Warren Ryan comment

[Guest]

Was listening to Wok commentate the Sharks v Dragons game and he was stating how the sharks were the only team in the comp that had a 9 that didnt create anything (in Corey Hughes). He made some great points about how in todays game you cant have a 9 that just passes the ball as this position is the spearhead of your attack.

Got me thinking a) that Wok musnt have watched us play and b)For mine this has been our biggest problem all year. We have no spearhead of our attack. And the Pearce is left copping the blame. Id love to see Pearce play in ateam with a decent 9 to service him.

We must buy a 9 next year if nothing else

[Guest]

i agree 100% we have had this problem since craig wing left

[Vasco]

Was listening to Wok commentate the Sharks v Dragons game and he was stating how the sharks were the only team in the comp that had a 9 that didnt create anything (in Corey Hughes). He made some great points about how in todays game you cant have a 9 that just passes the ball as this position is the spearhead of your attack.

Got me thinking a) that Wok musnt have watched us play and b)For mine this has been our biggest problem all year. We have no spearhead of our attack. And the Pearce is left copping the blame. Id love to see Pearce play in ateam with a decent 9 to service him.

We must buy a 9 next year if nothing else

It was good to see Pearce running at the line looking for hole runners. Young Symonds was one of the few that actually knew how to hit a hole.

As for Anasta, I think he needs to put at lock and kept there.

[supermario]

Id love to see Pearce play in ateam with a decent 9 to service him.

A Hooker with a good Full service is always great !!!!

even when wing was here we did not have a 9 that was the total package.

Jaubs is a good player, he just needs to round off his game, get the silly passes out of the game. He can run well from dummy half when he actually does it, he just needs to pick his time.

Jaubs just needs to use his nouse a bit more and take control of the ruck !

[Guest]

What's the Wok doing for the rest of the year ?

[Guest]

Was listening to Wok commentate the Sharks v Dragons game and he was stating how the sharks were the only team in the comp that had a 9 that didnt create anything (in Corey Hughes). He made some great points about how in todays game you cant have a 9 that just passes the ball as this position is the spearhead of your attack.

Got me thinking a) that Wok musnt have watched us play and b)For mine this has been our biggest problem all year. We have no spearhead of our attack. And the Pearce is left copping the blame. Id love to see Pearce play in ateam with a decent 9 to service him.

We must buy a 9 next year if nothing else

This said, it's pretty hard to attack when you're conceding 30+ points a game. Win, lose or draw... you shouldn't be letting the other team score 48 points! The Roosters have had more points scored against them than any other team in the comp (including the embattled Sharks who look... are really just our wooden spoon scapegoats.)

Dare I say it, I think our biggest weakness is our whole forward pack, not just our #9! Oh and our fullback. Big men like Mase and Fitzgibbon simply aren't doing their job. This makes it hard for James Aubusson to do anything because he's a LOT smaller than Mase and Fitzie (he's 80kg and short... I saw him the other day at the shops and he's shorter than me... 178 or so?) He's not a big man at all... whereas the big men! Mase and Fitzie are 100kg+... they should be helping him out more. If he doesn't have them backing him up then he's gonna get SLAMMED by 100kg+ props and 2nd rowers! Mase used to be Australia's #1 choice in the front row... you don't get much bigger and better than him when it comes to NRL forwards. Instead of getting drunk and pissing on walls the guy should have a long hard look at himself because it's dangerous for the smaller forwards if he doesn't take most of the impact and protect his smaller forwards so that they can do some of their creative magic.

We've then got Jordan Tansey as fullback... when we were winning we had Minichiello doing an ace job... best fullback in the game at the time! I know it's like blaming the goalie in soccer... but we need a fullback who can secure the ball and feed it to the big men (would again help if they were backing him up...) rather than every long ball turning into a try, we need somebody who can secure the damn ball when it goes long.

Once we have those 2 ingredients (big forwards doing their job + a fullback who can secure the scraps) THEN... and only then can we think about actually attacking the guys! I don't know if we can attack properly yet because we haven't had many chances this season thanks to poor defence!

[Chook Norris]

imo Pearce would do well at 9/hooker

the way he runs to the line and attempts to put runners through the hole makes me think so

it'll stop his inside balls as well

[Guest]

I am still baffled by the decision for Anasta to play fullback. Is he out of favour? Was he placed at fullback to possibly organise the defensive unit to overcome the glaring holes in the middle of the ruck which were evident against the Knights?

