World Club Chalenge

[Jacks Fur Coat]

What an achievement. Back to Back Premiers & Back to Back World Champions. We are all so lucky being around to watch the Roosters be the most successful that they have ever been in 112 years in our life time. That 26 year drought of Premierships was half my life of watching the Chooks, I was around in 74 & 75 which were good times, successful but I was a kid so it didnt mean as much. To be in my early 50's now & witness the Roosters being the strongest & best that they have ever been in their history is amazing. My only wish is that my dad & pop were around now to witness this with me.

Very well said mate.

[Saintsinpeace]

Right as name suggest Saints fan in peace. Ive got back in after a few drinks and missus away working so was keen to hear Roosters view on the game. Theres some really interesting comments so Ill try and give my Saints view and see what you reckon.

I think theres some harsh stuff in amongst some fair and balanced comments. Ill not dwell on those suffice to say when your national team hasnt won a series for 40 years against Australia then some people will be flippant. Jesus, I watched my first match againstin 1986 against the touring Aus team and GB hasnt won a series since so theres a degree of arrogance thats justified. The second point is I think we are a good team, wed,d be alright in the NRl

Ill Ill begin by making a point noone has really spoken about; the Roosters off field activities. The Roosters were a absolute credit to their supporters. They did a load of work in the North West with kids, forums and stuff and generally behaved like ambassadors for the game. Massive well done to all involved. Great to see.

I was nervous about tonight as its clear many of our players arent match fit. Ignore the 3 SL games because we ve had some niticeable disruption already. When JH coached last year we were ready for the off and comfortably faster than the other SL teams. Difference thisyear is Knowles, Roby, Makinson, Walmsley have missed games through recovering from major surgery in the off season and/or picked up injuries so they havent played in any/many of those 3 games. We also had our first choice wing, full back and centre out. Got what sounds like an excuse in early but there will be a however coming later!

On the match I thought ewe did well to hold Sydney to a 2point lead at HT. I said to my Old Man that I thought Sydney bossed the last 20minutes of that first half. They did exactly what Saints did to SL teams last year. Rolled down the pitch with big metres and controlled the PTB. Our props went very well and are up there with the best, but I thought JWH and the big Tongan were excellent. Consistently hard to put down and just got the extra few metres on contact. The Sydney second rowers looked very solid as well: whereas Walmsley and Thompson looked like they could hurt the line, I thought thour second rowers were outplayed. Knowles at 13 was good for us and did a lot of work, I know a lot of NRl teams were interested in him.

We had chances to win that game, not having those backs hurt. As someone said on here, the big difference is the NRL have such depth to their squads. For example I like Costello as a steady player but he wouldnt get in the Nrl starting 13 so as soon as Percival was out I was worried we’d be overun down that side. Put simply we needed our first choice 17 whereas the Roosters could miss someone like Cordner and be relatively ok. Its a big problem in SL as its a cause of why the two comps have different intensities.

In that sec d half I knew that when we kept blowing chances we,d be punished. Australian teams are so clinical that you need to take your opportunities and we blew multiple chances, ironically it proved we were more than competitive because we were creating chances. I wonder what had happened if we,d squuezed over to go 14–8up. In truth I suspect Sydney would have found something but its one of those classic British RL ‘if only stories.,

I mentioned the 3 games we have played and why I think it misled some people on here given our start. however I thought its a massive disadvantage to the Roosters to not have a proper match before this game. Theyve a new half back pairing and proper prep is necessary in those circumstances. Needs looking into, even something like a closed doors 40 min half of full contact/intensity against a SL club would help before these games. Anyway, the two halves will go well this year. They looked promising and both behind that pack and with Tedesco’s support from Fb theyll not be on the back foot often.

I was interested in one of your posters point about rule interpretation- a lot of Saints fans were on the refs back because there was so much wrestling on the floor. Couldnt work out if thats the NRL or if it was a symptom of the Roosters generally winning the contacts. I thought most penalties against you were fair, most were for obvious things like headshots so you couldnt moan about those really. Friend did a good job of getting in the refs ear, a clever professional.

Overall Im satisifed. If Im forced to be honest, I did worry about being exposed by your backs but Bentley, Costello and young Welsby held their own to ensure it was a good game of footy. The bookies in the UK gave us a 10 point start so we covered that. To me the Roosters are a generation team, up there with those Brisbane teams so it was no shame to lose to a quality team. We put a load of pressure on in the second half and it was ironic the Roosters actually scored more in that half than the first where they were clearly winning the field battle. That second half was a masterclass of defense, dont underplay that performance as I saw it in front of me and it was top, top defence. Any NRL side would struggle to have broke that line. Im not sure we got any quick PTbs all night?

