T Robinson

[Danish]

Our left edge was Burgess - SKD - Matterson - Cordner. Not one of those players has ever defended besides each other at any level of the game yet our line never got broken down that side of the field and looked the more likely side in attack. I think moving SKD over there to add some experience in between Burgess & Matterson was a little touch of genius.

Moving Elliott over to the right edge seemed to add some stability too, the Dragons peppered our right edge all game but came away with nothing. I'm pretty sure you'll find that's the first game all season we haven't conceded a linebreak down our right edge.

Do you think playing the worst attacking team in the comp - 79 points in 9 games, and 8 points the past 3 weeks - might have also contributed to our defence looking better today?

More than a quarter of the dragons points scored this year were against us.

Having faith in Matterson and the work that had gone into him pre-season to bring him in after only 1 game for Wyong returning from a broken leg was a very bold call. One not many coaches would have the courage to do in such a big match.

His alternatives were playing Niko, who showed he wasn't easy for first grade 2 rounds in, but was left in the side for 8 rounds destroying his confidence, or playing Guerra. In other words his hand was very much forced.

If he makes the call to leave Matterson at 6 next week and pushes Hastings back to the bench, then THAT could be considered a bold move.

All that aside In our last 5 games we've lost by a combined total of 13 points. We're not far off at all.

If only they gave points for almost victories...

Here's a little game to play when you've got some free time. Pick any roster int he league and do the following;

- Remove the following players due to inflation in the salary cap, elite fullback (RTS), elite centre (Jennings), support half (Maloney), 5th choice prop (Matagi)
- Remove the following players due to injury, forward leader (JWH) elite backrower (Cordner) & elite lock (Taukeiaho)
- Remove the following player due to suspension, organising half (Pearce).

Now with a straight face tell me with a straight face that any of them would be doing better.

We have $700k left in our cap to try and make a Hail Mary play for a completely uninterested Hayne, or an over the hill SBW. our recruitment and retention from 2015 to 2016 has nothing to do with salary cap pressure.

If you'd like an example of another team suffering similar to us though, take a look at Souths. Similar issues with halves injuries, decimated by injury, playing like busteds, raped their squad in the off season to buy back a big name player, and still 2 more victories than us. I doubt too many here would make excuses for the position Madge has placed that side in.


As I said, Robbo's season starts next week when Pearce is back. At that point he'll have the full squad he and the club selected for this season, and absolutely no excuses. 14 more games to gain some respectability. If we can win 8 of those games I'll be over the moon

[Yak]

Just for shits and gigs...

Broncos

Kahu
Eden
Reed
Oates
Maranta
Nikorima
Nicholls
Thaiday
McCullough
McGuire
Timu
Glenn
Ofengahue

Waddell
Molo
Arrow
Ese'ese

Cowboys

Ponga
Winterstein
Moga
O'Neill
Feldt
Allen
Thompson
Hannant
Granville
Tamou
Lowe
Hess
Asiata

Kostjasyn
Spina
Kaufusi
Hoare

[Tommy Smith]

Robbo is a great coach. And frankly, anyone who suggests otherwise is an idiot.

Call me loyal to the end but if anything, the way we've busted our nut this year in truly adverse circumstances just makes me respect and appreciate him even more.

Just watch the difference in this team when Pearce returns. Hastings game will go to the next level, too. And when JWH, Liu and SST return swiftly on the back of that to bring our pack back to full strength then we'll go on a massive run.

Top 8? If the Eels get the punt then maybe. But if not I reckon we'll be very well placed to return straight back to the top in 2017.

[Kelby]

It's time to walk.
This year has shown your true colours.

So many positional changes for an important match.

It's about time we put the blame on our coach.

You a serious di3khead,
The only thing Robbo has stuffed up is letting go of Jennings.
Everything else is out of his control. Pearce drinking, SST injury, Cords pec, JWH knee, RTS to huge money, Hastings v BBQ = salary cap, Copley pec, Hendo's broken leg, Ref's with agenda's, etc.

[JAF]

Admins, can I suggest you make this thread a sticky?
At the end of this season, I would like some of the posters on here to re-read some of the comments they have written and see if they have changed their minds and admit they were wrong.
I have the utmost respect for Robbo and believe he is the best coach to get us out of the situation we are in.
Keep the faith Rooster's fans ... the only way is up!!!

[Johnny.]

You a serious di3khead,
The only thing Robbo has stuffed up is letting go of Jennings.
Everything else is out of his control. Pearce drinking, SST injury, Cords pec, JWH knee, RTS to huge money, Hastings v BBQ = salary cap, Copley pec, Hendo's broken leg, Ref's with agenda's, etc.

