Savage critique of Jake Friend

[trewhella]

Who wrote this......he can’t be a rooster. He is a c

[Renman]

I have said many times that Jake is a much better player when he plays for 60min. Love Trent Robinson but if he persists with his bad use of interchange players we could be in trouble. Just to make it clear TR, 17 players will probably beat 16 more times that not; Its a resource that should be used much more betterer.
The other looming issue is who is Captain? Cronk is great at game management but is the current captain going to decide who gets the ball or Cronk?

Make Cords solo captain, play JAke for 60min and bring in Radley. If Jake insists on playing 80 min he can join MP. Team comes first.

[stringaz]

I watched the last 20mins of the Fiji Aust game and Cronk was running around like a fullback. The direction of the game came mostly from Smith and Morgan.

Now did Cronk play first receiver at all in the first 60?

I think Cronk will struggle if Robbo keeps coaching us like we were with Pearce, it's not cronks lack of ability, it's Jake's.

Or both really, Pearce and Cronk don't have the same style of play, and the way the team has been coached must change.

Cronk reminded me of an NFL punter, Morgan/Smith directing, Cronk coming in for a kick at the end of the set.

Ha I wish we had have swopped smith for friend

[Thirteen]

As much as admire Friend for his durability and toughness he lacks a lot .The rare times he runs the ball and moves the ball we play so much better .he is predictable and easy to defend against.

You'd beat Friend in a foot race Brain.

[Monaco's Fan Club]

Friend's ability has been stifled by the presence and ironically disappearance of Pearce.

We all agree, Pearce lacked the involvement, especially in critical moments. Friend was burdened with the duties of both 80 min hooker and half back/ playmaker at times. This is an issue that Cameron Smith, never had to worry about.

Friend will benefit from Cronk's positional play and direction

[novice chook]

Nothing personal just an observation here whenever any one is critical of the players you are generally extremely quick to spring to their defence, sometimes the criticism is warranted and in this case it is. On Jakes defence he is rarely the main tackler in one on one and is very often just assisting, this boosts his tackle numbers.

I'm more than willing to spring to the defence of players who put their heart and soul into playing for the RWB - and Jake is one of those. Yes, he has his flaws, but in my opinion the side is better with him in it than with him out of it. And at least he is making an attempt at making tackles, and not leaving a yawning gap for the opposition to run through, or arm grabbing and missing.

I'm just fed up with the fact that certain players are bagged from pillar to post, both by the supporters and by the media, whilst others seem to be untouchable and have a place in the 17 whether or not they deserve it.

It seems nowadays the longer you are at the club, the less you are appreciated by many supporters. All the praise and plaudits are reserved for the newbies - at least until they have been there for a few years and so are apparently on the scrapheap.

Stormboy is lucky he is only at the Chooks for 2 seasons - mind you, it might be a long 2 years for him if he does not work the miracles everyone expects and turns average players into superstars in double quick time. I suspect he will be earning every cent being spent on him.

[stsae]

Friend's ability has been stifled by the presence and ironically disappearance of Pearce.

We all agree, Pearce lacked the involvement, especially in critical moments. Friend was burdened with the duties of both 80 min hooker and half back/ playmaker at times. This is an issue that Cameron Smith, never had to worry about.

Friend will benefit from Cronk's positional play and direction

Yes that would explain the results up to round 8 2016. The burden when TheSnitz played and didn't.

I especially loved that hamstring puller of a pass he delivered TheSnitz vs The Wankos at the back of 2015.

The burden and The Flog.

Dig it.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Yeah we only won 3 games out of 13 when Pearce was out in 2016, as opposed to the 3 from 11 when Pearce was playing.

[stsae]

Yeah we only won 3 games out of 13 when Pearce was out in 2016, as opposed to the 3 from 11 when Pearce was playing.

The burden, the burden.

The Flog.

[roosterproud]

smith was no run for no meters in ori9in 1 and 5 run 36 meters in soo2

[Johnny.]

Already making excuses for Cronk which Pearce wasn't afforded, or perhaps I have read that wrong.

Absolutely wrong. I'm expecting more from Friend not Cronk. My disdain for Pearce was not his abilities as a footballer in general but his lack of skill in his chosen position.

[Johnny Tobin]

BTW I also think most of them should be in the spotlight after that abysmal prelim final effort. That was all-time hopeless.

[fletch]

BTW I also think most of them should be in the spotlight after that abysmal prelim final effort. That was all-time hopeless.

coach included

[Lydon]

Gee Robbo screwed up hard in that last game,I bet Nick has one eye planted on him at the moment..
Needs to right the wrongs from last year!

[Cockadoodledoo]

Gee Robbo screwed up hard in that last game,I bet Nick has one eye planted on him at the moment..
Needs to right the wrongs from last year!

That's why I love a brutal purge from the roster. Everyone is on notice to perform. The last one happened at the end of 2012.