He is supposed to be one of our 2 creative players (along with Pearce) yet his involvement in the game was minimal? I find it strange that the captain of our team was essentially a passenger for the whole game.

Either way it didnt work and the obvious choice (to me) at fullback is Perrett. He did a fantastic job last year and is relatively safe under the high ball and better defensively then Tansey.

As for our go forward.........aside from FPN then it is non existent. Mason has been displaying effort but his best days seem to be behind him (perhaps still recovering from knee reco). Our number 9 is a massive issue Jaubs is a defensive player and we really need someone to spark something as it just leaves our forwards as sitting ducks as the opposition can rest comfortably knowing that nothing is going to happen around the ruck and focus on our go forward men.

Long long season ahead.

[stsae]

This said, it's pretty hard to attack when you're conceding 30+ points a game. Win, lose or draw... you shouldn't be letting the other team score 48 points! The Roosters have had more points scored against them than any other team in the comp (including the embattled Sharks who look... are really just our wooden spoon scapegoats.)

Dare I say it, I think our biggest weakness is our whole forward pack, not just our #9! Oh and our fullback. Big men like Mase and Fitzgibbon simply aren't doing their job. This makes it hard for James Aubusson to do anything because he's a LOT smaller than Mase and Fitzie (he's 80kg and short... I saw him the other day at the shops and he's shorter than me... 178 or so?) He's not a big man at all... whereas the big men! Mase and Fitzie are 100kg+... they should be helping him out more. If he doesn't have them backing him up then he's gonna get SLAMMED by 100kg+ props and 2nd rowers! Mase used to be Australia's #1 choice in the front row... you don't get much bigger and better than him when it comes to NRL forwards. Instead of getting drunk and pissing on walls the guy should have a long hard look at himself because it's dangerous for the smaller forwards if he doesn't take most of the impact and protect his smaller forwards so that they can do some of their creative magic.

We've then got Jordan Tansey as fullback... when we were winning we had Minichiello doing an ace job... best fullback in the game at the time! I know it's like blaming the goalie in soccer... but we need a fullback who can secure the ball and feed it to the big men (would again help if they were backing him up...) rather than every long ball turning into a try, we need somebody who can secure the damn ball when it goes long.

Once we have those 2 ingredients (big forwards doing their job + a fullback who can secure the scraps) THEN... and only then can we think about actually attacking the guys! I don't know if we can attack properly yet because we haven't had many chances this season thanks to poor defence!

Fitzy and Mason are backrowers. If anything using them in tight is the problem, its never been their go. Masons still showing effects of a knee recon, having him used as a battering ram is idiotic IMO.

Tansey is the ONLY player whose shown energy and looked like hes keen to run off ball players, since Minis been injured again. His defence at the backs woeful but I was impressed with his defence at 9 last night, he went alot better than I thought he would.

Leroy Brown was our best 9 last season, infact id say our best 9 since Bonetti. Hes tough as nails and gives good crisp service from dummy 1/2. Jaubs was our bench attacking "weapon" last season, the "weapon" that never fired.

I agree our defence is woeful. I guess having so many injuries and positional changes doesnt help structure much. But defence is attitude, we are mental midgets. We need a shrink IMO.

[Guest]

Fitzy and Mason are backrowers.

But they're not; Mason's a front rower or 2nd rower... Fitzy's a 2nd rower. They're BIG forwards, what do you want them to do besides forwards work?

I agree our defence is woeful. I guess having so many injuries and positional changes doesnt help structure much.

I don't call injuries bad luck; I call them bad training and bad tactics. I think the fact that James Aubusson is out injured shows there's too much stress on the hookers. Fitzy's also out... but none of the other big men are out.

I think we have pretty well the perfect team, but have had the wrong pre-season training, and used tactics that have led to injury of a number of key linchpin players who have been willing to put their bodies on the line while the big men have just been standing around watching the cricket and waiting for their innings. They've gotta wake up and realise this is rugby! 6 for 48 is not a good rugby score at the end of the day!!

[stsae]

But they're not; Mason's a front rower or 2nd rower... Fitzy's a 2nd rower. They're BIG forwards, what do you want them to do besides forwards work?



I don't call injuries bad luck; I call them bad training and bad tactics. I think the fact that James Aubusson is out injured shows there's too much stress on the hookers. Fitzy's also out... but none of the other big men are out.

