We are rebuilding - some context

[bondi.boy]

You want to put a specialist centre on the bench.

I'd put Teddy on the bench if it would win me games.

Teddy, Toops, Keary, and Sitili...anyone would go onto the bench if it meant winning.

Pro footy is about winning.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Momo's miss leading to their 2nd crucial try was a clanger. Very unlike him. Was a decent fend on him though.

That fend from Bradman Best would beat most centres most of the time

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

I agree with all the changes we are in a rebuilding phase. They did play like complete strangers. I thought the pre season was for these things. Other teams don’t seem to have dropsy as bad as us, I can only put it down to poor training methods.

The "training methods" have worked alright over the last few years. Get a grip, it's Round 1

[Johnny Brass]

I think Robbo sees the same problems as I do with the defence including expecting more

Trent Robinson's high standards on show after urging Roosters to improve defensive efforts in 2022

"We expect guys that are going between 50 and 100 games to up their level this season.

“We expect our system to be better, we need to coach better, we also expect those players to do better than what they did last year.

“If we’re going to be number-one in defence, we need to improve a lot and it starts with coaches then hands over to the players.”

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/leag...z3xzz6shzkfd7f

We don't get a lot of depth on our general play kicks and we have lost some of the best kick chasers in the Morris brothers, Aubo, Cords and Friend.
We no longer pin sides down near the tryline and smash them with fast moving defence which we were the best at ,that mantle has well and truly been passed onto the panthers.
This leads to sides starting sets in better field position and as soon as we cop some set restarts we struggle to cope.
Last year Walker and Sitili were terrific in attack on the right edge but got picked apart repeatedly in defence. I think Robbo has switched them to the left to shield them more but whether that reduces their attack remains to be seen.
Keary used to be so effective attacking short sides on the left edge and his running game was the key to that and I hope he doesn't lose that being the organiser.
Only the first game but plenty of worrying signs out of that game, once again we got belted in the forwards and were put on our backs which gave us no room to attack.

[Easts75]

We don't get a lot of depth on our general play kicks and we have lost some of the best kick chasers in the Morris brothers, Aubo, Cords and Friend.
We no longer pin sides down near the tryline and smash them with fast moving defence which we were the best at ,that mantle has well and truly been passed onto the panthers.
This leads to sides starting sets in better field position and as soon as we cop some set restarts we struggle to cope.
Last year Walker and Sitili were terrific in attack on the right edge but got picked apart repeatedly in defence. I think Robbo has switched them to the left to shield them more but whether that reduces their attack remains to be seen.
Keary used to be so effective attacking short sides on the left edge and his running game was the key to that and I hope he doesn't lose that being the organiser.
Only the first game but plenty of worrying signs out of that game, once again we got belted in the forwards and were put on our backs which gave us no room to attack.

Our 'long' kicking game will be a weak point all year. Both of our halves have amongst the shortest boot in the comp, 100% agree thos hurts us

[Rooster36]

Best player on the field in a hapless lot

if we’re playing like this in 6 weeks time I want Brains player rating back

[Rooster_6]

I think Robbo sees the same problems as I do with the defence including expecting more

Trent Robinson's high standards on show after urging Roosters to improve defensive efforts in 2022

"We expect guys that are going between 50 and 100 games to up their level this season.

“We expect our system to be better, we need to coach better, we also expect those players to do better than what they did last year.

“If we’re going to be number-one in defence, we need to improve a lot and it starts with coaches then hands over to the players.”

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/leag...z3xzz6shzkfd7f

I didn't say our defence didn't need improvement, I said your metrics for measuring it are flawed.

[Cockadoodledoo]

We aren't rebuilding anymore than the Knights are rebuilding. Robbo would have been rightly ridiculed if he brought that up in the press conference, which I haven't even seen. However I know he wouldn't have. Our performance was down to the team being severely underdone. So many players coming back from injury and or pre-season surgeries. It was clear they were out on their feet after 20 minutes.

Also our attack was way too flat, meaning the Knights defensive line (which actually came forward to meet us, unlike ours which stood still) were in our faces everytime we got the ball. We were also extremely predictable in attack, playing one out and not asking anything of the Knights defence. There was no second phase play and when we did go to the backline, we played too much side to side. The only time we looked to go wide early, was in the second half on one attack down the right side, where we made about 30 metres on the play.

Our defensive line didn't move forward to meet the Knights attack and we also played with a staggered defensive line, making it easy to punch holes. We also didn't wrap up the ball carriers, allowing them to offload at will. I also have a concern that our top 3 yardage men, JWH, SST and Toops are all very much on the wrong side of 30 and likely to see a decline in output. This puts a lot of pressure on Collins, who is coming back from knee surgery.

Too early to write the team off but expect similar performances for the next month as the team builds fitness and cohesion. However it is fair to be slightly concerned at this stage.

[Rooster_6]

We aren't rebuilding anymore than the Knights are rebuilding. Robbo would have been rightly ridiculed if he brought that up in the press conference, which I haven't even seen. However I know he wouldn't have. Our performance was down to the team being severely underdone. So many players coming back from injury and or pre-season surgeries. It was clear they were out on their feet after 20 minutes.

Also our attack was way too flat, meaning the Knights defensive line (which actually came forward to meet us, unlike ours which stood still) were in our faces everytime we got the ball. We were also extremely predictable in attack, playing one out and not asking anything of the Knights defence. There was no second phase play and when we did go to the backline, we played too much side to side. The only time we looked to go wide early, was in the second half on one attack down the right side, where we made about 30 metres on the play.

Our defensive line didn't move forward to meet the Knights attack and we also played with a staggered defensive line, making it easy to punch holes. We also didn't wrap up the ball carriers, allowing them to offload at will. I also have a concern that our top 3 yardage men, JWH, SST and Toops are all very much on the wrong side of 30 and likely to see a decline in output. This puts a lot of pressure on Collins, who is coming back from knee surgery.

Too early to right the team off but expect similar performances for the next month as the team builds fitness and cohesion. However it is fair to be slightly concerned at this stage.

Newcastle have been trying to rebuild since Bennett left, no doubt about that they are a shambles. Not sure how that changes my argument though that we also are going through a mini rebuild, it's not like only one team in the comp is allowed to be going through a transition in style, personnel and combinations.

[The Brain]

if we’re playing like this in 6 weeks time I want Brains player rating back

Done.....I dont buy into the media crap of us been one of the faves to take out the comp...I am certain we will come good ..I expected to be lame on the weekend but thought we had enough to win the game anyway.
I see us more of a threat next year .There's a fair bit there for Robbo to sort out .

[BillyBonkers]

Hope we rebuild before the weekend.

[Thirteen]

Hope we rebuild before the weekend.

Comment of the day!!