Robbo - We only currently have 19 fit and available players

[fletch]

Robbo reportedly told the media we can't even name a 21 man squad on Tuesday without getting dispensation from the NRL to play players outside the top 30 squad.

Team Tips: Roosters coach Trent Robinson told media on Monday he only has 19 fit players available at the moment. The devastating knee injury to Luke Keary opens the door for teenage talent Sam Walker to make his NRL debut in the halves. And with five-eighth Lachlan Lam also out injured, Drew Hutchison will partner Walker in a brand new halves pairing. Star middle forward Victor Radley finally returns from injury which will be a welcome boost for a side coming to grips with a horror injury toll. If Lindsay Collins isn’t fit in time then Jared Waerea-Hargreaves can start at prop, or alternatively Isaac Liu moves to prop and Radley comes straight in at lock. The casualty ward also opens the door for 17-year-old Joseph Suaalii to debut, which would be off the bench. Suaalii has been granted an exemption by the NRL to play despite the age limit being 18.

[fletch]

The injury-hit Roosters will seek an exemption from the NRL to bring in two NSW Cup players from the North Sydney Bears as they have only 19 fit players available for selection.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/03/29/...ed-tricolours/

[King Salvo]

So with 9 missing does than mean the Chooks have only 28 of the 30 NRL spots filled if only 19 are available for selection? - the Chooks website has 29 in the NRL squad though?

• Lindsay Collins (concussion/ankle) – Round 4-5
• Lachlan Lam (knee) – 8-10
• Sam Verrills (knee) – Round 5
• Adam Keighran (wrist) – Round 7-9
• Billy Smith (shoulder) – mid-season
• Jake Friend (concussion) – indefinite
• Boyd Cordner (concussion) – indefinite
• Luke Keary (knee) – season
• Daniel Saluka-Fifita (Round 5)

https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/

[zac]

last time we had such a heavy injury toll early we won the comp.
let's hope this year is more 2002 than 2016

[Tommy Smith]

And it's only round 4.

I've never seen an injury toll like the one we've endured these past 12+ months. Basically since Billy Smith tore his ACL in the 2020 preseason it's been one disaster after another.

[fletch]

So with 9 missing does than mean the Chooks have only 28 of the 30 NRL spots filled if only 19 are available for selection? - the Chooks website has 29 in the NRL squad though?

• Lindsay Collins (concussion/ankle) – Round 4-5
• Lachlan Lam (knee) – 8-10
• Sam Verrills (knee) – Round 5
• Adam Keighran (wrist) – Round 7-9
• Billy Smith (shoulder) – mid-season
• Jake Friend (concussion) – indefinite
• Boyd Cordner (concussion) – indefinite
• Luke Keary (knee) – season
• Daniel Saluka-Fifita (Round 5)

https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/

The NRL physio mentioned SST was someone to watch regarding a possible calf injury.

[Bahrain Rooster]

So with 9 missing does than mean the Chooks have only 28 of the 30 NRL spots filled if only 19 are available for selection? - the Chooks website has 29 in the NRL squad though?

• Lindsay Collins (concussion/ankle) – Round 4-5
• Lachlan Lam (knee) – 8-10
• Sam Verrills (knee) – Round 5
• Adam Keighran (wrist) – Round 7-9
• Billy Smith (shoulder) – mid-season
• Jake Friend (concussion) – indefinite
• Boyd Cordner (concussion) – indefinite
• Luke Keary (knee) – season
• Daniel Saluka-Fifita (Round 5)

https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/

Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha was added to the squad, that makes 29 players. Maybe he’s also carrying an injury of some kind.

[King Salvo]

The NRL physio mentioned SST was someone to watch regarding a possible calf injury.

yeh he was limping in the last 15 or so minutes - Baker was a fresh reserve but not used for some reason - game was gone so would have been best to take him off i would have thought.

[Kramer]

Apart from the concussions, does anyone feel that perhaps the speed that the game has to be played at is contributing to the injury toll across the game?I say has to, due to V'landys obsession with the speed of the game

[King Salvo]

Apart from the concussions, does anyone feel that perhaps the speed that the game has to be played at is contributing to the injury toll across the game?I say has to, due to V'landys obsession with the speed of the game

It is a factor for sure but will they change it no- need to look at tackling techniques too with this obsession with tackling the ball carrier upright to slow the play the ball down - see a lot of concussions from this - head clashes and head and shoulder ones-defender and ball carrier/ defender and defender.- also those back slam and head slam ones- all to do with this wrestling rubbish which is ruining the game.

The days of tackling around the legs is a dying art form - coaches don't like it as the ball carrier when tackled around the legs can get up and play the ball quicker than in the one above when 3 defenders are wresting and stretching the ball carrier in all directions.

My passion for the game is dwindling as a result of this and i am not alone in not liking how the game is played - agree 100% with Sterlo on this

[fletch]

yeh he was limping in the last 15 or so minutes - Baker was a fresh reserve but not used for some reason - game was gone so would have been best to take him off i would have thought.

With all the injury carnage might of been out of replacements by that stage.

[RoosterChick]

Apart from the concussions, does anyone feel that perhaps the speed that the game has to be played at is contributing to the injury toll across the game?I say has to, due to V'landys obsession with the speed of the game

I personally think the speed of the game has contributed to more injuries. I was saying this last year when the 6 again rule came in. Players are fatiguing, their muscles which support joints fatiguing and therefore more knee and ankle injuries. The team that has to defend 6 agains are not getting even a slight relief for the body to even rest momentarily and recharge. Also with exhaustion errors occur mentally and that can lead to more injuries when players stretch or reach the wrong way, Hamstrings , ACLs. Not to mention being able to make better choices when tackling to avoid injuring other players with high tackles. It’s a mad scramble without thought or technique coming into play because of exhaustion. Like you said though.Things won’t probably change because Vlandys wants a fast entertaining game no matter what the cost to player welfare.

[milanja]

So who’s fault is it that we don’t have 30 players to choose from? Do these two players now become part of the 30 man squad? Does this affect the Boyd Cordner replacement (not sure if it has even been approved, and if so what are we waiting for?)

[stringaz]

I personally think the speed of the game has contributed to more injuries. I was saying this last year when the 6 again rule came in. Players are fatiguing, their muscles which support joints fatiguing and therefore more knee and ankle injuries. The team that has to defend 6 agains are not getting even a slight relief for the body to even rest momentarily and recharge. Also with exhaustion errors occur mentally and that can lead to more injuries when players stretch or reach the wrong way, Hamstrings , ACLs. Not to mention being able to make better choices when tackling to avoid injuring other players with high tackles. It’s a mad scramble without thought or technique coming into play because of exhaustion. Like you said though.Things won’t probably change because Vlandys wants a fast entertaining game no matter what the cost to player welfare.

So the last two games against the scum has ended up in a 23 to 3 penalty count. Talk about a stitch up and quite possibly sidelining our players.

We may have gone b2b in spite of this bias but when it comes to player welfare it's a bridge too far. I've never witnessed such injury across all clubs.

[ism22]

Apart from the concussions, does anyone feel that perhaps the speed that the game has to be played at is contributing to the injury toll across the game?I say has to, due to V'landys obsession with the speed of the game

Yes and no.

Our team's getting hit the worst (particularly with ACLs). I wouldn't rule out (for example) over-training or something being a bit off with our conditioning training.