How are we gonna catch the top-4 teams?

[ism22]

Just saw the Drizz demolish the Sharks in the last 20. IMO both teams (plus the Riff) are definitely ahead of us and we have a mountain to climb this season.

Not saying we can't climb it (IMO we have the best coach and Roster in the comp). However, I'd be interested to hear what some of the more technically minded footy pundits on here reckon we need to do.

I've already heard the excuse that players are coming off injuries and are half-baked. That's fine, but will only last so long. We lost to the Knights + farkin' Souffs, neither of whom are setting the world alight this season.

I know it's early in the year but I don't see the Drizz/Riff using that season. Further I don't hear either using burn-out and stuff as an excuse despite the fact both have been top notch for some time now.

What are our deficiencies and how do we fix them? Also, are we on the right track with our current tactics or does our team need to evolve?

[King Salvo]

Just saw the Drizz demolish the Sharks in the last 20. IMO both teams (plus the Riff) are definitely ahead of us and we have a mountain to climb this season.

Not saying we can't climb it (IMO we have the best coach and Roster in the comp). However, I'd be interested to hear what some of the more technically minded footy pundits on here reckon we need to do.

I've already heard the excuse that players are coming off injuries and are half-baked. That's fine, but will only last so long. We lost to the Knights + farkin' Souffs, neither of whom are setting the world alight this season.

I know it's early in the year but I don't see the Drizz/Riff using that reason. Further I don't hear either using burn-out and stuff as an excuse despite the fact both have been top notch for some time now.

What are our deficiencies and how do we fix them? Also, are we on the right track with our current tactics or does our team need to evolve?

In my view Penrith/Storm/Parramatta and even sadly Souths are in front of the Roosters despite Mitchell being out for 2 months- Roosters and Manly next and Sharks

You have to complete , compete and be consistent for 80 minutes for starters - the old basics need to be nailed - Possession % / completion rates / play the ball speed/ kick and chase /low errors-handling and missed tackles/ line speed in defence/ minimal penalties and set restarts conceded.

The test for the Roosters and any side playing the top sides is whether they can complete and compete for the full 80 minutes.

Teams by now know how the top teams play it's not like they have a different game plan for every team - they may tweek a few things depending on strengths and weaknesses they have identified in the opposition but they would be the only variations to their normal game plan.

It always comes back to complete , compete and consistency for 80 minutes though- The Old Basics . Do the Roosters have a 80 minute game and can they wheel this out week in week out or close to it as these top teams consistently do?

If you look at the top teams you see there is a narrow margin between their best and worst games - Roosters have a wider margin between their best and worst i.e Consistency needed to narrow this margin - one of the 3 C's - Complete / Compete and Consistency.

The Roosters have weaknesses against a running dummy half / offloads/ teams that move the ball side to side and come back through the middle/fast moving defences and teams that play an up tempo game.

At the moment it is kind of like a marathon - Penrith and Storm are already in the stadium and are neck and neck and half way through the one lap of the stadium - Parramatta then Souths then Roosters and Manly neck and neck and Sharks just behind are nearing the stadium

Roosters could make a late charge and jag a 3rd place but that's the best they could do.

They have a lot of work to do to be in the stadium at the same time as Penrith and Storm and competing for the Gold Medal notwithstanding having to out distance the other teams along the way.

[FlamingRooster]

The analogy I’m going to make is that we’ve gone from the team to beat, to the team that can beat anyone. That’s the reality, we’re behind 3-4 clubs atm, but that doesn’t mean we can’t beat them. It just means that when the time comes, our players are going to need to step up. That said Penrith have looked unbeatable and we’re going to have to play some game to beat them.

[Rooster_6]

You have to complete , compete and be consistent for 80 minutes for starters - the old basics need to be nailed - Possession % / completion rates / play the ball speed/ kick and chase /low errors-handling and missed tackles/ line speed in defence/ minimal penalties and set restarts conceded.

