Smoke and Mirrors

[The Lip]

There's been a bit of talk on here that Cronks injury might be a bit of smoke and mirrors and its not as bad a we are being told. I'm no doctor and nor do i have any inside links to the club but i think the only smoke and mirrors if any is the notion that he may play. He was busted and its only going to feel worse for him this week not better. He is no chance boys and girls in my opinion. The only smoke and mirrors is to make the media and other team think and prepare like he may play to take pressure off SOS who i think will play.

Cronks influence is massive but its more a mental influence than anything else. The side have learnt his mentality over the season and i think are much better for it. Its a huge shame but i think we will be without him.

What a game sat night. Sure we all like games where our attack is on song and we rack up a score and show our attacking class but to keep the vermin to no tries in a prelim was just so impressive to watch. Sure there were a few mistakes but we covered for them with amazing mental attitude in defense. These games are rare and i loved it much like the Manly semi a few years ago at 4-0. We did it without a kicker without our no 1 attacking weapon and won a different way. Well done to Robbo he had to get them in that frame of mind and defence is an attitude and he had them on song. Special mention to Aubo so so solid - almost perfect in D as were the rest - i reckon i saw only one example of a lazy effort in defence all night from our boys and i think it was Aubo who covered up for it. Joey - amazing - all of them were great and without Cronk as long as we have learnt from him all year which i think we have we can so do this on Sunday.

Go Easts!

[Thirteen]

At least you changed your avatar and are no longer pretending to be a hot chick.

[The Brain]

Foe me its all Latrell...big year and must finish big.Sure forwards defence and all.They should lose slater and there goes their atrack...they will rely heavily on penalties and goals..run their firwards off the park..they are big and need to be tired out..ki k and farken kick

[TheLoneRooster]

Agree with the OP, Cronk won't play given the nature of his injury and the potential for further damage. The deflections are there to take pressure off the team ahead of Sunday.

As for the game itself, I found it a frustrating affair due to the amount of errors the Roosters made, twice giving up seven tackle sets early in the count for example. Nevertheless, the effort to still win the game was immense and for that I was very proud of the team.

[Mickie Lane]

Initially I thought he would play with intense physio this week but from reports I’m hearing now there is no chance he will play. It’s a real shame.

[zac]

Yep it's a shame, but like Gus Gould once said about wingers receiving passes and diving for the line - 'You have to catch the pass you're thrown, not the one you wished that was thrown.'

Cronk being out is not ideal, but we're one game away from being premiers, we've had the benefit of Cronk's class all season and we need to go out there and do the business. You've got to play the cards you're dealt.

One of the reasons it's hard to go back to back is because teams lose their hunger. We will be more hungry than them and we will beat them.

[RoosterChick]

It is a real shame and I am resigned to the fact he won’t play. He has been our cornerstone this year and the boys have learnt a lot from him, on and off the field. He deserved to be there but alas can’t see it happening. So we have to go into the game with the mindset that we will be doing it for him. We can do it. Keary will step up, he is ready. I just hope he has help in the kicking department, and I don’t mean Friend. Not sure if Matterson has a kicking game anymore. Didn’t show us it when Keary was out injured. If he’s played a bit of 5/8 in the past he must have. Big ask to bring in SOS but I think he would be up for it. Seems like a confident kid. Oh well, big decision for Robbo. Could make or break our game. Glad I don’t have to make it. Whoever plays just give Latrell early ball. He will do the rest. He must be champing at the bit.

[stephenj]

post game sat night latrell look tobe salivating mixing with his mates who just played, hes more than ready, i just hope gf nerves dont get him playing his game sat night and not sleeping, dylan on the other hand was his usual laid back self but im hoping he wakes up lights up and goes on a mission of destruction with jwh and voctor on sunday.

[The Lip]

Napa looked absolutely stoked - i don't think you have to worry about him firing up - more worry about how we will handle the first six games next year without him!

[Waylander]

SOS is the logical choice. It keeps everyone else in the same position, and he will not be more of a defensive liability than Coops was in the 2nd half on Saturday night, and we manged that OK. I think the minimal disruption is the way to go. SOS in for Cronk, the rest as you were. The way Manu has been defending, and with Aubbo on his inside SOS will be fine. Let Keary stay at 5/8 and use his running game to set up Latrell, Teddy & Manu.

We can still do this. We will do this.

Go Easts !!

[Spirit of 66]

post game sat night latrell look tobe salivating mixing with his mates who just played, hes more than ready, i just hope gf nerves dont get him playing his game sat night and not sleeping, dylan on the other hand was his usual laid back self but im hoping he wakes up lights up and goes on a mission of destruction with jwh and voctor on sunday.

Get on Latrell for the Churchill Medal (even if those two old Vermin farts are still the judges).

[QWERTY]

i wouldnt be suprised either way-if cronk plays or not. But if he doesnt, id play SOS in 5/8. Matto cant attack in halves

[melon....]

Foe me its all Latrell...big year and must finish big.Sure forwards defence and all.They should lose slater and there goes their atrack...they will rely heavily on penalties and goals..run their firwards off the park..they are big and need to be tired out..ki k and farken kick

I don't think it makes a difference. Our GF was Saturday. But my choice straight away was keary to 7 and MattO to 6.

[Waylander]

I don't think it makes a difference. Our GF was Saturday. But my choice straight away was keary to 7 and MattO to 6.

Not like you to be so negative Melsy. I'm worried that your formation would stifle Kearys running game and limit the ball our left edge gets. Plus Matto has been very good for us in the middle of the park off the bench. I'd rather see SOS do a Momirovski, and come in as a straight swap for coops, without shuffling anyone else around.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Not like you to be so negative Melsy. I'm worried that your formation would stifle Kearys running game and limit the ball our left edge gets. Plus Matto has been very good for us in the middle of the park off the bench. I'd rather see SOS do a Momirovski, and come in as a straight swap for coops, without shuffling anyone else around.

Same, Matto rarely passes the ball and Latrell would just catch a cold. If Robbo thinks SOS is mentally up for it, then I think he has to play him and minimize the disruption to the whole team. I always thought though it was a massive opportunity lost by leaving him on the bench for 80 minutes for those few games post origin. Just giving him some game time would have done wonders for his confidence and adjustment to the speed of First Grade.