Looks like we will be at full strength for the WCC

[stsae]

Yeah it was apparently a suture job rather than a full graft reconstruction cos it was a partial tear last time so I can sort of understand the early return but you're right he will certainly be in a better physical and mental condition to return mid this season. Good luck working your way into the team though big fella.

For the nines I'd go..
MacDonald
Tupou
SKD
Reuben
Fittler
Hastings
Mortimer
Langi
Napa
Friend
Evans
Liu
Aubusson
Guerra
Meehan

HardYakka I was under the impression at least 1 of the top 5 paid players had to be included???

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't believe SKiDmark would be one of those. Afterall his last contract was signed 4 seasons ago. There have been significant cap raises since then.

Also didnt SKiD just return to contact??? Would he be risked in the 9s???

Will be interesting to see which way we go.

[fletch]

read somewhere today that Robbo was toying with the idea of Pearce playing in the 9's as our top 5 requirement

[Yak]

Yeah backwards you're probably right he probably isn't quite in the top 5 with JWH signing a recent contract. I think Pearce playing would be great for the young players, and there will be plenty. If that happens then I think they would leave Friendy out and play Mortimer in the hooker role. I guess Heath L'estrange would probably be considered as well. It really all depends on how Robbo chooses to structure the team, forward heavy or nearly all big backs and halves. I'd imagine there would be 2 genuine forwards on the field at once with one utility like Aubusson, Langi or Meehan also out there. Interesting to see Taane Milne in the first grade training photos. It would be great to see him given a run in the Nines. I think a few would sit up and take notice of him.

[Parkway_Drive]

[QUOTE=Yak;355025]Yeah backwards you're probably right he probably isn't quite in the top 5 with JWH signing a recent contract. I think Pearce playing would be great for the young players, and there will be plenty. If that happens then I think they would leave Friendy out and play Mortimer in the hooker role. I guess Heath L'estrange would probably be considered as well. It really all depends on how Robbo chooses to structure the team, forward heavy or nearly all big backs and halves. I'd imagine there would be 2 genuine forwards on the field at once with one utility like Aubusson, Langi or Meehan also out there. Interesting to see Taane Milne in the first grade training photos. It would be great to see him given a run in the Nines. I think a few would sit up and take notice of him.[/QUOTE


Yak you could be on the money with the lineup you have come up with, however as an aside a lot on here assume Maloney is one of our top 5 top paid I'm not so sure. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we got him at a bargain for a player of his calibre @$300k per year.

SBW, Jennings, Pearce and JWH get more. I'm pretty sure SKD was getting in the vicinity of 350- 375k per season if the media was to be believed?....Back in 2010 they were quoting SKD signing a 4 year deal worth $1.4-1.5m.

[Vasco]

read somewhere today that Robbo was toying with the idea of Pearce playing in the 9's as our top 5 requirement

I reckon Maloney will be there.

Aubusson, Jennings, Mortimer, Liu could also be there.

[Rooster_6]

I don't see much issue with playing our backs & halves in the Nines.

Compared to the minutes they'd most likely play in the trial they'll get just as much chance to blow the cobwebs out & get used to taking some hits again in the Nine's.

For the forwards though I think it's necessary that they get a real game of footy under their belt before the WCC. The Nine's wont go close to replicating the type of relentless contact they go through in a game.

[Rooster123]

According to this, RTS won't be fit until round 1
http://www.roosters.com.au/news-disp...n-Week-1/89354

[Matty_C]

According to this, RTS won't be fit until round 1
http://www.roosters.com.au/news-disp...n-Week-1/89354

That's what I was thinking, however the comment from Robbo suggests he will play the WCC.

Whilst I'd love him to be 100% and play, I can't see any reason to risk him.

[Muffdaddy]

That's what I was thinking, however the comment from Robbo suggests he will play the WCC.

Whilst I'd love him to be 100% and play, I can't see any reason to risk him.

Agreed. But I reckon the nines are just about made for him, with his speed off the mark and step.

[Bansai Pipeline]

For the Nines I'd be resting anyone who had a significant World Cup campaign. In other words, any Kiwi or Aussie rep. Too much footy for them last year.

I see no reason not to play Pearce or Jimmy.

Jimmy would be more suited to that format I'd have thought. He makes a lot of line breaks, has better speed off the mark and has a better offensive kicking game.

Having said that, if either of them got injured I'd be furious.

[Guest]

Good concept terrible timing..

[stephenj]

yes the timing for every thing is lousy this coming season, at least we dont have to send out team off to the uk to play just before the season start!

[SConcierge]

http://www.roosters.com.au/news-disp...n-Week-1/89354

We got a good shot @Back2Back this yr, the nines wont affect us imo. The WCC is here massive bonus and plenty of sydney games, the only negative is the byes we have drawn.

[Guest]

Maloney or Hastings will have to play as our goal kicker, pearce has not hit a field goal in 4 seasons, I would play all3, their combination with friend would be a huge asset in the 9s.

[milanja]

If u dont make it past the pool stages, and had u not been interchanged, the max minutes a player would play is 54min in 2 days. Double that if you go on to play in the final. There will be less collisions and unlimited interchange. Teams should field their top squads if available(bar the chooks) if u lose a player in the nines to injury, probably would lose them in a trial match.

Top prize is $370,000, runner up 240k, semi 160k, qtrs 130k and round robin stage is 110k. Pretty sad that winning the minor prem is a worse cash prize than losing 3 games at the 9's.