The test for the Roosters and any side playing the top sides is whether they can complete and compete for the full 80 minutes.

It always comes back to complete , compete and consistency for 80 minutes though- The Old Basics . Do the Roosters have a 80 minute game and can they wheel this out week in week out or close to it as these top teams consistently do?

If you look at the top teams you see there is a narrow margin between their best and worst games - Roosters have a wider margin between their best and worst i.e Consistency needed to narrow this margin - one of the 3 C's - Complete / Compete and Consistency.

It’s almost like going back to back in 2018 and 2019 with more errors than any other side over that period of time never happened.

The side with the fewest errors last year was the Bulldogs.

The Panthers went from making the fewest errors in 2020 to the 8th most in 2021 and won the comp.

It’s such a Rugby league cliche and reduces the game to ridiculous level of simplicity when it’s not. Just because players are media trained to say these things in press conferences so they’re not actually talking about tactics doesn’t mean League fans can’t wise up a bit. Unforced errors are never good, errors in yardage are never good but not making errors does not make you a good side it’s such an overly simplistic take on the game.

I don’t know how Roosters fans of all can still be so attached to the myth of completion rates. Robinson has shown us season after season that there’s more than one way to play the game and still be successful.

[A Country Member]

When Keary can trouble defences like we know he can, good luck to the rest of them.

[rented tracksuit]

It’s almost like going back to back in 2018 and 2019 with more errors than any other side over that period of time never happened.

The side with the fewest errors last year was the Bulldogs.

The Panthers went from making the fewest errors in 2020 to the 8th most in 2021 and won the comp.

It’s such a Rugby league cliche and reduces the game to ridiculous level of simplicity when it’s not. Just because players are media trained to say these things in press conferences so they’re not actually talking about tactics doesn’t mean League fans can’t wise up a bit. Unforced errors are never good, errors in yardage are never good but not making errors does not make you a good side it’s such an overly simplistic take on the game.

I don’t know how Roosters fans of all can still be so attached to the myth of completion rates. Robinson has shown us season after season that there’s more than one way to play the game and still be successful.

100%. You aren’t having a crack if you aren’t making errors.

[Rooster_6]

When Keary can trouble defences like we know he can, good luck to the rest of them.

Keary was the best half in the game before he did his ACL in my opinion.

Now I’m not dismissing that Cleary has improved a lot over that period of time and it may not be as black and white now but I ultimately I agree with you I think this is where the most significant difference in our performances will come from. The ceiling for the Walker/Keary combo is higher than any other in the comp, just how close they will get to it before seasons end will be the defining part of our success.

The second biggest factor will be if Verrills can lock down that 9 spot, genuinely good service and leads the defensive line really well. I think he’s still criminally underrated mainly because he’s been out of sight, out of mind.

Outside of that we have all the other pieces, second row and right wing probably still the most unsettled but I think there’s enough quality options and Robinson is too good of a coach not to find something that will work for the team.

Really like our depth in the middles this year, plenty of options to rotate through the middle with Fifita, Egan Butcher, Atoni, Tuku, Baker & May all fighting it out for bench spots in that middle rotation.

[King Salvo]

It’s almost like going back to back in 2018 and 2019 with more errors than any other side over that period of time never happened.

The side with the fewest errors last year was the Bulldogs.

The Panthers went from making the fewest errors in 2020 to the 8th most in 2021 and won the comp.

It’s such a Rugby league cliche and reduces the game to ridiculous level of simplicity when it’s not. Just because players are media trained to say these things in press conferences so they’re not actually talking about tactics doesn’t mean League fans can’t wise up a bit. Unforced errors are never good, errors in yardage are never good but not making errors does not make you a good side it’s such an overly simplistic take on the game.

I don’t know how Roosters fans of all can still be so attached to the myth of completion rates. Robinson has shown us season after season that there’s more than one way to play the game and still be successful.