Suppose were all ok at the end of the day. You guys showed your class and won and Roosters are pleased its good prep. Im happy we performed given some of the disruption we ve had and the quality if the opposition we faced. A good game of rugby.

sorry if its disjointed as a post as ive had a few. Have a good season!

[roosterchook]

It must be so, so disheartening for teams when they ‘appear’ to have us on the back foot all game, seemingly on the cusp of victory, only to be robbed by a brilliant rooster try against the run of play from well inside our own half. Teams must be asking just how we continue to do it. My answer is simply ‘character’ Every player puts in 110% in defense and in attack we strike when they least expect.Again we were dominated yet again we won. Congratulations Roosters - BACK TO BACK PREMIERS AND BACK TO BACK WORLD CHAMPIONS,

[Mickie Lane]

Right as name suggest Saints fan in peace. Ive got back in after a few drinks and missus away working so was keen to hear Roosters view on the game. Theres some really interesting comments so Ill try and give my Saints view and see what you reckon.

I think theres some harsh stuff in amongst some fair and balanced comments. Ill not dwell on those suffice to say when your national team hasnt won a series for 40 years against Australia then some people will be flippant. Jesus, I watched my first match againstin 1986 against the touring Aus team and GB hasnt won a series since so theres a degree of arrogance thats justified. The second point is I think we are a good team, wed,d be alright in the NRl

Ill Ill begin by making a point noone has really spoken about; the Roosters off field activities. The Roosters were a absolute credit to their supporters. They did a load of work in the North West with kids, forums and stuff and generally behaved like ambassadors for the game. Massive well done to all involved. Great to see.

I was nervous about tonight as its clear many of our players arent match fit. Ignore the 3 SL games because we ve had some niticeable disruption already. When JH coached last year we were ready for the off and comfortably faster than the other SL teams. Difference thisyear is Knowles, Roby, Makinson, Walmsley have missed games through recovering from major surgery in the off season and/or picked up injuries so they havent played in any/many of those 3 games. We also had our first choice wing, full back and centre out. Got what sounds like an excuse in early but there will be a however coming later!

On the match I thought ewe did well to hold Sydney to a 2point lead at HT. I said to my Old Man that I thought Sydney bossed the last 20minutes of that first half. They did exactly what Saints did to SL teams last year. Rolled down the pitch with big metres and controlled the PTB. Our props went very well and are up there with the best, but I thought JWH and the big Tongan were excellent. Consistently hard to put down and just got the extra few metres on contact. The Sydney second rowers looked very solid as well: whereas Walmsley and Thompson looked like they could hurt the line, I thought thour second rowers were outplayed. Knowles at 13 was good for us and did a lot of work, I know a lot of NRl teams were interested in him.

We had chances to win that game, not having those backs hurt. As someone said on here, the big difference is the NRL have such depth to their squads. For example I like Costello as a steady player but he wouldnt get in the Nrl starting 13 so as soon as Percival was out I was worried we’d be overun down that side. Put simply we needed our first choice 17 whereas the Roosters could miss someone like Cordner and be relatively ok. Its a big problem in SL as its a cause of why the two comps have different intensities.

In that sec d half I knew that when we kept blowing chances we,d be punished. Australian teams are so clinical that you need to take your opportunities and we blew multiple chances, ironically it proved we were more than competitive because we were creating chances. I wonder what had happened if we,d squuezed over to go 14–8up. In truth I suspect Sydney would have found something but its one of those classic British RL ‘if only stories.,

I mentioned the 3 games we have played and why I think it misled some people on here given our start. however I thought its a massive disadvantage to the Roosters to not have a proper match before this game. Theyve a new half back pairing and proper prep is necessary in those circumstances. Needs looking into, even something like a closed doors 40 min half of full contact/intensity against a SL club would help before these games. Anyway, the two halves will go well this year. They looked promising and both behind that pack and with Tedesco’s support from Fb theyll not be on the back foot often.

I was interested in one of your posters point about rule interpretation- a lot of Saints fans were on the refs back because there was so much wrestling on the floor. Couldnt work out if thats the NRL or if it was a symptom of the Roosters generally winning the contacts. I thought most penalties against you were fair, most were for obvious things like headshots so you couldnt moan about those really. Friend did a good job of getting in the refs ear, a clever professional.

