Easts Top team 2017

[One Eyed Willy]

If Nat Butcher works his way into a bench spot by the end of the season he will have done tremendously well. Playing in the middle at his age is such a huge ask.

Aaron Woods, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Tapau & Josh Mcguire are all middles who dominated the 20s but struggled in their debut seasons and they were all older than Butcher will be next year when they started getting consistent time in grade.

Just think about how long it took Dylan Napa, Isaac Liu & Kane Evans to start handling the physicality of the NRL. All graduated the NYC and spent time in reserves before they started getting consistent minutes. Think back to JWH or Sam Moa's story.

It's a really hard position and the majority who play there dont start to realise their potential until their early to mid 20s. And lets face it the game isn't what it used to be you can't just get away with making a stack of tackles and making no errors if you're not winning 60-70% of your hitups (and that means bending the line and getting a quick play the ball) you're just not first grade standard.

It's easy to get excited about a kid like Butcher but history says if he can crack a bench spot next year he will have done excpetionally well at his age.

When did Evans start to handle FG?
He's a powder puff for a man his size

[nikottam]

Alright here's my take for round 1, ignoring all personal attatchments and what I want to see, this is what I think Robbo will go with

1. Gordon (didn't sign him to chill at Wyong)
2. Toops
3. Mitchell
4. SKD
5. Fergo
6. Keary
7. Pearce
8. jWh
9. Friend
10. Naps
11. Cordner
12. Aubbo
13. Liu (assuming SST isn't fit)

14. Watson
15. Guerra (hate to admit it but he's got too much cred for robbo to make him play at Wyong)
16. Evans/one of those new guys who can play front row????
17. Matterson/ one of the new guys

I think Matterson will get more game time than you all seem to think, being played as Aubo Jr (aka Mr fix it). If he can prove himself as a second rower, he'll be one of the first picked for a bench spot, due to in addition to being a bench forward, his versatility gives him an edge over all the other second rowers (especially if copley is gonna keep getting himself knocked out 6 minutes into a game & we need a centre).

But I hope to see Manu & butcher move into the side, with maybe Watson starting at some point, i just can't see any of these guys getting dropped before they get a chance to prove themself in 2017

[Rooster_6]

When did Evans start to handle FG?
He's a powder puff for a man his size

2015 he definitely started to handle the physical requirements of FG some of his defensive hits were brutal and he offered a real handy offload game.

He definitely went backwarss in his development this year though, became a huge liability and just didn't show any signs of progression.

With Liam Knight, Nat Butcher, Zane Tetevano and Paul Carter all legitimate FG options in the middle over the next couple of seasons it is definitely his make or break season.

I haven't written him off just yet but I can't say I'm very optimistic either.

[Mad_Rooster_in_GraceLand]

Alright here's my take for round 1, ignoring all personal attatchments and what I want to see, this is what I think Robbo will go with

1. Gordon (didn't sign him to chill at Wyong)
2. Toops
3. Mitchell
4. SKD
5. Fergo
6. Keary
7. Pearce
8. jWh
9. Friend
10. Naps
11. Cordner
12. Aubbo
13. Liu (assuming SST isn't fit)

14. Watson
15. Guerra (hate to admit it but he's got too much cred for robbo to make him play at Wyong)
16. Evans/one of those new guys who can play front row????
17. Matterson/ one of the new guys

I think Matterson will get more game time than you all seem to think, being played as Aubo Jr (aka Mr fix it). If he can prove himself as a second rower, he'll be one of the first picked for a bench spot, due to in addition to being a bench forward, his versatility gives him an edge over all the other second rowers (especially if copley is gonna keep getting himself knocked out 6 minutes into a game & we need a centre).

But I hope to see Manu & butcher move into the side, with maybe Watson starting at some point, i just can't see any of these guys getting dropped before they get a chance to prove themself in 2017

Your bench is a bit light on for props and middle 3rd forwards man.

[Guest]

At this early stage , for round 1 I like

1- Micheal Gordon

2- Joey Manu
3- Latrell Mitchell
4- Blake Fergueson
5- Shaun Kenny-Dowell

6- Luke Keary
7- Mitchell Pearce

8- Jarod Waerea-Hargraves (capt)
9- Jake Friend
10- Dylan Napa
11- Boyd Cordner
12- Mitch Aubusson
13- Issac Liu

14- Conner Watson
15- Liam Knight
16- Paul Carter
17- Kane Evans


SST injured
Guerra MIA
Toops entertaining the Wyong faithful
Copley and Matterson unlucky

You have named players that won't be @ Bondi in 2017.....

