Matthew Johns: "Why Sydney Roosters won’t win 2018 NRL premiership"

[DP1990]

Link: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...faccce02e393ae


Thoughts ?

[top_joe]

I think he is spot on by and large - he knows his stuff, and like many have said on here unless our pigs fire consistently our backs will be starved of ball, time and space.

[DP1990]

I think he is spot on by and large - he knows his stuff, and like many have said on here unless our pigs fire consistently our backs will be starved of ball, time and space.

I agree mate !, posted a similar response on another thread just a few minutes ago: http://www.thechookpen.com.au/vb5/fo...t-andrew-johns

[blooster]

I whole heartedly agree with what he says (unfortunately) ...

[dice]

$5 implies we are less than 20% chance of winning. It is not a big call to say we won't win.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Despite his jokeabout public persona, Matthew Johns is one of the best tacticians and readers of the game.

In fact I can't think of one better.

[top_joe]

$5 implies we are less than 20% chance of winning. It is not a big call to say we won't win.

Pretty sure it does not measure the chance of a particular outcome occurring. Bookies change margins based on money held to minimise a chance of losing their takings, or to maximise theirnown margins.

[TheLoneRooster]

Matty nailed it and he's being kind in my opinion. Cows should be slight favourites ahead of the drizzle. Roosters on the fourth line of betting with the boncos to figure once again in third.

What Matty didn't mention is the defensive deficiencies in the back five and the coach's occasional bloopers (team selections, bench rotation).

I'd like to see more articles of this kind taking the air out of the hype balloon around the Roosters. I want to see the team feeling as though they've got something to prove rather than being walk up starts.

[Rocky Rhodes]

Unfortunately MJ is right, but not only for the one reason he has given...eg time for combo's

We need to fix these areas to be premiers:
Defence of our outside backs...Fergo, mitchell, manu and topou hardly inspire defensive confidence
Depth of outside backs....just losing Topou to injury last yr affected the whole dynamic of our backline...having just Manu or robbo as a reserve is not enough
Depth in the half's...can anyone seriously see us winning a GF if Cornish was playing.
No Goalkicker will probably cost us a few regular season games and likely a vital close finals match..
Short of one big bopper prop with experience...We need another LOD find.
Defence up the middle forwards is not good enough, Jason Taumalolo absolutely destroyed us..even quick or smart hookers cause us problems
Lack of X-factor on the bench, losing C Watson's speed and flair is a huge loss...Radley is solid but hardly the same type
Been pre-season favourites, we only win when we go under the radar...this is not 1975..

If most of these problems are addressed, 2019 will be our year.

[ROC181]

Everyone has an opinion. No one thought that the cowboys could get to the GF from where they finished. It's easier to say why a team won't win than why they will. Don't care what Matt Johns or anyone says even if they say we will win. The 26 rounds will tell.

[Guest]

What a load of BS.. Last year we had this pack with less experience and depth, We also had a new halves and fullback combination. Where did Roosters finish?
This season isn't any different to Roosters chances than 2013...

[Darkone]

Despite his jokeabout public persona, Matthew Johns is one of the best tacticians and readers of the game.

In fact I can't think of one better.

Agree, although Sterlo not far behind

Sterlo's opinion of the roosters is at default LOW

[TheLoneRooster]

Agree, although Sterlo not far behind

Sterlo's opinion of the roosters is at default LOW

Happy to hear Sterlo doesn't rate the Roosters and I hope someone tells the team that very thing. Does anyone know what he seems to have against the Roosters?

[Rocky Rhodes]

What a load of BS.. Last year we had this pack with less experience and depth, We also had a new halves and fullback combination. Where did Roosters finish?
This season isn't any different to Roosters chances than 2013...

Stop dreamin and get with the program dude. Anybody with an idea knows we overachieved last year...so last year is really irrelevant.

Our pack is less experienced this year as opposed to last year. We lost Guerra who has played over 150 first grade games and Evans who has played about 70 games. We have replaced these with no one in the forwards.

Guerra, Evans, Watson and Gordon are big loses for various reason. Sure Cronk and Tedesco are big improvements but those dudes are not forwards.

[Salvatori Grubber]

He makes sense in that article, especially re the forwards.

I agree that combos take time to form, although 2010 with Friend/Pearce/Carney/Mini worked immediately, as did 2013 with Friend/Pearce/Maloney/Mini/SBW.