Official Match Day Thread: Roosters v Raiders

[Thirteen]

Loss of Jake is major but young Freddy should handle it hopefully . With most of our troops back and the Morris boys on fire plus Swb I think we will smash them , Roosters by plenty

Love the attitude.

[Thirteen]

I got a gut feel Sonny won't play and Aubo will be a late inclusion for his versatility in 9, Halves or Edges.

Heard Sonny is still struggling with his knee and the media circus leading into the game could just be the smoke n mirrors for a late scratching.

But regardless, it's Jmoz 300th, let's celebrate the occasion as his own and I hope the boys respect him enough to put in that little extra to ensure he caps it off with a win.

3 tries from Jmoz, 1 for each century.
(3 from Bmoz too cause he's competitive would be nice)

No chance Sonny doesn’t play. Watch Robbo’s press conference. He admitted he likes to keep the team naming close to his chest. Then he said Sonny is a definite. If Sonny doesn’t play than Robbo is a blatant liar.

Also if Sonny is fit than why not play him? He can’t go into the semis without match fitness.

[ism22]

No chance Sonny doesn’t play. Watch Robbo’s press conference. He admitted he likes to keep the team naming close to his chest. Then he said Sonny is a definite. If Sonny doesn’t play than Robbo is a blatant liar.

Also if Sonny is fit than why not play him? He can’t go into the semis without match fitness.

It's J-Moz' 300th game and we have no home fans so IMO we're gonna put on the best show possible. That involves SBW...

As I've said elsewhere, you won't believe it until you attend one, Raiders games are odd. I get that the ground announcer won't actively be talking us up but they literally say nothing when we go out, make subs, score...etc. They completely ghost away crowds (plus have banned away fans this time) so rather than talking about it, IMO Robbo has his own show planned.

SBW is there for a 20 minute stint AND to talk to the boys on the bench + keep their minds in the right place. He's humble, level-headed and always puts a positive, competitive spin on stuff. He's also a switched on tactician who sees eye to eye with Cronk/Teddy/Cords. IMO the REAL value that he brings to the game is that rather than having Maubs/Silly Farmer chatting with you about what the Raiders are doing while on the sideline + squeezing you on the shoulder before you go on, you have SBW. There's video analysis and then there's sideline analysis... IMO SBW's sideline analysis is comparable to having Cronk breaking down the game for you EXCEPT... he's a forward who can advise our forwards. Oh he'll get a stint but IMO Robbo's signed him purely based on having a professional discussion with him about our games/tactics. Robbo (plus Keary, Teddy and Cords) respect his analysis BIG TIME. He'll keep our troops cool against adversity and teach them how to counter the Raiders (he's made it clear he's been watching the Riff, Storm and Raiders' forwards VERY closely all season - he's a footy nerd). To me this is priceless because even Friend can lose his head. IMO when Friend goes off for Lussick, the first thing he'll do is head over to SBW for a cuddle, cool down and re-focus his mind for the final 20 minutes worth of defence. It's all that 'nah cuz this stuff just happens' kinda talk that Sonny's good at. SBW took 4 kids over from the UK with his wife and stayed in isolation for 2 weeks while training... we talk about strong men, but THAT is what a strong man does! They're patient, balanced and able to support the whole family. If he can do that without any hiccups, the Faders should be a cinch. Betcha the new father of 4 SBW brings an even tougher mindset than ever before... his wife woulda divorced him long ago if he didn't.

[The Skeez]

ism22 Get down there son! Pump ‘em up homeboy

[Thirteen]

It's J-Moz' 300th game and we have no home fans so IMO we're gonna put on the best show possible. That involves SBW...

As I've said elsewhere, you won't believe it until you attend one, Raiders games are odd. I get that the ground announcer won't actively be talking us up but they literally say nothing when we go out, make subs, score...etc. They completely ghost away crowds (plus have banned away fans this time) so rather than talking about it, IMO Robbo has his own show planned.

SBW is there for a 20 minute stint AND to talk to the boys on the bench + keep their minds in the right place. He's humble, level-headed and always puts a positive, competitive spin on stuff. He's also a switched on tactician who sees eye to eye with Cronk/Teddy/Cords. IMO the REAL value that he brings to the game is that rather than having Maubs/Silly Farmer chatting with you about what the Raiders are doing while on the sideline + squeezing you on the shoulder before you go on, you have SBW. There's video analysis and then there's sideline analysis... IMO SBW's sideline analysis is comparable to having Cronk breaking down the game for you EXCEPT... he's a forward who can advise our forwards. Oh he'll get a stint but IMO Robbo's signed him purely based on having a professional discussion with him about our games/tactics. Robbo (plus Keary, Teddy and Cords) respect his analysis BIG TIME. He'll keep our troops cool against adversity and teach them how to counter the Raiders (he's made it clear he's been watching the Riff, Storm and Raiders' forwards VERY closely all season - he's a footy nerd). To me this is priceless because even Friend can lose his head. IMO when Friend goes off for Lussick, the first thing he'll do is head over to SBW for a cuddle, cool down and re-focus his mind for the final 20 minutes worth of defence. It's all that 'nah cuz this stuff just happens' kinda talk that Sonny's good at. SBW took 4 kids over from the UK with his wife and stayed in isolation for 2 weeks while training... we talk about strong men, but THAT is what a strong man does! They're patient, balanced and able to support the whole family. If he can do that without any hiccups, the Faders should be a cinch. Betcha the new father of 4 SBW brings an even tougher mindset than ever before... his wife woulda divorced him long ago if he didn't.

