Radley >>> Friend

[The Axe]

Radley needs to be played or else he may leave. History repeating with Watson.

As a rule, robbo needs to replace jake at 30-35 min mark and bring Jake back on for last 20. We can grind wins or protect leads if played in this manner.

jake is selfish and needs to put team first.

perhaps Robbo bought Baptiste sensing this.

Perhaps napa has a role to play at training and take jake out for a few weeks to give others a go

[Bondicigar]

I'm just monitoring this thread to witness the genius that will be Rooster6's thesis post on why Friend is actually good

Ah yeah wait for it there will be some favorably twisted stats and plenty of smoke and mirrors

[Bondicigar]

Friend should go to Newcastle.

Why are they looking for a sandwich hand

[Mickie Lane]

Friend is way to robotically structured & so is Cronk
The Roosters game plan was to power over the Tigers playing a 1 out safety first style of football.
It was game 1 & I would say Robbo wanted to keep it simple. Its a bit sad that a first grade team has to play the same way an under 6 team plays.
Coaches have taken all the footy out of football. Players are so structured & it is like watching a game of chess.
The Dragons the other night got the side way plays & the straightening of the attack just right & looked good were as the Chooks looked b grade.

[milanja]

Friend is way to robotically structured & so is Cronk
The Roosters game plan was to power over the Tigers playing a 1 out safety first style of football.
It was game 1 & I would say Robbo wanted to keep it simple. Its a bit sad that a first grade team has to play the same way an under 6 team plays.
Coaches have taken all the footy out of football. Players are so structured & it is like watching a game of chess.
The Dragons the other night got the side way plays & the straightening of the attack just right & looked good were as the Chooks looked b grade.

That’s why I always enjoy watching the warriors, doesn’t matter how good or bad they are going, it’s usually entertaining footy, raiders a bit like that too.

[busted chook]

The team lost that game yesterday. Not friend. We basically bombed two tries within the first 20 mins of the first half which had nothing to do with him. He didn't set the world on fire but I don't really see cause for such forum bashing.

[Tommy Smith]

The morning after and I'm still shocked at how bad Friend played.

Forward passes, slow service, his stupid flat passes to props which have resulted in tries 1/1000, his 7 tackle restart giveaway, his appalling rapport with the refs which leads to our reemings...

The jig is up.

The Radley era needs to begin now before we waste this team.

If we lose Boo then I'll be gutted. He is such a natural footy player. Very smart and knows when to run - yes, a hooker can run, Jake! And he has good vision, too.

A Radley/Baptiste combo would be devastating. Play Jake at lock if you must. Liu can be a bench prop with Napa off to the Siberian Gulag.

[Rooster_6]

The whole spine were terrible. I know to some Friend has some history behind him but he was the same as everyone else out there, didn't play what was in front of him and seemed to struggle with the new combos.

I'm a huge fan of Radley and would keep in the 17 but I think he's best suited in the backrow, Baptiste as a rotational options is definitely the way to go IMO, assuming we can sign him.

[Monaco's Fan Club]

I think you all miss the influence of the ruck. The speed in which we got to the ground, on our stomach and played the ball, was terrible.

The better forward packs allow their hooker to run and dictate play ( Storm, Cows, etc)

Jake Friend didn't run enough, but he was given little chance. Radley was impressive, but he came on after 60mins. Friend has 35 tackles by then.

You win the ruck, you win the game

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The morning after and I'm still shocked at how bad Friend played.

Forward passes, slow service, his stupid flat passes to props which have resulted in tries 1/1000, his 7 tackle restart giveaway, his appalling rapport with the refs which leads to our reemings...

The jig is up.

The Radley era needs to begin now before we waste this team.

If we lose Boo then I'll be gutted. He is such a natural footy player. Very smart and knows when to run - yes, a hooker can run, Jake! And he has good vision, too.

A Radley/Baptiste combo would be devastating. Play Jake at lock if you must. Liu can be a bench prop with Napa off to the Siberian Gulag.

Agree mostly there Tommy but if the coaching staff have the guts/common sense to remove Jake he shouldnt be in the top 17 at all. We have better lock options.

[bondi paul]

Agree mostly there Tommy but if the coaching staff have the guts/common sense to remove Jake he shouldnt be in the top 17 at all. We have better lock options.

Politis made the call to replace stalwart Pearce, he needs to do the same with Friend - if he does then it will expel his long time loyalty with his fellow Queenslanders but with it goes the co captaincy and the whole romantic redemption redemption story will raise its head and the PR fallout momentous. Signing Cronk on 2 yrs and having Friend for that time and his slug props we will do it tough.

[Kelby]

That’s why I always enjoy watching the warriors, doesn’t matter how good or bad they are going, it’s usually entertaining footy, raiders a bit like that too.

And how many comps have they won?

Friendy 55 tackles. Maybe he needs to play the first 15 minutes of each half only?

[eddie]

On that, who makes that decision? Friend, Cordner, Cronk or Robbo?

I dunno in that particular instance.
Maybe someone can enlighten us??????
Robbo backed the decision after the game, but who made the call.?

I think it should have been the captains decision, but we've got a couple of them for some silly reason.

[Louis N]

There's always something strange about the bench. Can anyone here explain Robbo's thinking in taking the field without Cordner - arguably our best forward? Surprised it hasn't got a mention or was I at the wrong game.

[The Axe]

There's always something strange about the bench. Can anyone here explain Robbo's thinking in taking the field without Cordner - arguably our best forward? Surprised it hasn't got a mention or was I at the wrong game.

Perhaps as Cords has played no trial games....
must admit i was surprised but then this comes from a coach who played toups on bench for 75 odd minutes in a semi