Roosters vs Storm Pre-game Discussion

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The reason some of the media are pumping up Melbourne is to create interest and the perception of a real contest.

If you had a beer with 8/10 of them they would admit they think Easts are too hot at the moment.

[DP1990]

Not paying council fees
expired passport
insufficiently insured

Apparently the NRL MRC is looking into JWH wearing the wrong colour undies during the game against Souths which is a "Detrimental Conduct" charge so just stay tuned...

[chopstiks]

Haven't got tix yet...would like to sit in Brewongle but the options don't seem to offer that with pre-sales.

Where are you camping?

Brewongle are the best cat 1 seats.

Curiously they packed it out with Souffs, I guess when we got offered ORLY all week on ticketek they were getting Brwg. I'd expect more of the same this week.

[ROC181]

The reason some of the media are pumping up Melbourne is to create interest and the perception of a real contest.

If you had a beer with 8/10 of them they would admit they think Easts are too hot at the moment.

Have you noticed that the attack seems to change in every game? One game we'll attack on the left, then the next game it's on the right... Mitchell & Toupo were catching colds last game so I'm thinking it's the left side to be doing most of the tries this week, but the right edge will be ready to take the slack...Teams can't cope with that, Jack!

[Johnny Brass]

Big call to be made on Jake or Sam this week, it has to be a huge risk playing Jake in a sudden death game after so long out especially since Verills has been so good for us and his service has been impeccable.
With JWH out the boys in the middle are going to have to lift against asofa. Radley will be a big factor as he is fearless and hits him hard up the ribs.
I'd be tempted to go with tets early to put some big hits on . Liu and SST with their footwork can trouble the storm.
I'm confident with Keary leading the way we will beat the storm.
Raiders 13 plus for me over the bunnies.

[ROC181]

Untested Storm face SCG blackout and rampaging Latrell

Astonishing stats reveal Latrell Mitchell is the SCG master — and show why untested Melbourne players should fear running on to a ground that can create “havoc”.

Dean Ritchie, The Daily Telegraph

A Roosters legend has warned untested Melbourne Storm players that playing and kicking at the Sydney Cricket Ground can be “hell” and create “havoc”.

The call from former Eastern Suburbs halfback Kevin Hastings came as it emerged Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell had become the undisputed SCG master — averaging an astonishing 15.2 points a game at the famous venue.

Stream every match of the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly > Latrell Mitchell has become the undisputed SCG master. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Mitchell’s average is the highest of any player in rugby league history to have scored at least 100 points at a venue.

Amazingly this season, Mitchell has outscored the opposition 152-98 at the SCG and beaten the opposition’s score in nine of 10 matches.

In contrast, not a single Melbourne Storm player has played an NRL game on the SCG and most have never even been to the stadium.

Only captain Cameron Smith has played there, in a Test against New Zealand 11 years ago.

The SCG Trust will allow Melbourne on to the playing surface for a pre-game training session, probably on Friday. Cameron Smith played a Test for Australia at the SCG in 2008.
The cricket oval-shaped ground has long created difficulty for kickers, who struggle with the seemingly odd sideline angles and different wind patterns.

---

Hastings, who played at the ground during the 1970s and 1980s, said: “The winds can swirl — you never know what you’re going to get.

“The winds can play havoc there. I remember playing Parramatta there one year and the wind would take the ball at right angles.

“And kicking into it was hell. Kicking in general play can be hard because the field is on a cricket oval. It runs at an angle and you’re not sure of your bearings.

“When you run on, the lines don’t seem to run square. That makes it a bit difficult. You’re playing on a normal-sized field — the same width and same length — but it’s about what you’re used to with rectangular fields.

“This is a round oval on the outside with a football field in the middle. It would always run down to the south, the Randwick end, towards the old hill.” Kevin Hastings played at the SCG during the 1970s and 1980s.
New grandstands have changed the wind directions but players can still struggle with kicking in general play.

“It is something a little bit different because it’s an oval,” former Penrith champion Greg Alexander said. “There is also a bit of swirling wind.

“There is space between the sideline and the crowd. That’s the difference. It’s spoken about a lot.

“But it’s something you can become accustomed to pretty quickly. While they mightn’t have played at the SCG, I’m sure a lot of Melbourne players would have played at other oval-shaped grounds.”

