POS on Roger's exit

[Tommy Smith]

“Personally I’m gutted,” O’Sullivan told The Daily Telegraph. “We brought him over here (from New Zealand) when he was 18-years-old.
“We set him up, we employed him. We helped his family and it’s well documented ‘Mini’ (former Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello) helped him with his fullback play and diet.
“The coaching staff has made him the player he is today.
“I think the coaching staff has been phenomenal. They brought him through the under-20s, then a season on the wing, then a season between wing and fullback and now he has made fullback his own.
“We are disappointed but the club is bigger and stronger, we’ll move on. It’s just disappointing he didn’t see the big picture and be a one-club man, which we would have loved him to be.
“We put a lot of time and resources into Roger but we will now put that into others.

[Tommy Smith]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-...-1227295842965

Those are pretty damning words and i actually agree with him. We helped both he and his family immensely and we couldn't have charted his career trajectory and development any better. And just when we're about to reap the rewards of all that hard work he runs away.

525 per year over 2 years was a very good offer. And at the end of it he would have been 24 and ready to make a million per year for the next 8 years. Is that really so bad? No wonder the club is filthy.

[Rooster_6]

I love how after so many years a the top, seeing so many players come & go and having to deal with the realities of the salary cap every day that he can still get so visibly worked up about a player he clearly had so much invested in.

Just shows how passionate he is about his job and the place where he is working. So good to have him on board, his signing should never be underestimated.

[Tommy Smith]

Absolutely.

Given the ruthless nature of the salary cap, particularly now with clubs willing to offer huge 750k + offers for 20-22 year olds, the ONLY way to sustain success is to have a conveyor belt of fantastic young players ready to fill the void.

And with POS in place we have him to thank for RTS, and now Latrell Mitchel who will hopefully be our superstar fullback for 10 years. Without that talent identification maybe we have some idiot instead who forks out 700k on a Ben Barba which could set you back years.

We experienced this during the horrific 'Anasta-Mason-O'Meley' years. Fortunately we now have a model in place that is the envy of most clubs.

[Arties Pie]

“Personally I’m gutted,” O’Sullivan told The Daily Telegraph. “We brought him over here (from New Zealand) when he was 18-years-old.
“We set him up, we employed him. We helped his family and it’s well documented ‘Mini’ (former Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello) helped him with his fullback play and diet.
“The coaching staff has made him the player he is today.
“I think the coaching staff has been phenomenal. They brought him through the under-20s, then a season on the wing, then a season between wing and fullback and now he has made fullback his own.
“We are disappointed but the club is bigger and stronger, we’ll move on. It’s just disappointing he didn’t see the big picture and be a one-club man, which we would have loved him to be.
“We put a lot of time and resources into Roger but we will now put that into others.

A little bit of payback for all the help he was given by the club isn't too much to ask or maybe it is. Sad but life goes on.

[Waerea-Beast!]

Good to see some honesty from somebody high up at the club. Sick of all the cliches that get bandied about.

Roger left for the money, he said as much last week... "It's a business decision."

The wanting to return to NZ comments are just a cop out.

[Big Poppa Pump]

It will be very interesting to see how the on-field situation evolves with him particularly if his form drops off. I'd hate us to go down the Manly path with Roger becoming our own Cherry-Evans and being an absolute pariah in the club. Make no mistake, this will cause friction & divisions in the team & could easily derail the season.

[roosterproud]

wyong for rts.

we play for premierships. the club wins grand finals and teams win games.

[roostersrule2]

This says to me that there's no chance we can convince him to stay.

It also highlights how much POS has been a fantastic acquisition for the club.

[Waerea-Beast!]

It will be very interesting to see how the on-field situation evolves with him particularly if his form drops off. I'd hate us to go down the Manly path with Roger becoming our own Cherry-Evans and being an absolute pariah in the club. Make no mistake, this will cause friction & divisions in the team & could easily derail the season.

If I were a team mate of his, I'd be quite annoyed to be honest.

JWH - rejected a million a season.
Napa - took unders to stay here.
Moa - realised the punt we took on him and stayed for less than he could get elsewhere. He's also much later in his career and extra cash would be of more significance to him.
Aubo - took well unders to stay here.
Friend - won't ever leave because he knows what the club has done for him.
Fergo - not testing the open market because he knows he owes us.
SKD - rejected a large offer from Parra to stay at the start of 2011 (when he was very highly rated).
Mini - enough said.

They should all be spewing more than anyone, same with Robbo.

The only player who has wished him well on Social Media is Hastings, which says a lot to me.

[Parkway_Drive]

Will be interesting to see if he can now maintain his early season form now that he is getting his big payday.

I agree with Tommy Smith and POS...he has gone for the money but has failed to see the big picture. I loved watching him play for us and was shattered to see him choose the Warriors. But the way they play is a shambles and coaching structure there not the best.

Not to mention the lifetime support from Uncle Nick and his connections would far outweigh in benefits over the long-term than a quick cash grab for the Tuivasa-Sheck family.

With Mitchell, Fergo or even possibly a Hayne or Folau our fullback...I'm hoping Mitchell makes a fist of it and becomes a legend at our club. Roger may well turn out to be yesterday's hero.

[dice]

RTS has fulfilled his contractual obligations and is entitled to do what is in his and his family's best interest. I am disappointed in POS' divisive comments.

[Guest]

These are very strong words from somebody very influential at our club that can serve only to divide players and staff. Perhaps the sentiment is justified but it is not wise to air the dirty laundry on the verandah.

[cookies]

RTS has fulfilled his contractual obligations and is entitled to do what is in his and his family's best interest. I am disappointed in POS' divisive comments.

You're entitled to speak your mind as is POS...
I'm sure he is the one (of many) more disappointed...
He chose to speak his mind, stating his opinion of what the club has done for Roger...
If Roger stands up for the team this season, all the best to him in the future...

[ROC181]

wyong for rts.

we play for premierships. the club wins grand finals and teams win games.

No mate. No point in cutting our nose to spite our face. I Feel Roger will not disappoint like DCE and Foran are doing now. Roger will give it his best to win otherwise TR will figure it out quickly and will send him to Wyong on the bench. I think Roger has self respect and won't shirk his responsibilities.