremely tough, a sensational defender and a born leader. And as has also been mentioned he has some ball playing skills (not to mention a kicking game, see his grubber for Mini Rnd 1 2012!!) and these talents will only get better with time.

Well said, mate. Cordner is a very special player with an abundance of different abilities. IMO he would be quite easily tagged as our best backrower, if there was no such person as SBW

[Rooster_6]

I think they are different type of players, as papalii tends to be all about using his size and strength to get over the top of his opponents, in both defence and attack, which he does fairly well. However, Boyd is more about hole running and, as we have seen under Trent, especially on Anzac Day, seems to have greater ball playing ability then papalii.

I wouldn't mind it papalii ended up a rooster at sometime but, a very damaging player who under the guidance of Trent and in our attacking systems could be become one of the most feared back rowers in the game. In saying that I feel we don't really need him with SBW, fpn, napa, aubo, cordner, guerra and langi in the team

That's not even close to being true.

Papalii is an excellent ball player, his vision and pass selection is very good for a second rower, far better than anything Cordner has shown thus far. He's also a great hole runner on the edges. He's an elite talent and it's pretty clear not many people on here have watched him closely.

Cordner's still got some way to go before he reaches the level of Papalii no matter how much promise he's shown I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between the two. Both are future test players for a long time to come.

I've said it before but Papalii is the type of player I think Langi should base his game on, he's a strong ball player, runs good lines and carries the ball very strongly.

[Tommy Smith]

I've seen plenty of Papalii ... he's a quality player. But Boyd didn't win Dally M 2nd rower of the year despite missing 4 or 5 games for no reason.

He was dominating the competition prior to injury ... scoring tries for fun on the fringes.

To say Boyd has some way to go before he reaches the level of Papalii suggests to me that some people don't even watch enough of Cordner.

[Rooster_6]

I've seen plenty of Papalii ... he's a quality player. But Boyd didn't win Dally M 2nd rower of the year despite missing 4 or 5 games for no reason.

He was dominating the competition prior to injury ... scoring tries for fun on the fringes.

To say Boyd has some way to go before he reaches the level of Papalii suggests to me that some people don't even watch enough of Cordner.

I'm Cordner's biggest fan as a second rower but if you're suggesting because he won a Dally M there he's a better player than Papalii then on that same logic you must also believe he's a better player and second rower than SBW? The Dally M's are a joke. It was a nice recognition for Boyd who's had a great year but lets not overstate the importance of it.

Cordner's still got a bit he can improve on, which isn't surprising for a 21 year old. So yes I do believe he's still got some way to go before he reaches Papalii's level.

[Tommy Smith]

Papalii is also 21.

And you're right the Dally Ms are a bit of a joke. But they weren't far off the mark this year I don't think. But yes, SBW should clearly have been the second rower of the year.

Both have plenty of improvement in them and will help form a formidable backrow for Australia over the next decade.

I just think, even at this stage, that Cordner is a more complete footballer. But each to their own.

[Andrew Walker]

I'm Cordner's biggest fan as a second rower but if you're suggesting because he won a Dally M there he's a better player than Papalii then on that same logic you must also believe he's a better player and second rower than SBW? The Dally M's are a joke. It was a nice recognition for Boyd who's had a great year but lets not overstate the importance of it.

Cordner's still got a bit he can improve on, which isn't surprising for a 21 year old. So yes I do believe he's still got some way to go before he reaches Papalii's level.

You really are clutching at straws there Or perhaps absolutely bored shitlless looking for debate or discussion So I shall entertain.

To me it appears He is saying Cordner is the better all round player Highlighting his hole running and try scoring on the fringes of the ruck as the deciding factor in this decision

[Rooster_6]

You really are clutching at straws there Or perhaps absolutely bored shitlless looking for debate or discussion So I shall entertain.

To me it appears He is saying Cordner is the better all round player Highlighting his hole running and try scoring on the fringes of the ruck as the deciding factor in this decision

And I'm disagreeing with him... it's called a discussion, I don't know why you find the concept so hard to grasp. Not everyone has to agree, if they did this place would be boring. Tommy and rwbfl both brought up legitimate points and we disagree on some, so be it.

I'm not bored shitless at all, I just enjoy talking Rugby League with people who genuinely follow the game and want to talk about it. You don't fall into that category though, you're thin skinned, take every disagreement personally and the discussion often deteriorates into a bunch of personal insults. I stopped caring about your opinion long ago, take the hint and stop trying to bait me. It'll save me the hassle of having to delete your off topic dribble every time you try to bait me. Talk about bored shitless and looking for a debate...

