Rumours around Friend will be on the bench Butcher will miss out

[chopstiks]

See the way Paps shoved Cook out of the way to score? Cook has been woeful in the finals and in defence for the little that Sam has played he has been solid but on the line he’s still learning. If Jake is included it will be for his defence though we lose out on Sams precisión passing and match fitness.

I feel dirty saying this but did you see Cody Walker skoot and skip past the big papa.

as for Sam V, I've watched him line up cam smith and tackle him ball and all about 10 times. Beautiful.
I thought sam's whole game was smartly played. He's waltzed past Smith and Cook in the finals.

[fletch]

Robbo has got the media believing Friend is playing and either Butcher or Tetevano is going to drop off the bench.

https://twitter.com/DaveRic1/status/1180048464790474755

[The Skeez]

Tricky Trent.

He is making out that Jake will play but they won’t believe him, so he will trick them by actually playing Jake. Boom

[Mickie Lane]

Robbo has got the media believing Friend is playing and either Butcher or Tetevano is going to drop off the bench.

https://twitter.com/DaveRic1/status/1180048464790474755

What do you think will happen?

[fletch]

What do you think will happen?

No idea, I do think if Friend is passed fit he will play.

[Mickie Lane]

No idea, I do think if Friend is passed fit he will play.

Me too.

[fletch]

Listening to the Raiders press conference after their captains run today they certainly believe Friend is going to play.

Going to be interesting to see who drops out of the Roosters squad at 7:30pm tonight.

[barryd]

Listening to the Raiders press conference after their captains run today they certainly believe Friend is going to play.

Going to be interesting to see who drops out of the Roosters squad at 7:30pm tonight.

Assume Hall and Collins will drop off

[ism22]

Thats the only option if you are going to play Friend.... Robbo hardly plays the 4th man on the bench anyway so no loss losing Butcher with Tets/sst and Gus there.... JWH will play alot of minutes..

Well no... he could put Friend in for Verrills and keep Butcher on the bench.

IMO if we are serious about playing friend we need to be 110% certain that this scenario would work. No way it's fair for a junior to play as our starting hooker all season + all finals, get us into the GF, get punted at the last minute and then be put back on with 20 to go when the Raiders are winning and Friend's feeling beat.

Either Friend is prepared to play 90 minutes of GF grade footy or he sits out and gives Verrills a speech about how much of a privilege it is for him to be playing.

[TheLoneRooster]

I'm of the view that Jake Friend should sit this one out for the good of the team given how little he has played this year and how well Sam has played recently, notwithstanding Sam's slightly lessened showing last week against the drizzle.

[Mickie Lane]

Its a risk to play Friend in the GF even if he is fit. If he plays Canberra will really test his bicep out, traffic traffic traffic at Friend. Re-injury?.
I dont think you can have Verrills, Friend, Radley & Butcher but what would I know. For me if Friend is picked then I wouldnt pick Verrills & I would go with Tetevano, Crighton, SST/Liu & Butcher.
I would just feel so sorry for SV if they go with Friend & the bench I mentioned.

[QWERTY]

Its a risk to play Friend in the GF even if he is fit. If he plays Canberra will really test his bicep out, traffic traffic traffic at Friend. Re-injury?.
I dont think you can have Verrills, Friend, Radley & Butcher but what would I know. For me if Friend is picked then I wouldnt pick Verrills & I would go with Tetevano, Crighton, SST/Liu & Butcher.
I would just feel so sorry for SV if they go with Friend & the bench I mentioned.

I think they will go with one or the other, not both. If Friend plays and he can’t play the full 80 they most likely will shuffle Radley into hooker and bring butcher on into Radleys vacant position

[roosterchook]

The right and just thing to do i believe is to play Verrills. He got us to the GF so he should be in it. If Robbo wants to play Friend they could share the spot but Verrills has earned his spot and knows the combinations and executes well. Friend could be used to boost us mentally if we got behind or just to give him a run if we are winning comfortably. But Verrills is my first choice. Friend next year.

[Nigel Gaffey]

If Friend is fit, he plays! Seriously can’t believe some people here are forgetting how much JF has done for this footy team. If SV misses out, he’ll have another 10 years + of opportunities. He’s a gun and has a bright future ahead of him but JF is our club captain and he has proven himself in big games time and time again. That kind of experience is invaluable

[RoosterChick]

Jake will be playing.