Jake Friend

[2013PREMIERS]

You can't be serious with Val Holmes, Kafusi, Damien Cook and also saying that Meninga shouldn't be coach. Throw up some better options than those guys, in fact throw up better options for all the players you have highlighted. The only one I can agree with is Woods, who I think got picked because he's been there before with Meninga. You can't just say these guys shouldn't have been picked and not say who should have been there in front of them

I’d be getting some dickhead like Duges into centre to cover for GI and have Tom Turbo onto the wing and have Gagai out of the side. Chrichton in for Kaufusi, he’ll even Cam Murray or Tariq Sims would be a heaps better option. Damien Cook you can’t deny after the season he’s had, although I reckon he’ll turn into one of those guys who has 2 good games a year and gets a 3 year deal on the back of it as well as his breakout year. Woods can piss off, one of the great farces how he has been picked for this side. Although Mal has come out and said changes won’t be made...

[Tommy Smith]

I’d be getting some dickhead like Duges into centre to cover for GI and have Tom Turbo onto the wing and have Gagai out of the side. Chrichton in for Kaufusi, he’ll even Cam Murray or Tariq Sims would be a heaps better option. Damien Cook you can’t deny after the season he’s had, although I reckon he’ll turn into one of those guys who has 2 good games a year and gets a 3 year deal on the back of it as well as his breakout year. Woods can piss off, one of the great farces how he has been picked for this side. Although Mal has come out and said changes won’t be made...

Sims and Crichton aren't fit.

Kaufusi is a deserving choice though my issue is that Frizell deserved the start.

McGuire is an undeserving "incumbent" choice. As is Woods.

Both are way short of the mark as Roos forwards and it's no surprise that JWH and Bromwich dominated them.

As for Cook, he was a no brainer. He had a much better season than Friend and killed it in Origin. People are kidding if they don't think he deserved a spot.

[Ivan Benko]

The NZ forwards completely outplayed our forwards Woods was an absolute passenger,there must be better choices in the NRL

[Random Rooster]

Why wasn't Matt Scott in the Australian team?

You serious? Fat Scott is 33 years old, missed nearly of all last year and what he played this year was mostly average. He recently had neck surgery so wouldn't have been considered but even if he was 100% fit he wouldn't have got a start. Reagan-Campbell would be the player id be blooding

[Mickie Lane]

Fergo broke his leg in the GF.

I would still pick Fergo with a broken leg ahead of Gagai.
Nah I forgot about his broken leg Tommy.

[Rooster_6]

My theory is that this type of opinion comes from armchair experts who have never played "seriously", whether that be junior rep teams or all the way to first grade.

I spent considerable time on here defending Friend during his poor patch, gave up in the end.

That being said, Cook has been decent in defence all year, and probably did deserve the cap.

Yeh I have no issue with Cook getting the cap over Friend I just find the argument for to be extremely one sided and focused purely on his ability to scoot out of dummy half.

Absolutely no talk about his limited service game, high error rate for a hooker and inability to contribute to his team when conditions don't suit.

For context though this is only Cook's first full season starting in Firsr Grade, he will develop his game no doubt. He just wasn't shoulders above the competition as his recent finals and now international performances have shown.

[stephenj]

so very triue rooster_6

[Flipper Hands]

Well done. I spent a fair bit of time putting the boot in, and dont feel great about it.
To be fair his form was down for quite awhile, and I think he needed time off to recover from the injuries he was carrying.
But anyway, I deserve a big slap from one of those flipper hands.

Nah Eddie, his attack was dismal. You were entitled to have a dig. Next time appreciate the defensive side of the game, after all, it's half of the reason we have been so successful in recent years.

[The Sack]

The Aussie team could use his defense against the Tongans. Cook is way overrated!

[The Brain]

An inform Friend has it over them.Shouldve been there from day 1.

[kakaruk]

Times are changing the aussies have had a good run but its all over for the kangaroo go the tongans!!

[eddie]

Nah Eddie, his attack was dismal. You were entitled to have a dig. Next time appreciate the defensive side of the game, after all, it's half of the reason we have been so successful in recent years.

Good point.
You could never question his commitment, that's for sure.
Glad Robbo kept the faith.

[Johnny Tobin]

Maxy Walker defended Jake plenty, he was always trying to tell all the know alls that Jake wasnt the problem & that he is actually one of the Roosters best.
On the Australian side & T Turbo in the centres I cant work out why Chambers wasnt in the side with Fergusson on the wing.

First half of the season Jake wasn’t up to first grade standard. Luckily for us he turned it around and he was great when it counted.

For mine anyone that played or coached for us in that GF now has a lifetime immunity from criticism. It was the best win in a big game I have seen from our club by miles, including the 2002 and 2013 GF’s (both of which we could have easily lost).