[Andrew Walker]

And I'm disagreeing with him... it's called a discussion, I don't know why you find the concept so hard to grasp. Not everyone has to agree, if they did this place would be boring. Tommy and rwbfl both brought up legitimate points and we disagree on some, so be it.

I'm not bored shitless at all, I just enjoy talking Rugby League with people who genuinely follow the game and want to talk about it. You don't fall into that category though, you're thin skinned, take every disagreement personally and the discussion often deteriorates into a bunch of personal insults. I stopped caring about your opinion long ago, take the hint and stop trying to bait me. It'll save me the hassle of having to delete your off topic dribble every time you try to bait me. Talk about bored shitless and looking for a debate...

My comments were in no way off topic All I have done is raise genuine points as to why someone else believes Cordners game is of a higher level than Papalis Which is due to his hole running on the edges

My question to you on this topic is. Seeing as though it appears you are saying Papali is currently a superior player to Cordner. Do you believe that or are you expecting Cordner to surpass Papali as a superior Rugby League player some time in the future ?

PS For the record I would have Cordner in my team before Papali and am happy Cordner is at the Roosters instead of Papali

[rwbfl]

That's not even close to being true.

Papalii is an excellent ball player, his vision and pass selection is very good for a second rower, far better than anything Cordner has shown thus far. He's also a great hole runner on the edges. He's an elite talent and it's pretty clear not many people on here have watched him closely.

Cordner's still got some way to go before he reaches the level of Papalii no matter how much promise he's shown I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between the two. Both are future test players for a long time to come.

I've said it before but Papalii is the type of player I think Langi should base his game on, he's a strong ball player, runs good lines and carries the ball very strongly.

You do make some very valid points, particuarly about him being a great hole runner on the edges, after watching some highlights of him. However I don't feel that he has done anything startling or more amazing then Boyd has done. If you happened to see the Sharks game at home this year, the combination Cordner had with Pearce was amazing, his running on the fringes led to two tries in the first half.

I'd love to see Papalli in a Roosters jersey one day, he is very damaging and I feel would add more threat and versatility to our already very dangerous attack.

[Guest]

Papalii is not a ball player!
He is a great edge running second rower and can break the line/run through a hole like not many other second rowers, but he is not a ball player. When he feels as though he is going to be tackled, he'll offload, or throw a pass, but that is a lot different to being a ball player.
I watched the right edge of the Raiders very closely this year, because I'm a Ferguson fan and also, because I had Ferguson in my Supercoach team; and Papalii does not pass the ball to his outside players. I was ruing the guy all year, because he had one of the games biggest talents outside of him and Papalii would not pass the ball to Ferguson. The best you would get is an offload, or a desperate pass when he was about to go to ground.
Mind you, Papalii is a skillful off-loader and can throw a pass, he just chooses to run it and I don't blame him.

[Rooster_6]

My comments were in no way off topic All I have done is raise genuine points as to why someone else believes Cordners game is of a higher level than Papalis Which is due to his hole running on the edges

My question to you on this topic is. Seeing as though it appears you are saying Papali is currently a superior player to Cordner. Do you believe that or are you expecting Cordner to surpass Papali as a superior Rugby League player some time in the future ?

PS For the record I would have Cordner in my team before Papali and am happy Cordner is at the Roosters instead of Papali

You started your post by taking a shot at me, don't plead innocence now.

[Rooster_6]

My comments were in no way off topic All I have done is raise genuine points as to why someone else believes Cordners game is of a higher level than Papalis Which is due to his hole running on the edges

My question to you on this topic is. Seeing as though it appears you are saying Papali is currently a superior player to Cordner. Do you believe that or are you expecting Cordner to surpass Papali as a superior Rugby League player some time in the future ?

PS For the record I would have Cordner in my team before Papali and am happy Cordner is at the Roosters instead of Papali

I wouldn't swap Cordner for Papalii either but I think Papalii is the more proven and he's proven at origin level also. Which isn't a shot at Cordner's potential or talent when you consider that this was Cordner's first full year in First Grade and Papalii's second. I just think they're both elite talents and at this stage Papalii is further along in his career and certain parts of his game.

Purely on that I'd feel far more comfortable picking Papalii in a Test Match.

I can't speak any higher of either player though, Cordner imo is the best youngster to come through the Roosters system since Minichiello. As for the question of who I think will be the better player and whether Cordner will surpass Papalii, honestly I have no idea I think they're the two best second rowers coming through First Grade at the moment by quite some distance. Sironen is the other one to watch out for, I think he's all class and will kill it next year if the Tigers finally put him in the second row.

[Tommy Smith]

I think Bryce Cartwright will surpass all of them, even our own Boyd.

This kid is absolute immense and will be as close to SBW as you can get (which still isn't very close lol)