If Crichton leaves

[rented tracksuit]

Verills is a Rooster. Smith is a wanker. I hope Sam keeps his place.

Pearce was a Rooster as well until another Mexican came across. How’d that work out?

[BraveTheWorld]

I can't believe what's been said on this thread. 1. B. Smith stomps Verrills and it's not even close. 2. Smith is not a dickhead just because he enjoys partaking in the consumption of 'stevia'. As for Crichton, it's exceptionally weird that the forum hates him when many non-Roosters fans think he's among our best, and tbh he is. Just because he's not hitting his 2020 form does not mean he's crap or living up to his proce tag.

Spot on here. I'm a big Verrills fan, and if Smith ends up playing Lock and Verrills keeps the Hooking role, I wouldn't be that upset, but Smith is definitely a much stronger Hooker right now.

Also re Angus; this guy can't get out of bed without someone on the forum ripping into him. I wouldn't say he's exactly value for money at the moment, but the word is that he is taking a significant paycut if he stays. That being said, he is nowhere at all near our worst performer this year, or last.

[Johnny Brass]

He has a dally M for hooker an has been playing 2ndrow/ prop/ lock/ 14th man and hooker this year no wonder why hes all over the shop when placed back to hooker ! That an staying in a club that doesn't value his skills! As for the hard leg tackles that cause injury??? CAN'T RUN WITH NO LEGS!!!!

I teach my under 7 botany team to tackle legs!!!l

I've been calling out the storms illegal tactics for years but the latest outcry over tackling too hard to the legs is ridiculous. Smith and big Nelson are terrific hard low tacklers and if it's first contact and not 3rd man in when the upper body is held is what has been the essence of the game since 1908.
Verrills gets dominated in the middle when we are defending which will be rectified once Smith is our rake.

[lordteddy]

Spot on! Smith will no doubt get better with his service by playing the position week in and week out. But if you watch the 2020, and 2021 seasons the man is running, barging machine! Adds a completely different element to our team and if the line compresses around the ruck then we have attacking weapons out the back. Deadset can’t wait for this bloke!!

As evidenced by…

NZ appearance 2020: https://youtu.be/b5rMwXAncJo

Storm 2021:https://youtu.be/IDyMnI3QQDs

100%.

Anasta and Buzz talk isolate one game where the Storm had a number of key players out and suddenly he isnt good enough the play hooker? Give us a break.

[DP1990]

Is this all coming off based on last night's episode of NRL 360 ?


Smith is coming to play at #9. Robbo will turn him into a gun #9 and perhaps he will work closely with Jake Friend to finesse his skills (passing, service etc)

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Pearce was a Rooster as well until another Mexican QLDer came across. How’d that work out?

A spectacularly overrated and overpaid Rooster. Which Sam is not.

[tloos1999]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...dc5a54596ebb71 Not going too well this year.

Is that you Anasta? Imagine coming on this forum and using a headline article by the goons at NRL 360 to try and solidify your point. Truly, one of the weirdest things I have seen on this page. Justifying a point by using the laughable content those dingoes in the studio talk about to get views. They've picked apart one game where Melbourne trotted out half a reserve grade side, and a game where Smith wasn't even playing 9 for that matter. This is the same Brandon Smtih who was the best hooker in the competition last season, and signed with us, to play in the 9 role, because Grant was given preference. I don't even have to explain why Smith is leaps and bound above Verrills, you can just pick and choose any game from the last two years and conclude as to why. Verrills was a good hooker for us in 2019. Verrills has not been a good hooker for us since then. Injuries playing their role, sure, but he's just not the same and the service is absent from dummy half, and from what we got a glimpse into in 2019. Add to that, the kid is made of glass, so even if he was available for selection next season, it would probably be for a quarter of the games. Brandon Smith signed with us to play 9, Brandon Smith had conversation with Trent Robinson, Politis and all the sort, to sign a deal to play 9, and Brandon Smith will be playing 9. It's as simple as that, unfortunately for you.

[Tommy Smith]

Smith was the best booker in the NRL last year and has absolutely killed it for NZ in the no.9.

Hilarious hot take from Anasta and co.

Few players won as many games for their club as Smith last year. You can talk about passing, decision making etc but the eye test and indeed results show that when Brandon Smith is given the opportunity to be a regular no.9 he impacts games as much as any forward in the comp.

Losing Smith early cost the Storm the Prelim vs Penrith last year. After that Penrith hammered Grant and made him look ordinary, as they did two weeks ago.

[roostermcgregor]

Everyone at the Roosters club - Trent, the coaching staff, Uncle Nick have brought in B Smith in for next year , and have made no further comment.
All the supporters , and chookpen members, can't wait for Smith to pull on the RWB.
But Anasta says he is not a good fit for the club, and we should be nervous about the signing.
FMD - when has Anasta become the spokesperson for the Roosters?
The guy is an idiot, just like the rest of the journos with nothing better to talk about.
It follows hot on the heels of the other stupid story - that we should sack 3 of our senior players to accomodate Munster at the club.

[rcptn]

Is this all coming off based on last night's episode of NRL 360 ?


Smith is coming to play at #9. Robbo will turn him into a gun #9 and perhaps he will work closely with Jake Friend to finesse his skills (passing, service etc)

Lol Friends service compared with Verrills was crap. The thing some seem to be missing is if Smith plays lock and Verrils plays hooker they will be both defending the middle third together with the 2 props.

[rcptn]

While I'm brainstorming bring in Egan Butcher to take Tupounias starting spot. The Bondi Wall starting to look a lot stronger than it currently is. Tupouina can come off the bench as a big impact player at 13,12 or 11.

[Kelby]

He may be coming as a hooker but will need to improve his passing out of D/H if he wants to keep it. IMO Sam Verills is a much better hooker than Brandon Smith ATM. He just needs to stay in the paddock.

That’s not saying Sam is a better footballer because Smith is a weapon but I don’t think hooker is his best position although with some extended time there he may grow into the role.

Ok.............................

Sammy isn't a great passer of the ball...................

God I miss Friendy.

[DP1990]

Lol Friends service compared with Verrills was crap. The thing some seem to be missing is if Smith plays lock and Verrils plays hooker they will be both defending the middle third together with the 2 props.

Verrills can't string together two games without getting hurt and I don't think you can really compare Friend to Verrills lol. Friend turned out to be a 3x premiership winner, won origin in 2020 playing in that position and was arguably the best defenisve hooker in the comp for almost 10x years ... it was just a shame that a bloke by the name of Cameron Smith stood in front otherwise Friend would've been a Queensland origin selected Hooker for most years.


Verrills best was shown in the back-end of 2019 and since then he's been below average when he has played and unfortunately has been limited due to injuries etc so playing is a far thought ... the kid can't even get onto the field. Verrills time at playing Hooker long-term for the Roosters is all but done ... maybe a few games this season but that's it .... if you think otherwise then the club wouldn't have chased after Smith and signed him.


Smith will play Hooker, Radley to remain at Lock and Watson to cover both positions as necessary acting as utility.

[Kelby]

If crichton leaves.................. so be it.

Buy an edge forward like Matterson, John Bateman, any good youngsters?

[Big Dog]

Angus can go. He has done bugger all this year. N butch can fill in or egan. Or even whyte

Is Angus carrying an injury? He looks slow and tired.