The game has changed from 2018/2019 and low set completions could be defended by those sides under the slower and overly structured game of multiple hits ups , out the back with decoys and kick on the last.

New game with the ball in play longer/ set restarts and increased fatigue as possession is king as why do they record possession % and set completions if they were irrelevant in a game and commentators and experts do harp on about in these in games quite a lot one has to say.

If the Roosters defence was as good as Penrith and Storms then completions rates and errors may not be such an issue but of course it isn't, Why would you want to do more defence than you have to as a result of low completion rates and errors though.

I think you need to compare apples with apples though

Penrith's completion rate was 79% in 2021 and currently 83% in 2022- 82% in 2020

Penrith play a more expansive game and not the over structured multiple hit ups /out the back with decoys and kick on the last rubbish though so there would be more errors but they were more than able to cover for these as the 286 against in 2021 shows- best defensive record in the NRL

Penrith - 676 for and 286 against

Bulldogs one has to say didn't throw at lot of teams in attack - 14 points a game - some what boosted by their 38-0 win over Wests Tigers in their last game

Bulldogs - 340 for and 710 against

[The Lip]

Completions and errors are obvious and have always been the case. It's one thing to say we need to complete at 80% and make less errors it's another thing achieving it. Not saying we can't but I'm sure the coach and all the players are really aware of those issues and are trying to fix that. I think they are trying to fix it however without stopping playing footy and that's the right approach- we can't stop playing - that's when it gets difficult. They will sort this out to a large degree just from playing with each other a few more rounds. Keary is very rusty and Teddy is in a bit of a funk. Walker as good as he was last week will also gel better with those two guys as the season progresses. Hopefully Sammy V can stay fit for the rest of the season now and our spine can start to click. We have not had good 9 for way too long now and that really hurts.

Two parts of the game I am really concerned about for us are our long kicking game and getting out of our own end. Combine these two together and it's about the worst problem you can have in rugby league - if you can't get out of your own end and then you can't kick long and well - well your pretty much fkd - you spend way too long under defensive pressure at the wrong end of the field - you get fatigued and errors go up and completions go down.

It's a simple observation - seems a simple fix but it's not otherwise they would have done so. I never thought I'd say this but with the lack of a long kicker in our team I think we need to carry Hutch in the 17 each week regardless of a fully fit roster and he needs to do far more kicking for field position.

We are short a winger and a centre hopefully Suaalii is the fix for one of those.

[tloos1999]

Not even 6 rounds in. First game our spine have played together all season today. Key players settling from big injuries. As long as we continue to get the wins when we can, I’m confident in Robinson to have us ready at the back end. On paper, we have the right team to challenge.

[The Marshall]

I think the key is our defence, particularly down Stili’s side. If we improve our defence and the combos will gel we can bridge the gap.

[player 1]

Two parts of the game I am really concerned about for us are our long kicking game and getting out of our own end. Combine these two together and it's about the worst problem you can have in rugby league - if you can't get out of your own end and then you can't kick long and well - well your pretty much fkd - you spend way too long under defensive pressure at the wrong end of the field - you get fatigued and errors go up and completions go down.

.

A lot of teams get out of their own end by being given penalties and six agains.

Any idea how we can get our fair share of these?

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Defence is what wins comps. Need to improve that. We have enough flare in attack to score points at anytime from anywhere. Just need to attack in defence. 2013 still remains the best defensive peformance across a season that I've seen from a Roosters team under Robbo. Remember how many games we held the opposition to nil - what was it 6 or 7 games? Pretty sure that is a record

[A Country Member]

A lot of teams get out of their own end by being given penalties and six agains.

Any idea how we can get our fair share of these?

Stay down, hold your neck. Miraculously get back to feet when ref blows whistle. Wink at teammates

[The Lip]

A lot of teams get out of their own end by being given penalties and six agains.

Any idea how we can get our fair share of these?

None that don't involve a firearm