I think we have pretty well the perfect team, but have had the wrong pre-season training, and used tactics that have led to injury of a number of key linchpin players who have been willing to put their bodies on the line while the big men have just been standing around watching the cricket and waiting for their innings. They've gotta wake up and realise this is rugby! 6 for 48 is not a good rugby score at the end of the day!!

Mate they call me backwards but youve confused the fark out of me.

Are we talknig Rugby League, Yawnion or Croquet???

EVERY club faces injuries. We have a heap at the moment. I wont use that as an excuse because we are still fielding a decent side with our 1/2s especially intact. I dont understand how bad tactics lead to injuries??? Bad training maybe, but without being there 24/7 I cant comment on what we do in that area.

BTW Fitzy, Cherro, Soli, Brown, Maubs and Jaubs are all out and are forwards IMO. Although Soli and Maubs have been used at 3 and 4 mostly to this point. Our packs sooooooo slow, we need mobile blokes with the pace of the play the ball this season. Most of our mobile backrowers/hookers are injured.

I do not consider Mason and Fitzy as our big men up front. FPN, Shack, Shrek, Lopini thats their role, go forward IMO. Fitzys a workrate backrower. Masons contribution has always been (and should be) IMPACT. We havent used him correctly since early last season.

Jaubs is the biggest myth we have seen in the last 2 seasons. Hes had ample time to prove he has a clue, hes failed every time. Leroy Brown was our best 9 last year. Unfortunatley hes broken his arm twice since that Wankos semi. Friend goes OK, still lacks badly in attack. Tansey or Jones IMO should be used as attacking weapons from the bench at 9 to replace Friend when we need a spark.

Why doesnt Sa or Bwaiff ever get mentioned??? Whats their contribution currently???? IMO Masons the EASY target. There are many more who have been playing like tards who escape criticism. And our coaching, its clueless at best. Our tactics and gameplans are childish. The coaches have to cop the wrath for that. We are mentally playing like tards. We arent a team.

[Guest]

Mate they call me backwards but youve confused the fark out of me.

Are we talknig Rugby League, Yawnion or Croquet???

Ever played rugby mate? You seem really confused about people's positions. Centres aren't forwards, and 2nd rower's aren't backs!

It's also a pretty common rugby term to say a team's getting "cricket scores"... have a beer and think about that one if you don't understand why (6-48 is a great example... ha... ha... 6 men out for 48 runs... ha... ha... get it now?)

As I said, I don't think injuries are just bad luck, they're systematic. When you're losing games 48-6 your team's getting bashed up! They get tired, and that's when injuries occur. If you play a bit of rugby you'll understand... I've had cricket scores against teams I've played for... and I've seen many people (particularly forwards) injured because the tactics being used put too much stress on them. Poor tactics and coaching/preparation lead to injuries... the majority don't just happen randomly.

---

Edit: to clear up your confusion.
1) Soli is a centre (therefore a back, not a forward!)
2) Love Shack is 2nd row... same as Fitzie... same job.
3) Brown's a hooker (stocky no neck kinda guy, but not a big 190cm+ guy like Mason who bashes the $hit outta people)
4) M. Aubusson... centre (covered that one... not a forward, he's a back!)
5) Lopini... YES! Front row... should be hitting hard!
6) O'Meley... YES! Classic front rower...
7) Nuuausala... YES! Prop... big man!

Your definitions of forwards and "back rowers" seem a bit off man. Points for trying though... you can't expect centres do do all the forward work then complain that our biggest men are "back rowers" so shouldn't do any forward work (although they're actually either front rowers or 2nd rowers, you just got the definition wrong.)

[Guest]

Ever played rugby mate? You seem really confused about people's positions. Centres aren't forwards, and 2nd rower's aren't backs!

It's also a pretty common rugby term to say a team's getting "cricket scores"... have a beer and think about that one if you don't understand why (6-48 is a great example... ha... ha... 6 men out for 48 runs... ha... ha... get it now?)

As I said, I don't think injuries are just bad luck, they're systematic. When you're losing games 48-6 your team's getting bashed up! They get tired, and that's when injuries occur. If you play a bit of rugby you'll understand... I've had cricket scores against teams I've played for... and I've seen many people (particularly forwards) injured because the tactics being used put too much stress on them. Poor tactics and coaching/preparation lead to injuries... the majority don't just happen randomly.