I don't know why but that made me think of this.

[The Brain]

Apparently some of our officials gave it to Cummins in the tunnel after the game ..more shit coming our way.
To top it off I wouldve expected Napa to have no problem but no the NRL to justify themselves will have him charged and suspended etcettc fark it

[OMR]

Apparently some of our officials gave it to Cummins in the tunnel after the game ..more shit coming our way.
To top it off I wouldve expected Napa to have no problem but no the NRL to justify themselves will have him charged and suspended etcettc fark it

You're freakin kidding aren't you? Charged and suspended for what? A fair hit on the chest? A third year law student can get him off that charge.

[The Brain]

You're freakin kidding aren't you? Charged and suspended for what? A fair hit on the chest? A third year law student can get him off that charge.

Im just saying they will try ..as far as Im concerned he has no case to answer for ....theyve already got blokes like Harrigan sprewking support of the ref when every one else is our way.
If Im right the bunker ref and Cummins both should get the boot

[Horry]

Danny Weidler @Danny_Weidler 27m27 minutes ago
Breaking: As Trent Robinson predicted - @dylannapa has not been charged for his controversial hit @sydneyroosters @9NewsSyd

[Horry]

Sydney Roosters players Dylan Napa and Kane Evans to escape Anzac Day judiciary charges

Date April 26, 2016 - 12:39PM

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Brad Walter

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No case to answer: Ben Cummins places Dylan Napa of the Roosters on report on Monday. Photo: Getty Images

• NRL investigating tunnel incident
• Trent Robinson launches attack on referees and NRL bunker
• Widdop steers St George Illawarra Dragons to narrow Anzac Day win

Sydney Roosters forwards Dylan Napa and Kane Evans are expected to escape charges from the NRL match review committee over the controversial incidents in Monday's Anzac Day match that prompted coach Trent Robinson to launch a scathing attack on the NRL bunker and referee Ben Cummins.
Evans was penalised for a late tackle on St George Illawarra hooker Mitch Rein in the 50th minute that enabled Dragons captain Gareth Widdop to kick what proved to be the decisive penalty goal in his team's 20-18 win, while Napa was placed on report for a high shot in the final minute of the game that ended the Roosters chances of winning.
However, Fairfax Media understands that prop Sam Moa is likely to be the only Roosters player charged from the match and he will be free to play in next weekend's match against Newcastle with an early plea to a grade one charge.
Interchange forward Eloni Vunakece was also placed on report for a crusher tackle on St George Illawara winger Jason Nightingale but is also believed to have avoided a charge from the match review committee.

[/COLOR]


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/s...#ixzz46teZCa7d
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

[redwhiteblue]

Give me a coach with integrity every day of the week over a coach who lets his team lay down on ANZAC Day. I feel ashamed today

I said the same thing last year and was called a drama queen. Dragons players should be ashamed of the way they behave in front of ex-service men and women in the crowd. Writhing around pretending to be in pain to get a penalty and then pop back up again a few minutes later. I work with so many Dragons fans and not one of them can look me in the eye today nor have I heard a peep out of them. They must be scared of me.

[hotbuns68]

Ben Cummins is an ordinary ref and extremely arrogant and Robbo was right to call him out even if he gets belted for it. It is the only profession in the world that is in the public eye that you can' face scrutiny in. Maybe if they were forced to face scrutiny after games the level of referring would actually imp[rove as they would be called out like players are when they have a shocker and may go away and work on their game.
Not sure what Cummins problem is with us but I would love to know who he followed as a kid - is he a lifelong Rooster hater? We may never know but the stats prove he has a major issue with us.
As far as Robinsons future all I would say is Uncle Nick has never in the past demonstrated a great deal of patience with anyone when it comes to losing continually. I reckon he is safe this year but if the rot continued or got worse then I doubt he will survive much of 2017. Having said that we all know that with a few wins on the trot and he is a genius in supporters eyes again. Fickle bunch.

[Bmw06i]

Well done Trent Robinson its about time you spoke up in the press conference for the blatant cheating the Refs.I take my original post back.

What Robinson said was 100% correct , why do the officials in the bunker make a decision if it should be reported when the match review committee spend hours to decided this. Who is referring the match the on field ref or the bunker ? Yesterdays game seems like it was the bunker.

Looks like he is also 100% correct its reporting that Nappa and Evans have no case to answer.

[Darkone]

Cummins & the bunker are PATHETIC

that Evans & Napa have nothing to answer adds credence to Robbo's rant

Rothfield has come out today in support of Robbo - whatever that means.....

In terms of the game, the team picked by the coach was spot on

however they handed the game to Merge & they failed to win it back