Mitchell has made the SCG his own this season. In 10 NRL games there, he has scored 13 tries and kicked 50 goals for a tally of 152 points. Latrell Mitchell has made the SCG his own. Picture: Phil Hillyard
“The Roosters are the one side that if you’re slightly off your game, they can wrack up a big score, and Latrell has been part of that,” Alexander said.

“Any side that has been off at the SCG, the Roosters have just hammered them. Latrell has been in great form. His goalkicking has been terrific — he is kicking at 80 per cent.

“His point-scoring has gone to a new level.”

Hastings, who started his career at Easts as a centre, is also a massive fan of Mitchell.

“He has been in a bit of a lull but I’m not saying he can’t do something this weekend against the Storm,” Hastings said.

“Maybe go back to basics, run hard, and he does have a step if he wants to use it. He also has some skill and does have pace. We have all seen what he can do.

We will win...even the nervous nellies say so...

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Have you noticed that the attack seems to change in every game? One game we'll attack on the left, then the next game it's on the right... Mitchell & Toupo were catching colds last game so I'm thinking it's the left side to be doing most of the tries this week, but the right edge will be ready to take the slack...Teams can't cope with that, Jack!

There's no doubt Robbo has saved some different tweaks for the finals. I loved the blindside rush that led to one of our classic tries against Souths. The other subtle change was going first ball right/ left then straight switch back to the opposite side and attack that side of the ruck instead.

Bellamy has been preparing for this game since the GF last year. He will try a few tricks of his own I'm sure.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Brewongle are the best cat 1 seats.

Curiously they packed it out with Souffs, I guess when we got offered ORLY all week on ticketek they were getting Brwg. I'd expect more of the same this week.

It's lovely that we are the home team but don't get pick of the stalls.

[ROC181]

There's no doubt Robbo has saved some different tweaks for the finals. I loved the blindside rush that led to one of our classic tries against Souths. The other subtle change was going first ball right/ left then straight switch back to the opposite side and attack that side of the ruck instead.

Bellamy has been preparing for this game since the GF last year. He will try a few tricks of his own I'm sure.

Well if he has had any, then he has been holding on to them pretty tightly for 2019...All I see is little Pappi running fast and that's it. I think O'Brien is a big part of those new tricks we have in attack AND Robbo told the guys to stop at half time the other night...

[fletch]

Can't wait to see the new wrinkles O'Brien will have added to the attack with 2 weeks to prepare for this game.

[NorthChook]

Apparently SST hasn't trained since the souths final but will definitely play

[QWERTY]

Big call to be made on Jake or Sam this week, it has to be a huge risk playing Jake in a sudden death game after so long out especially since Verills has been so good for us and his service has been impeccable.
With JWH out the boys in the middle are going to have to lift against asofa. Radley will be a big factor as he is fearless and hits him hard up the ribs.
I'd be tempted to go with tets early to put some big hits on . Liu and SST with their footwork can trouble the storm.
I'm confident with Keary leading the way we will beat the storm.
Raiders 13 plus for me over the bunnies.

I have never seen Cameron Smith smashed in a game. For some reason, players hang of him and give him time to make a move. Someone needs to whack him, and put him in his place

[Bansai Pipeline]

I have never seen Cameron Smith smashed in a game. For some reason, players hang of him and give him time to make a move. Someone needs to whack him, and put him in his place

I was thinking this myself.

That would be something to see.

[Salvatori Grubber]

Collins can go on report for smashing him as he won’t be needed for gf.

[roosterchook]

Big call to be made on Jake or Sam this week, it has to be a huge risk playing Jake in a sudden death game after so long out especially since Verills has been so good for us and his service has been impeccable.
With JWH out the boys in the middle are going to have to lift against asofa. Radley will be a big factor as he is fearless and hits him hard up the ribs.
I'd be tempted to go with tets early to put some big hits on . Liu and SST with their footwork can trouble the storm.
I'm confident with Keary leading the way we will beat the storm.
Raiders 13 plus for me over the bunnies.

I would not play Friend given his long absence. He’s definitely not match fit even for a normal game let alone a preliminary final. Robbo should have brought him back against Souths as that was not an elimination game. To change combinations at this stage I think would be suicide. Verrills fits in nicely and has been in top form so why replace him? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Would love for us to make the gf but without JWH and a match unfit Friend it’s too difficult a call to make. For me roosters are the real premiers win or not because we play awesome footy.