Some postives...

[Keith]

Niko's defence was good , he made a one on one try saver near the line , his biggest worry for me was defence , he will only get better , great try.

Hastings was better too , he will improve , I dunno if he's injured , but he did OK , but that dropped ball killed me.

The lack of experience showed late in the game.

Canberra were terrible for most of the game , but the 40/20 and their general composure was better.

We have a good team

What I'd change.

1) Henderson on the bench must go.

2)Aubo to the bench , he is a really valuable asset on the bench , I wouldn't see it as a demotion , but he has value in being able to play anywhere if needed.

3)Guerra needs a break , he was gassed at about 60 minutes , out on his feet , did his best , but fresh legs were needed.

4) Someone needs to light a fire under Evans

5) Our forwards need to find an offload.

6) Niko needs to stop selling Guerra the dump

[Kingbilly]

I like the way Nikorima is playing. Quite conservative and not over playing his hand. When something presents itself he goes.
But he is being patient which I like at this stage in his career.

As much as I like Guerra I think he is not playing well

[2026]

Niko has a crack in D. I like the kid.

I'm convinced Guerra want's to be a centre or he has an infatuation for centres and needs to be really close.

Moa needs to ball play. He is capable! We have zero 2nd phase ATM.

Copley out. Elliot in.

[elo]

Our forwards played as a pack during the world club exhibition in England, it has been very disappointing that they have rarely ran in pairs in the NRL.

[Rooster_6]

Lots of positives to be taken out of the game.

- I thought our go forward was excellent. From memory we were only forced into a couple of clearing kicks all game, the rest were all in good ball zones. We continually bent the line and we dominated territory for the majority of the game. Taukeiaho & Moa the stand outs.

- Our Counter attack was superb, really high tempo lead by SKD who again was a stand out on our play 1 and 2 kick returns.

- More structure in attack, so much better than last week. Some good signs on combos, Jacko & Maubs looked threatening all game. JNik seemed to have some better structure around him and outside him with Ferguson moving back into the centres and that made him all the more threatening. Still a lot of work to do on this area though.

- Some really good yardage defence, especially in the first half. We fell away a bit in the second half, disappointingly so on the first set after half-time but overall we were making Canberra kick behind the halfway line, consistently.

- Latrell Mitchell's involvement in attack was pleasing.

- Daniel Tupou made an impressive return.

- I think as much as the team is crying out for the organisation and experience of someone like Pearce, Hastings is going to be a ten fold better player when Pearce returns for the experience of running the team. As soon as Pearce comes back and takes some of the organisational and game management duties off Hastings I see him really flourishing.

We had enough ball in good field position to win 3 or 4 games. At the end of the day we lost because we're a new team who's still learning how to play together and we've got a bunch of rookies who are inexperienced. I see a lot of whinging but we can't have it both ways, you don't get the young exciting team along with complete performances. There's going to be plenty more narrow losses and the odd game where we get blown off the park because that's just what kids dish up, they are by nature inconsistent and surely we already all know that.

Today was a good lesson for a lot of our youngsters, you either win or you learn.

It's going to be a long season but patience is the key, this is a very good team in the making. I just hope we manage to scrape into the finals because we're definitely a dark horse.

[roostersrule2]

Well put lad.

[Flipper Hands]

Niko's defence was good

Not sure I would agree with that. Papali made him look ordinary all arvo. He ran over Niko for 2 tries. Niko's ability to wrap up the ball seems to be nil, he drops to the legs very quickly allowing an offload, something Souths took advantage of last week.

I don't like the way he runs toward the sideline, he crowds Guerra in particular, which is going a long way to making Guerra look bad, as he has no room to move when he does get the ball.

He is a work in progress though, and I am happy to have him in the 17. He looks to have a massive talent ceiling.

That said, if Pearce plays today - we win the game. Pearce is a far superior defender than Niko, and he knows how to close a game out better than SOH and Niko (currently).

[TDK]

I like the way Nikorima is playing. Quite conservative and not over playing his hand. When something presents itself he goes.
But he is being patient which I like at this stage in his career.

As much as I like Guerra I think he is not playing well

His defence is terrible. Crocker pushed him off to score his last try just before he shrugged off SKD. He has heart and is tough but his size will always disadvantage him close to the try line.

[mightyrooster]

Lots of positives to be taken out of the game.

- I thought our go forward was excellent. From memory we were only forced into a couple of clearing kicks all game, the rest were all in good ball zones. We continually bent the line and we dominated territory for the majority of the game. Taukeiaho & Moa the stand outs.

- Our Counter attack was superb, really high tempo lead by SKD who again was a stand out on our play 1 and 2 kick returns.

- More structure in attack, so much better than last week. Some good signs on combos, Jacko & Maubs looked threatening all game. JNik seemed to have some better structure around him and outside him with Ferguson moving back into the centres and that made him all the more threatening. Still a lot of work to do on this area though.

- Some really good yardage defence, especially in the first half. We fell away a bit in the second half, disappointingly so on the first set after half-time but overall we were making Canberra kick behind the halfway line, consistently.

- Latrell Mitchell's involvement in attack was pleasing.

- Daniel Tupou made an impressive return.

- I think as much as the team is crying out for the organisation and experience of someone like Pearce, Hastings is going to be a ten fold better player when Pearce returns for the experience of running the team. As soon as Pearce comes back and takes some of the organisational and game management duties off Hastings I see him really flourishing.

We had enough ball in good field position to win 3 or 4 games. At the end of the day we lost because we're a new team who's still learning how to play together and we've got a bunch of rookies who are inexperienced. I see a lot of whinging but we can't have it both ways, you don't get the young exciting team along with complete performances. There's going to be plenty more narrow losses and the odd game where we get blown off the park because that's just what kids dish up, they are by nature inconsistent and surely we already all know that.

Today was a good lesson for a lot of our youngsters, you either win or you learn.

It's going to be a long season but patience is the key, this is a very good team in the making. I just hope we manage to scrape into the finals because we're definitely a dark horse.

R6 thank you. Saves me having to write a big post. Very well said. The team looked so much better with Mitchell at the back and Fergo in the centres. Our halves are kids still finding their way. Our fullback is a kid. We are missing our two best forwards and a SOO half. We will get better.

[bondi paul]

i hope joey johns is earning his money at the roosters. no results to date.

[Tommy Smith]

i hope joey johns is earning his money at the roosters. no results to date.

And by to date you mean... 2 games in.

[Double]

Not sure I would agree with that...

Really?

He's 82kg worth of "I don't give a faark how big you are" kind of Rooster.

[morleythemauler]

People don't obviously watch the games properly before they write stuff up here didn't Papalii score both his tries down his and skds side i was at game and im sure he did

[bondi paul]

And by to date you mean... 2 games in.

Yes and also I am keen to see when his footy brain helps our team as to date his influence yet to appear.

[Big Red]

i hope joey johns is earning his money at the roosters. no results to date.

Johns has been to a lot of clubs, even Manly and his wife have ditched him