Friend off the bench

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Why why ?

Unless he was sick or injured he has got to start the game and hopefully play the 80min. He is our best player, dont think Sharks would start Gallen off the bench.

Mitchell offers little IMHO

[Guest]

I agree. Sometimes I find it difficult to understand where Smith's head is. Jake plays his butt off two weeks in a row, for all year for that matter, and seems to get penalised for it???? It's a mystery!?

[Guest]

Smith thinking there's an advantage in mind games?? This can also upset our team if it fails!

[Roostarz]

Yeah thought it was an odd decision too. Must have been sick or injured. Friend had his best game for us last week man of the match performance and his reward is that he starts from the bench. Go figure. Maybe Smithy thought Mitchell may step up against his old club well it backfired if that was the case. From memory he only got tackled with ball in hand once or twice. Who knows??

[Guest]

Lets be realistic.

Jake has busted his backside for the club all year. Racking up record tackle numbers.

Maybe Smith thought he could do with a rest? Especially for a game which means very little.

[Rooster_6]

Typical Smith trying to play off the emotion of Mitchell playing against the club who sacked him, I reckon he got it wrong last night though. We really should of capatalised on our dominance in the first half hour. Friend has by far the better service.

[Guest]

Smith thinking there's an advantage in mind games?? This can also upset our team if it fails!

Mind games are great if its to puts the oppostition team off, but I wonder if Jake even knew he was playing off the bench. The team line up on Channel 9 hadn't been changed prior to the match and I heard that Roosters were up for a fine due to this oversight.

[Billy Gunn]

No conspiracy guys, smithy just thought starting Mitchell against his old club might payk dividends, didnt quite work out. Jake was cool with it, I am sure he would rather start but no big deal.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

No conspiracy guys, smithy just thought starting Mitchell against his old club might payk dividends, didnt quite work out. Jake was cool with it, I am sure he would rather start but no big deal.

ok thanks mate - no player likes starting off the bench let alone one as full on as Jake.

I think, at the least, it showed the gap in ability of the two players.

Hopefully just a one-off. Got serious doubts about Mitchell as the "other" dummy half in the squad...im sure we can do better.

[Guest]

I see no issue with giving the back up hooker a start in a game that means nothing. Would have meant alot to Mitchell. Better to give him a run now to see how he handles it should we require it in the future.

[Vasco]

Lets be realistic.

Jake has busted his backside for the club all year. Racking up record tackle numbers.

Maybe Smith thought he could do with a rest? Especially for a game which means very little.

That's how I saw it.

[Chook Norris]

Typical Smith trying to play off the emotion of Mitchell playing against the club who sacked him, I reckon he got it wrong last night though. We really should of capatalised on our dominance in the first half hour. Friend has by far the better service.

ye i thought it was quite obvious this was the reason^

[Guest]

Maybe Smith thought he could do with a rest? Especially for a game which means very little.

I also thought it was to give him a well earned rest...

[Billy Gunn]

I also thought it was to give him a well earned rest...

Not sure how much "rest" he got he still managed 40 odd tackles

[Game Fowl]

Smith thinking there's an advantage in mind games?? This can also upset our team if it fails!

I agree sometimes mind games adversely effect our own teams stability, when will Brian coach the team instead of trying to out think everyone concerned.

Late mail was that Parra had a planned attack in mind for Mitchell on the night, Brian and Mitchell knew of it before the game and tried to expose it.