Ricky's finals stats are better than Bellamy, Robbo, Bennett, Cleary.

[dice]

I am being unfair on Graham Murray to say he had nothing to do with that 2002 premiership and you’re right that Murray was key in bringing over Adrian Morley but I do feel like Murray didn’t get the best out of Adrian in that season and that our team underperformed despite a hot start to the 2001 season. I do recall we had injuries especially to Brad Fittler

Graham Murray in hindsight was a transitional coach in a similar way that Brian Smith was. Bryan Fletcher recently did an interview and he said that Ricky Stuart’s training sessions in that first off season were the most intense he had ever experienced at that point in time and that Ricky took fitness up a level. I don’t wish to speak ill of those who aren’t here and Graham Murray was a lovely man who served our club well I am certainly grateful for the first grand final appearance in 20 years and the amazing Knights comeback.

You’re spot on about the dominant tackle there were many critics of our dominant tackle ability chief of which was Whinging Wayne Bennett.

I don't want to totally discredit Sticky either. As you point out his training was intense.

Brian Smith deserves some credit for mentoring Robbo and Shane Flanagan.

[JAF]

Trent Robinson is actually 3-0 in grand finals not 3-3 he has never lost a grand final and I will take Trent Robinson's finals record over Ricky Stuart any day of the week.

The biggest re-write in the history of this club is that Graham Murray built the 2002 premiership winning team which is completely and utter bullcrap. First of all the 2000 team that Murray took to the grand final was what Phil Gould built before he unexpectedly quit in late 1999 and second of all that 2001 team that Graham Murray coached went 6 wins 1 draw 9 losses heading in to the finals series including losing 5 in a row and a direct 3 wins and 7 losses before they got hammered by Newcastle 40-6 in the first week of the finals. Graham Murray was a lovely man but he had nothing to do with the 2002 premiership and it's absolute rubbish to discredit Ricky Stuart's influence on the team in 2002. If Graham Murray was the coach in 2002 our club would have 14 premierships not 15.

Having said that Trent Robinson would have won 3 from 3 in 2002, 2003 and 2004 if he were coach.

100% spot on!

[Carlos Parra]

Yeah for sure ,he did have a stumble as he tried to get into stride, was never a great tackle

Did Byrne ever score a length of the field try?

You're correct though, he did have a bit of a stumble and was always going to get caught.

I rarely watch those replays, and when I do, there's still a little bit of me that remains convinced we should have won those GFs. And don't get me started on the GF loss to St George. If you've ever seen replays of the 70s GF against Manly, we were 100% stitched up, so it's been going on for 50 years now.

[doves07]

Did Byrne ever score a length of the field try?

You're correct though, he did have a bit of a stumble and was always going to get caught.

I rarely watch those replays, and when I do, there's still a little bit of me that remains convinced we should have won those GFs. And don't get me started on the GF loss to St George. If you've ever seen replays of the 70s GF against Manly, we were 100% stitched up, so it's been going on for 50 years now.

Hopefully in the next 20 years we catch and pass the vermin for premierships, the lost ones won't matter or hurt as much

[Rooster36]

Not totally disagreeing. Just some finer points:
1) Without Murray we don't get Morley
2) In 2001 a few commentators were entertaining the possibility that the Roosters could go the entire season undefeated, such was the strength of our roster.
3) IMO it was Dean Pay's defensive exploitation of the Dominant Tackle rule that was the major coaching contribution to our premiership success. I recall the Sharks were trying to have the rule interpretation changed before the finals because they knew the premiership was ours.

dogs should have never got rid of pay…. A billion times better coach then Barrett

[Rooster36]

To be fair Ricky is one of the reasons we expect grand finals and premierships now

[rented tracksuit]

20 years on I reckon Ricky still belts his pillow some nights wondering how on earth he lost those two grand finals to the Bulldogs and Panthers

You have to give him some credit as a coach though… just when you think he’s well and truly cooked he resurrects himself

The Pamfers one yes.

[Les Tricolores]

The Pamfers one yes.

You don’t think losing a GF by being held scoreless in the second half after leading 13-6 at the break is cause for regret?

[rented tracksuit]

I see your point but I’m alluding to the fact that the result didn’t surprise me considering the events of the previous year.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

im actually on the raiders seen as the chooks are gone , go on ricky give em hell

me too. $21 still available

[Headless Chook]

Sticks biggest ever loss in a finals game. They were always pretenders

[doves07]

Sticks biggest ever loss in a finals game. They were always pretenders

Agree ,but how dumb is arthers putting moses back on after hia,really like penisni ,he's good mates with sualli

[Headless Chook]

Agree ,but how dumb is arthers putting moses back on after hia,really like penisni ,he's good mates with sualli

Yeah didn't get that. I didn't get how he was able to play in the first instance. If he was with us there is no way he would have played tonight

[mightyrooster]

Bye, bye Faiders. Next the vermin.

[SamKerrSimp]

3 -3 meaning three wins from three appearances

1-4 meaning 1 win from four appearances

Was it really that hard to understand. I think you were the only one who didnt. Never mind aye

You don't have to be so grouchy Rad