Overall Im satisifed. If Im forced to be honest, I did worry about being exposed by your backs but Bentley, Costello and young Welsby held their own to ensure it was a good game of footy. The bookies in the UK gave us a 10 point start so we covered that. To me the Roosters are a generation team, up there with those Brisbane teams so it was no shame to lose to a quality team. We put a load of pressure on in the second half and it was ironic the Roosters actually scored more in that half than the first where they were clearly winning the field battle. That second half was a masterclass of defense, dont underplay that performance as I saw it in front of me and it was top, top defence. Any NRL side would struggle to have broke that line. Im not sure we got any quick PTbs all night?

Suppose were all ok at the end of the day. You guys showed your class and won and Roosters are pleased its good prep. Im happy we performed given some of the disruption we ve had and the quality if the opposition we faced. A good game of rugby.

sorry if its disjointed as a post as ive had a few. Have a good season!

Top read.
It was a really good game mate & you need good teams to have good games.
It was a great spectacle for the greatest game of all.

[Saintsinpeace]

Cheers Mickie. I noticed you called the margin! Who did you see as your top performers and ours...?

[Saintsinpeace]

It must be so, so disheartening for teams when they ‘appear’ to have us on the back foot all game, seemingly on the cusp of victory, only to be robbed by a brilliant rooster try against the run of play from well inside our own half. Teams must be asking just how we continue to do it. My answer is simply ‘character’ Every player puts in 110% in defense and in attack we strike when they least expect.Again we were dominated yet again we won. Congratulations Roosters - BACK TO BACK PREMIERS AND BACK TO BACK WORLD CHAMPIONS,

Im not sure you were dominated mate. I had you 12 points the better team at HT. id also be confident to bet Roosters made noticeably more metres on the night.
We pressured second half and Ive covered what I thought above, but I always suspected Sydney could punish us if we couldnt stop blowing our load and so it probed. A top game of rugby. Ill admit you were ring rusty as you dont see Aussie teams generally lose as mcuh possesion. Do you reckon that was match practice?

[Darkone]

Great trial,

We get JMoz we 3Peat

[Saintsinpeace]

two from two

r
Three from three actually. Know your history lol. Jesus just remembered our U19s toured Aus and beat every NRL side bar one. Guess which one lol.
Shit should really be in bed as 3:48 in the UK but got in late and watched rerun of game.

[ism22]

Im not sure you were dominated mate. I had you 12 points the better team at HT. id also be confident to bet Roosters made noticeably more metres on the night.

We had 48% of possession and made 1388m v their 1298. Also won the TBs 46 to 21.

[Saintsinpeace]

We had 48% of possession and made 1388m v their 1298. Also won the TBs 46 to 21.

Cheers mate I was looking for the stats. As I say be proud of your team as Walmsley and Thompson would be starting props at any NRL team outside Roosters in my opinion, in part evidenced by the number of NRL teams that chased Thompson. It would have been nice if you guys could have seen the best of James Roby too, purely because he has been ine of our hometown greats but this may be his last year. Could have gone over there but moving abroad not for everyone and a top player in his time. I was gutted Cronk retired by the way another absolute great of the sport who id love to have seen at our gaff.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Appreciate your comments Saintsinpeace.

You can be pretty pleased with your lads.

The difference between good and great teams these days is taking your chances when they arise.

The referee made it hard for both teams with a skinny 10 and blowing too many penalties.

Great singing by your fans in the stands.

Thanks for letting us know about the Roosters off field work.

[Saintsinpeace]

Appreciate your comments Saintsinpeace.

You can be pretty pleased with your lads.

The difference between good and great teams these days is taking your chances when they arise.

The referee made it hard for both teams with a skinny 10 and blowing too many penalties.

Great singing by your fans in the stands.

Thanks for letting us know about the Roosters off field work.

Ta pal. My best mate had his photo taken with Tupou and his son, would post if could. I think our twitter club feed showed some of the stuff Roosters did. Uk game needs it and great to see you buy into this concept. I didnt notice skinny ten, i think line speeds by both teams quick. Agree far too many pens mate. Let the game flow! I think Aus ref should ref Uk games to even up the balance. Not that they are biased but just that travelling is tough and needs to be looked at.

[Davo]

Good listen here, a couple of St Helens tragics that a do a game review after each of there games have some fair things to say. Good watch..

[Davo]

Helps if I post it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ8aqntFTBE

[hughj]

Here is a great insight into Robbo and how he views a game. Easy to see why he is such a great coach.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...o-roosters-win