Why arent the spine gelling?

[dice]

In 2013 we had two experienced halves controlling both sides of the field, an experienced fullback organising the defence, and x-factors in Jennings and SBW attracting multiple defenders and creating space players on their inside.

In 2018 we have a different dynamic. Mitchell and Teddy are our x-factors. Keary not as organised as Maloney (not yet anyway). I can see us doing a throwback to 2010 when Carney used to toy with the opposition with shallow kicks out wide to prevent the opposition rushing up too quickly, and then using his acceleration to get on the outside of defenders when they hung back too far. The difference this time is we have two players in Keary and Teddy which are capable of getting on the outside of defenders. Seriously, if Keary plays a Carney role, and Teddy understands the value of himself as a decoy the opposition won't know where the ball is or who to tackle.

PS: I intentionally didn't mention Cronk. He is trying too hard and needs to do less not more. Just be more of an organiser rather than sole match-winner. Perhaps utilise his accurate short kicking game a little more as per previous paragraph. His kick earlier this year to Fergo was a ripper.

[4 the all in brawl]

Of course it is Cronk. It's easy to blame the others, but the problem is Cronk, he is supposed to be steering the ship around the park, but nobody knows what he is up to.

Stick to your structure, stick to the process blah blah blah.

How about not kicking the ball dead and giving them 7 tackles form which they score. Just because he speaks well we all give up and look to blame others.

What has he done?

One try assist all year and Zero line breaks. Tedesco has 3 try assists and 6 line breaks.

Less talk about what you are going to do Cronk and more doing.

Cronk had several try assists against the Sharks for starters......

[Johnny Brass]

Hence the argument in saying cronk was superior to Pearce as a half, I always thought they approached the game differently. Different strengths, weaknesses etc.

Pearce running game is superior to cronks as well he is particularly dangerous off his left foot step . The one area cronk is far superior is temperament which like speed is something you are born with. His ability to apply pressure inside the attacking 20 with repeat sets and attacking kicks is where he comes into his own , it's the rest of the teams responsibility to get us in that area of the park to showcase his talents.

[mattyh]

our forward pack is not getting level footing with opposition due to lack of power, speed, poor ball control, dumb footy, exhaustion, lack of size, lack of aggression, complacency ....which isnt giving our backs enough space, time, opportunity to work the magic undoubtedly they can

[Adam Stone]

Cronk had several try assists against the Sharks for starters......

https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/te.../cooper-cronk/

[4 the all in brawl]

https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/te.../cooper-cronk/

You are quite right but some of his kicks in those games are pinpoint and really are try assists.....

[Johnny Brass]

Every time cronk kicks he gets harassed by the marker defence, Pearce was put under the same pressure when he played for us. They are both right footed kickers and stand on the right of the play the ball which is the problem because Friend can't fire that pass off the deck. Friend has to stand up usually takes a step then delivers a looping slow pass. When did you ever see cronk put under pressure when he was at the storm. All kickers need that time to set themselves to deliver precise kicks.
We have a fullback ,5/8 and halfback in the top 5 in the comp in their respective positions. We have Friend at dummy half the bloke who touches the ball more often than anyone else on the field. He is in the bottom 4 hookers in the comp, I even think Levi from the knights is better than him and he can't get a start there.

[Maxy Walker]

Well our forwards more than matched it with the dragons and completions were high in the first half and yet we still couldn’t buy a try. We have scored 4 tries in the last 3 games. FMD it shouldn’t be that hard to score tries with players like Mitchell and Fergo out wide. We might try actually passing the ball to them sometimes. Might be time to try using Fergo more as a winger and not so much as a front rower too. We have front rowers for that.

I think we really just need to get back to the basics of trying to create gaps and overlaps and space for the outside backs. We have some good ones. Surely the points will come if they get good ball.

[Rooster_6]

our forward pack is not getting level footing with opposition due to lack of power, speed, poor ball control, dumb footy, exhaustion, lack of size, lack of aggression, complacency ....which isnt giving our backs enough space, time, opportunity to work the magic undoubtedly they can

We rolled the Dragons with ease.

Had nothing to do with our forward pack.

[One Eyed Willy]

Pearce running game is superior to cronks as well he is particularly dangerous off his left foot step . The one area cronk is far superior is temperament which like speed is something you are born with. His ability to apply pressure inside the attacking 20 with repeat sets and attacking kicks is where he comes into his own , it's the rest of the teams responsibility to get us in that area of the park to showcase his talents.

You can’t apply pressure with your accurate short kicking game if the service you are getting from dummy half is slow and inaccurate.
Defenders are applying too much pressure to Cronk because Friend is giving him shit ball.
Case in point yesterday, with all that possession on there line, how many repeat sets did we get?
how many kicks did Cronk have to put in under pressure?

[The Brain]

We rolled the Dragons with ease.

Had nothing to do with our forward pack.

Hey you forgot one Pearce- Cronk stat - Cronk is 50 years old and Mitchel pearce is 29 .
Good luck to Mitchell Pearce he is on holidays till next year and get 1.2 mill for his effort where as Cronk gets 1 mill for looking like Mr Mcgoo ..hahahha .Who is the smarter one?.

[David Bill Williams]

Pearce running game is superior to cronks as well he is particularly dangerous off his left foot step . The one area cronk is far superior is temperament which like speed is something you are born with. His ability to apply pressure inside the attacking 20 with repeat sets and attacking kicks is where he comes into his own , it's the rest of the teams responsibility to get us in that area of the park to showcase his talents.

You mean that giant step from Pearce right into the opposition everytime? Not that dangerous and usually see it coming from a mile away. But I do get what youre trying to say

[roosterchook]

Anyone notice our new fad ? .....Passes along the ground? I noticed recently a lot of our passes seem to be rolling along the ground instead of thrown chest high. We really look in complete disarray in attack. Hope it sorts itself out soon.

[Kelby]

The question has to be asked, Its round 6 and it still feels like the spine hasnt properly gelled together.
Before you can say "because we got a new half and fullback" look back to last year, we had a new fullback in Flash Gordon and Keary and we came out guns blazing in game 1 and maintained most of that form for the rest of the year.

Makes you think, is it because Cronk is too structured?

The bright side is, there's alot of room for improvement and when they do finally gel we will get to see the side to its full potential

Teddy is use to hunting around the middle like Slater does, looking for offloads, which don't happen.
Friend offers nothing in attack and is too slow. The defence don't need to worry about him and can put pressure on the halves more.
Cronk is new to the "Roosters Way".
Keary is doing well.