Your posts are so long I think they need a sponsor.

Always a good read.

I usually view the forum on my phone so it would be so much appreciated if you could use paragraphs.

Yes Sonny is so highly respected he brings so much to the club on and off the field.

[Vasco]

Aubo made the 19. Could be the man to cover Lussick.

[FREEMAN89]

Personally I'd hate to see Butch lose out.

And we sure as shit won't drop Collins, Angus or SBW against the raiders pack.

So i can't see Aubo playing this game, and I can't see young Freddy getting subbed either.

Unless Sitili is used as an interchange edge player with Angus, and Butch plays middle to cover Freddy.

SBW plays lock to let Liu transition into forwards rotation.

Who knows, but one thing is for Certain...

Robbo will make the right calls.

[Thirteen]

Personally I'd hate to see Butch lose out.

And we sure as shit won't drop Collins, Angus or SBW against the raiders pack.

So i can't see Aubo playing this game, and I can't see young Freddy getting subbed either.

Unless Sitili is used as an interchange edge player with Angus, and Butch plays middle to cover Freddy.

SBW plays lock to let Liu transition into forwards rotation.

Who knows, but one thing is for Certain...

Robbo will make the right calls.

Butch can play middle or wider. Good versatility. I just don’t want him to be covering for the 9. He may be low to the ground but he doesn’t have passing skills like Radley.

[Ray Stehr]

september footy in, well, september. got a finals feel about it this game with a top 4 spot in the balance.

we can win from outside the top 4, they can't. they will be desperate.

we don't have weeks of playing with the same team so hard to know what's going to happen.

go easts!

If we can't beat Canberra tonight I highly doubt we'll be winning this year. We're at full strength, so no excuses if we lose. I'm concerned that we've lost twice to the Storm and lost to both Penrith and Canberra so we need to make a statement tonight.

[Thirteen]

Aubo made the 19. Could be the man to cover Lussick.

Someone has to. I don’t think anyone else in the 17 has the ability to cover dummy half. I’m convinced that Hutch or Aubo is in the 17. A bench of Collins, Sonny and Angus plus either Aubo or Hutch would give us better cover for injury if it happens.

[Thirteen]

If we can't beat Canberra tonight I highly doubt we'll be winning this year. We're at full strength, so no excuses if we lose. I'm concerned that we've lost twice to the Storm and lost to both Penrith and Canberra so we need to make a statement tonight.

Yes Ray we lost those 3 games rather than the opposition winning them. Played terrible in all 3. If we show up we win. It’s that simple.

[Ray Stehr]

I know that we're missing Friend but they are missing Hodgson.

[FREEMAN89]

Yes Ray we lost those 3 games rather than the opposition winning them. Played terrible in all 3. If we show up we win. It’s that simple.

Plus.. It's a whole new ball game come finals.

We've witnessed first had over the 3 successful years we've had since Robbo came on board.

Take last year for example.

Round 25 - Roosters V South's
South's win 16 - 10
We looked to be in all sort, very disjointed and didn't offer much of anything with ball in hand and defensively switched off. Looked very disinterested the whole night.

Fast forward the very next week.

Semi Week1 - Roosters V Souths
We win 30 - 6
We absolutely blew south's off the park from the opening set, attacked all night with intensity and hit just as hard defensively. South's had 0 answer and were completely choked out of the game.

I have faith that no matter how this season ends, Robbo will have us primed come week1.

[ism22]

Your posts are so long I think they need a sponsor.

Always a good read.

I usually view the forum on my phone so it would be so much appreciated if you could use paragraphs.

Yes Sonny is so highly respected he brings so much to the club on and off the field.

LOLz thanks, I just assumed everybody ignores my rants. Like Robbo and SBW, I believe I can always do one better (even if I'm coming from a slightly lower baseline), so I'm happy to try using more paragraphs

[Ray Stehr]

Plus.. It's a whole new ball game come finals.

We've witnessed first had over the 3 successful years we've had since Robbo came on board.

Take last year for example.

Round 25 - Roosters V South's
South's win 16 - 10
We looked to be in all sort, very disjointed and didn't offer much of anything with ball in hand and defensively switched off. Looked very disinterested the whole night.

Fast forward the very next week.

Semi Week1 - Roosters V Souths
We win 30 - 6
We absolutely blew south's off the park from the opening set, attacked all night with intensity and hit just as hard defensively. South's had 0 answer and were completely choked out of the game.

I have faith that no matter how this season ends, Robbo will have us primed come week1.

We weren't playing for a top 4 spot last year. Given the importance, it won't look good if we lose.