Just for the record.....are you talking Rugby or League because Rugby IS NOT league.....and Rugby is not the great game that we all follow, but the boring game of yawnion that Backwards mentioned earlier......
If you wish to make comments, please make them so we know what you are dribbling......

[stsae]

Ever played rugby mate? You seem really confused about people's positions. Centres aren't forwards, and 2nd rower's aren't backs!

It's also a pretty common rugby term to say a team's getting "cricket scores"... have a beer and think about that one if you don't understand why (6-48 is a great example... ha... ha... 6 men out for 48 runs... ha... ha... get it now?)

As I said, I don't think injuries are just bad luck, they're systematic. When you're losing games 48-6 your team's getting bashed up! They get tired, and that's when injuries occur. If you play a bit of rugby you'll understand... I've had cricket scores against teams I've played for... and I've seen many people (particularly forwards) injured because the tactics being used put too much stress on them. Poor tactics and coaching/preparation lead to injuries... the majority don't just happen randomly.

In fact yes I played Rugby League, Yawnion and Croquet.

I also hold a Level 1 cert in coaching Rugby League and have sat the Reffs ticket.

We follow Rugby League. Rugby Yawnion is the other game. There is a difference unless youre a Pom, they always refer to League as Roogby.

Explain the last two weeks The Boggs getting Roberts and Kimmorley injured??? BOTH their 1/2s. Theyre leading the comp and have copped injuries, ALL teams do.

2002 we had 11 1st graders injured at one stage, we won the bloody comp.

Injuries happen for various reasons. In such an even comp (due to the cap) the sides with the worst injuies usually end up near the bottom of the ladder. Depth is lacking at MOST clubs.

Now you end with "and I've seen many people (particularly forwards) injured because the tactics being used put too much stress on them". Does that not support what I was saying anyway??? IF we USE backrowers as props in tight we are wasting their best assets. Afterall its our BACKROWERS/HOOKERS who have the injuries. Our props in Myles, Shrek, FPN, Lopini and Shack are out there.

[stsae]

Edit: to clear up your confusion.
1) Soli is a centre (therefore a back, not a forward!)
2) Love Shack is 2nd row... same as Fitzie... same job.
3) Brown's a hooker (stocky no neck kinda guy, but not a big 190cm+ guy like Mason who bashes the $hit outta people)
4) M. Aubusson... centre (covered that one... not a forward, he's a back!)
5) Lopini... YES! Front row... should be hitting hard!
6) O'Meley... YES! Classic front rower...
7) Nuuausala... YES! Prop... big man!

Your definitions of forwards and "back rowers" seem a bit off man. Points for trying though... you can't expect centres do do all the forward work then complain that our biggest men are "back rowers" so shouldn't do any forward work (although they're actually either front rowers or 2nd rowers, you just got the definition wrong.)

Mate late edit, but hey I can adjust to the gameplan.

Soli in TWO games in the backrow showed hes now a backrower. He showed more than in his last few seasons IMO. Since his knee injuries hes lacked pace and lateral movement, especially in defence. In a little tighter he was more effective, shame he got injured.

Shacks a Prop if ive ever seen one. Freddy using him at lock is stupid IMO.

Leroy Browns a hard mo-fo, an old school hooker. Id have zero problem with him starting at 9, when fit again, and throwing Tansey/Jones on to attack later in both 1/2s with Leroy reverting to Lock. Hes big enough and hard enough to play Lock aswell IMO.

Maubs played his best game ive seen him play last season during Origin at Lock. He destroyed Watsamatta in both defence and attack, very mobile and keen and quick between the ears with a high workrate. IMO hes our best centre currently though, only because we have zero other options. You can add Sa and Bwaiff to the REALLY backrowers list IMO.

Myles, Shrek, FPN, Lopini, Shack and Kennedy are all Props. I played the position myself mate, its the build thingy.

With all due respect I believe your definitions of players are old and tired, much like our forward pack and recruitment and coaching. Its 2009, the games been artificially sped up and smaller/fitter more mobile players in the forwards are whats required. We have too many older slugs, its really nothing more than that.

Look at the play the ball this season. Players get up and take two steps forward taking the markers out of play. If you get a smart quick dummy half on the end of 3 10+ metre runs from forwards and isolate slower props in the middle, well you leak up the middle like we do currently. Last season Leroy Brown was the sort of player who covered up for alot of that IMO.