[mightyrooster]

You have named players that won't be @ Bondi in 2017.....

Please elaborate. Or give me a hint?

[Moose]

Please elaborate. Or give me a hint?

he's making stuff up again, if any of those people leave it was a fluke, you could name 17 players from any club and one will probably be leaving next year.

[bondi-boy]

SKD was no 4 in the 2013 GF...which the Roosters won...and defended like men possessed in the last 20 minutes.

IMO he's wasted on the wing.

[Mickie Lane]

You have named players that won't be @ Bondi in 2017.....

From eddie's run on side the only player that may not be there would be Napa if that rumour comes to fruition. All of his bench players will be with the Roosters unless Kane Evans departs.
There has been speculation about Guerra & Toups maybe being punted so they are the only two that I can come up with.
Im sure Trent, Nick & yourself have it all worked out.

[Cockadoodledoo]

When did Evans start to handle FG?
He's a powder puff for a man his size

I can't believe what happened to him this year, he refused to put his body on the line when hitting the ball up. There were reports of a serious shoulder injury but they proved false as he was running around for Fiji a couple weeks back. If he required surgery, it would have happened once our season completed and he would have been out of action for a couple months at least.

[Rooster_6]

SKD was no 4 in the 2013 GF...which the Roosters won...and defended like men possessed in the last 20 minutes.

IMO he's wasted on the wing.

Wingers have bigger roles in the modern day game than centres. 'Talent being wasted on the wing' is a thing from an era that no longer exists.

Having 2 strong wingers is so vital in the modern day game, they contribute so heavily to the yardage game and SKD is one of the best at it.

[Parkway_Drive]

Here is my take on what a round 1 team should be (noting that Tauks will be out with a knee injury)

1 Mitchell (why did we play him for most of his debut season at FB then?)
2 Gordon (We need a goal kicker with Tauks out)
3 Fergo (Doesn't inspire me with much confidence but praying the beast of 2013 and of 2015 returns)
4 SKD I agree he is better as a winger but until Manu is ready he will be a centre I am afraid (Copely and Matto as alternates)
5 Toups (however Manu will be snapping at his heels and will replace him if he doesn't immediately perform)
6 Keary
7 Pearce
8 JWH (vice captain)
9 Friend
10 Napa (I reckon he is not going anywhere for at least 12 months)
11 Cordner (Captain)
12 Aubbo (would be my choice and not that useless ballerina)
13 Liu

14 Watson
15 Tetevano at 6'2 and 108kg can play lock or prop
16 Knight can play lock and prop and I have a few mates who are Manly fans who really think he has a huge future
17 Carter has the versatility and toughness to cover a few positions including hooker second row and 5/8th at a pinch could be similar to Aubbo.

Should we sign another decent prop like Vaughan in the offseason he will be on the bench probably in number 16 with Knight going to number 17 and Carter dropping off the bench.

I don't care I picked the bad boys, it is what we need some hungry guys wanting a second chance who know what it is like to play first grade.

Geurra left right inside and out I hope

Evans can rediscover his form at Wyong for all I care after seeing turn out for Fiji after his insipid efforts in 2016 when the busted shoulder excuse was raised here a number of times, busted shoulder my arse it was more like a weak heart. He would have had surgery if he had a busted shoulder surely or at least a long period of rest.

[bondi paul]

I have lost all confidence in Freeloader Fergo who is now on a freeloading Contiki off-season trip with the Kangaroos.

[Thirteen]

I have lost all confidence in Freeloader Fergo who is now on a freeloading Contiki off-season trip with the Kangaroos.

And he knows he only needs to cruise these days to make the origin and Kangaroos side.
Up until this year I've always been a big fan of Fergo.

[Thirteen]

[QUOTE=Parkway_Drive;n669250
5 Toups (however Manu will be snapping at his heels and will replace him if he doesn't immediately perform)
.[/QUOTE]

I doubt it. Toups was useless all year and never got replaced or dropped.