Savage critique of Jake Friend

[Vasco]

Well perhaps if we actually had some forwards who stood up when it comes to tackle counts, our halves and hooker wouldn't be expected to do so many! Unfortunately our forwards seem more interested in doing the flashy stuff and being penalised than getting down and dirty and effecting good quality defence. There were games in 2017 when Pearce's tackle counts was higher than his forward counterparts, and that should not be the case.

Stormboy had best get stuck into the tackling pads during his brief offseason because he will be doing a lot more defence in 2018 than he has for a while.

Normally that's because the opposition run at him all game. It's not because he is leaving his position on the field to make more tackles.

I can't think of any forward in the team that lacks in the defensive duties.

It's the lack of go forward by big names such as Napa and JWH that is the problem.

[ROC181]

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.

Pearce has been given 10 years of excuses while Cronk hasn't even put a jersey on and there's already expectation of only one acceptable outcome...Are we also expecting Tedesco to bring us a premiership since he's replacing a good fullback...I guess not Johnny!

And yes I see Friend changing his ways with Cronk on the field...after all, wasn't he touted to be replacing Smith when he retired at one stage? Something has happened to his play and we need for him to go back to his best which was about 3 or so years ago...Cronk will help with that, not his drinking bud.

[Half time]

I'm only going off my memory here, but when jake was out injured late in the season a couple of years ago heading into the semis and was replaced by aubbo, we still kept winning. Last year when he missed a few games with his hand or thumb injury, radley filled in very well and friend wasn't missed as much as some on here think

[kakaruk]

Friend is a very good defender he tightens up the middle but the last couple of years that's about it.0 runs for 0 meters that's a stat no rugby league player wants to own.What the hell are the roosters stats people doing why wasn't robbo told that jakes running meters were awful,unfortunately it took a journalist to bring it to everybody attention or maybe robbo did indeed know but did fu*k all about it.Theres question marks about some of robbos coaching decisions last season,im not anti robbo but you have to call a spade a spade the team selections for the finals were terrible i still cant work out what the f**k tupoe was doing obviously not fully fit sitting on the bench,2 forwards playing in the centers and to tell you the truth we wouldn't have even made the final unless latrell moved inside to center from the wing and got us there.With cronk and tedesco in the side the pressure to perform next year is on the shoulders of T Robinson hes not a protected species he needs to lift his game, a full season with taylor as attacking coach will help sort out the backline imo.

[theGman]

There's no doubt that game was a real eye opener to Nick and the power brokers at the club.

It'd probably rate as our most disappointing loss this century in terms of performance in a big clash and taking into account it was a home game with a week off against an inferior opponent.

It was a cataclysmic disaster. An absolute shambles.

And the fall out has been enormous.

I for one commend Nick for making big decisions. It would have been easy to stay the course but it's clear that we lacked a big game playmaker for the big moments.

So we went and replaced Pearce with Cronk. Genius. Which I also believe will positively influence Friend's game.

Well put Tommy.

This Pearce Off melodrama has put the cat amongst the pigeons so to speak. Shape up or ship out. It's the way Nick does business outside of football as well.

[Johnny.]

Pearce has been given 10 years of excuses while Cronk hasn't even put a jersey on and there's already expectation of only one acceptable outcome...Are we also expecting Tedesco to bring us a premiership since he's replacing a good fullback...I guess not Johnny!

And yes I see Friend changing his ways with Cronk on the field...after all, wasn't he touted to be replacing Smith when he retired at one stage? Something has happened to his play and we need for him to go back to his best which was about 3 or so years ago...Cronk will help with that, not his drinking bud.

So after all that, do you agree with me or what?

[ROC181]

So after all that, do you agree with me or what?

Of course... I was referring to a reply you received saying that you're already giving Cronk excuses that Pearce hasn't been given the same chance...
And that Friend will respond better to a pro like Cooper...

I also believe Trent will most benefit from having a leader on the field able to better organise the game...Maybe then he can get his bench right...

[bondi.boy]

Whoever wrote that won’t be doing any media with the chooks this year...

Is all that exactly true though?

[Johnny.]

Of course... I was referring to a reply you received saying that you're already giving Cronk excuses that Pearce hasn't been given the same chance...
And that Friend will respond better to a pro like Cooper...

I also believe Trent will most benefit from having a leader on the field able to better organise the game...Maybe then he can get his bench right...

Ah right. As most of our forward pack go for the full game (Cordner, Aubusson and SST) then I think Friend and Garvey should do a 20/20 split for the half.

[Bigchook]

Is all that exactly true though?

my comment wasn’t related to the content but rather the tone it was written. The same message could have been conveyed in a more subtle and appropriate manner. Sounded personal to me.

[stephenj]

i agree ui tghink friend has been the problem all along he peaked a few years back no longer on the up hes slowing down further every year doesn't want to run anymore cause he always gets caught! jake should be the one looking for a new club not Pearce

[Cockadoodledoo]

my comment wasn’t related to the content but rather the tone it was written. The same message could have been conveyed in a more subtle and appropriate manner. Sounded personal to me.

I have heard that our club has in the past fed articles to the DT to write when they wanted certain players critiqued. Not likely here but you never know.

[bondi.boy]

my comment wasn’t related to the content but rather the tone it was written. The same message could have been conveyed in a more subtle and appropriate manner. Sounded personal to me.

Subtle and appropriate don't always convey the message.

[PeeGee]

All things going to script, we should be a very different / better football team next year.....................IMO

[Flipper Hands]

All things going to script, we should be a very different / better football team next year.....................IMO

Are you claiming you have the script PG?