SQUAD v PANTHERS

[Vasco]

Have we worked out how to stop Kikau yet?

Smash him early. He might go missing.

[Rooster89]

I don't think Watson should start.

I love his energy but no one else on our team knows what he's ever doing and that could set us off in a bad start which we can't afford.

Marshke or Hutcho to 9 to start.

[Mickie Lane]

I don't think Watson should start.

I love his energy but no one else on our team knows what he's ever doing and that could set us off in a bad start which we can't afford.

Marshke or Hutcho to 9 to start.

I would like to see Marshke start, he was very good last year & he's tough.

[ARD]

Incoming armchair psychologist but there was something really settled about Teddy in his media scrum today. He can give off a very subtle twitchiness usually but today he was in free flow.

We gonna get these bastards.

[Tommy Smith]

Do Penrith name the same 17 players every week?

Remarkable continuity for the best part of 2 1/2 years.

I think their forward pack has been virtually unchanged all year.

Oh for that run of luck with injuries.

[ARD]

Do Penrith name the same 17 players every week?

Remarkable continuity for the best part of 2 1/2 years.

I think their forward pack has been virtually unchanged all year.

Oh for that run of luck with injuries.

They’ve had injuries… to’o, Clearly, leota.

but agree with your general point. Very fit, fast, young team with little disruption

[Eggspert]

Have we worked out how to stop Kikau yet?

We have to get into him mentally.......convince him to turn up at Penrith instead of the SCG at kick off.

[HunchoRooster]

I think their 'enthusiasm' and 'relentless line speed' sometimes gets used instead of them being blatantly offside. I don't mean to whinge before a ball is kicked but the Riff have mastered V'Landys ball. Love to go to the knees quick, always seem to be 8m instead of 10m back... anyways, if we can be 1-12 of them I'd take that as a win given we've only just started improving.

Our attack has looked sharp the last 2 weeks but our defence still worries me a bit. Those Parra tries were pretty soft.

[roostermcgregor]

The match against the Eels was a pretty tough encounter- if you need proof , look at the scars on Manu and Teddy in their interviews on the Rooster's website.
And they are our backs.
I thought SST looked pretty stressed after the Eels game.
I hope the Roosters pull up OK
They need to do it all over again, against the Riff.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

We have to get into him mentally.......convince him to turn up at Penrith instead of the SCG at kick off.

Ha...good one. Either that or an elephant gun.

[roostermcgregor]

"Originally posted by Rooster89

I don't think Watson should start.

I love his energy but no one else on our team knows what he's ever doing and that could set us off in a bad start which we can't afford.

Marshke or Hutcho to 9 to start.



I agree with you 100%
You want the rest of the team to find rhythm and to settle into the game with their attacking plays.
The best way to achieve that is to have smooth, stable service from dummy half.
Never underestimate the importance of the rest of the team knowing what is going on, and getting the ball when and where they want it.
Good service will even bring non- attacking types of players into attacking raids.
Think of SST's try against the Titans, and JWH's try against the Eels
And I agree with the comments regarding Watson's energy.
It is definitely an advantage later in the game when the opposition starts to tire, and opportunities can be found by running through the ruck

[The Lip]

I would like to see Marshke start, he was very good last year & he's tough.

He was very good for the bears last week as well - I agree

[Rooster_6]

Do Penrith name the same 17 players every week?

Remarkable continuity for the best part of 2 1/2 years.

I think their forward pack has been virtually unchanged all year.

Oh for that run of luck with injuries.

Penriths team named have played 86% of all matches this year to date (84% in the backline and 88% in the forwards)
Roosters team named have played 87% of all matches this year to date (89% in the backline and 86% in the forward)

[Tommy Smith]

Penriths team named have played 86% of all matches this year to date (84% in the backline and 88% in the forwards)
Roosters team named have played 87% of all matches this year to date (89% in the backline and 86% in the forward)

I don't know where one finds a stat like that but what about 2021 and 2020? I'm sure it'll prove my point.

[ism22]

Sounds like Radley's out and Collins is in. Different positions but I don't see this as necessarily being a lesser squad (particularly with our playmakers starting to click).

We're either competitive or we're not. I hope we can do a job on 'em. Still not convinced that Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, Steve Crichton, Isaah Yeo, To'o and Luai are all gonna be highly rated in years to come - I think the Riff's simply having an awesome run, which we're gonna end at some point.

The above are definitely all in form, but the best way for budding Origin hopefuls like Collins, Crichton, Keary, Toops, Butch, Walker...etc to show they're in good form is to beat these guys senseless. (Walker won't be picked in the eyes of most pundits, but I think he has to demonstrate that he can school Cleary/Luai if he wants a place in the extended squad... which it pains me to say, I think he eventually will).

We haven't had a win against a top-4 team for a couple of years now despite consistently being a smoky come finals time. We're good but seem to lack the polish/discipline when it counts. I hope we come good this week... we have a good squad!