Walker dropped

[morley101]

I'm sure Walker will be back very quickly... I'm more concerned who will be goal kicking this week.

[Lydon]

I don’t think this is a shock given how ineffective he’s been lately, but that’s a kick in the groin to miss Anzac Day. I’d be guttered.

Hence my point,surely if Robbo was doing this for the benefit of Sammy he would’ve let the kid play this week on Anzac Day and demoted him the following week against a monster Warriors team!

I don’t see how this is a good move for Sam

[NorfolkStreetKid]

My immediate reaction to this news was that it was bullshiit. Then I found it was real, and I thought it was a pathetic decision.
Having slept on it I now believe it is absolutely disgusting.
Walker, a 20 year old super talented, creative, gutsy half,
playing in the most high pressure position on the field
with inexperienced and untalented players beside him'
yes I mean Crutch and Butch,
is made the scapegoat for poor performances.
He is being lectured every week by Cronk, who would over analyse a play the ball'
and the best our GURU coach can come up with is to drop him.
How about COACHING him GURU ??
The last star player he dropped is now playing for SOUTHS.
Seems like Robbo likes robots.
Pathetic decision.

[Maxy Walker]

Good comedy this place. “Our halves are rubbish!” says the chookpen when we lose a couple of games. Coach does something about it, “the coach has no idea!” is the response.

[Inflictor]

I am so glad that the majority of the pen are finally realising that Robbo isn't teflon and are seeing through this demotion as being desperate and clueless as opposed to "ruthless" and "cunning" like he would want you to think.

I get a funny feeling that Robbo actually doesn't GAFF what anyone thinks. But that's just me.
FFS

Good comedy this place. “Our halves are rubbish!” says the chookpen when we lose a couple of games. Coach does something about it, “the coach has no idea!” is the response.

Too funny

[kakaruk]

Waynes probably been on the phone already offering to shout Sammy a weekend holiday break with a couple of XXXX schooners and a feed of morton bay bugs thrown in as well lol

[HunchoRooster]

I get a funny feeling that Robbo actually doesn't GAFF what anyone thinks. But that's just me.
FFS



Too funny

I meant the media not the Chookpen lol. Can definitely agree he doesn't give 2 sh-ts what we think. But I think he likes to show he is in control and calm when this decision is anything but.

From memory, the majority of people were criticising the way the halves were playing and the system we were using e.g. Sam not backing himself with kicks and getting repeat sets, Keary not running as much as he should. I don't think many were actually calling for either to get dropped. Other than Sally, nobody was calling for Momorovski to return to the side either.

[Carlos Parra]

The sad aspect of this ridiculous decision by Robinson is that EVERYONE loved Walker last year. We finished 6th on the ladder in 2022 and Walker was the 2nd top point scorer with 7 tries and 90 goals and a field goal. The team scored more points than most other teams, 3rd only to Melbourne and Penrith.

By round 7 last year (without a BYE) the team scored 134 points. This year (with a BYE) they've scored 106 points. You have to argue that this year's draw is much, much harder than 2022. We had a big win against NQ in round 4 last year and scored 28 points. Replace this year's BYE with a hypothetical match against Balmain or Canterbury and assume they score 28 points. Our POINTS FOR then become identical with 2022 and the win/loss ratio is exactly the same.

So essentially, what in the hell has changed?

Bloody nothing!

Walker is not the reason for yet another poor start to a season. He can't do much if his forwards are not creating holes in the other team's line. He can't do much if Easts are constantly being forced backwards with penalties, restarts and dropped balls. He can't do much if our option to score points only comes from out wide.

He had the same defensive issues last year yet no-one really batted an eyelid. Pound for pound I think he's a gutsy little player and there are others I'd drop long before him. The bloke creates his magic when the team is marching down the field and breaking tackles.

Tedesco is playing crap, Radley is playing dumb, the Butcher boys are zeros and Hutchinson is just bloody hopeless.

My $0.02c.

[Inflictor]

I meant the media not the Chookpen lol. Can definitely agree he doesn't give 2 sh-ts what we think. But I think he likes to show he is in control and calm when this decision is anything but.

From memory, the majority of people were criticising the way the halves were playing and the system we were using e.g. Sam not backing himself with kicks and getting repeat sets, Keary not running as much as he should. I don't think many were actually calling for either to get dropped. Other than Sally, nobody was calling for Momorovski to return to the side either.

As I said before, he has done it before with young players (eg. Manu and Trell) to rebuild their confidence.
Sam has a very level head and I'm sure he and Robbo have discussed the reason and what Sam needs to do.
He has lost a bit of confidence this year so going down a notch to work on his game is probably good for him. Hard to do at the top level when confidence is down.
To think that Robbo is blaming him for our form and Skeletor is on the phone to his manager is Chicken Little stuff but very amusing to read. It keeps me coming back for a laugh. I await Hoopers exclusive on it and how many in here swallow it.
He will be back. Sam knows he will be back.

[dice]

The sad aspect of this ridiculous decision by Robinson is that EVERYONE loved Walker last year. We finished 6th on the ladder in 2022 and Walker was the 2nd top point scorer with 7 tries and 90 goals and a field goal. The team scored more points than most other teams, 3rd only to Melbourne and Penrith.

Not ridiculous. We were on top in a grinding finals style game and Walker made two rookie errors that led to Sharks tries.
1) When we had Butcher in the sin bin and defending deep is Sharks territory, Walker intentionally strips the ball leading to Sharks penalty
2) Intercept pass when we were not even in a scoring position

Robbo trying to get us to cut the crap and play a tight power game like the backend of last year. Despite being down on forwards we were travelling well with 90% completion rate and looking likely to win. It was a bad week for Walker to be making rookie mistakes.

And yes, I can understand that Radley deserves a kick up the arse too. Maybe that is coming soon if he doesn't grow up.

[HunchoRooster]

As I said before, he has done it before with young players (eg. Manu and Trell) to rebuild their confidence.
Sam has a very level head and I'm sure he and Robbo have discussed the reason and what Sam needs to do.
He has lost a bit of confidence this year so going down a notch to work on his game is probably good for him. Hard to do at the top level when confidence is down.
To think that Robbo is blaming him for our form and Skeletor is on the phone to his manager is Chicken Little stuff but very amusing to read. It keeps me coming back for a laugh. I await Hoopers exclusive on it and how many in here swallow it.
He will be back. Sam knows he will be back.

I haven't mentioned Skeletor once and don't think getting dropped automatically means he's going to leave the club. Some might. If he wants to leave after getting dropped once, would be pretty poor resilience from the young fella and I don't doubt his resilience. I don't necessarily think his confidence is down, I think the tactics in which he is being forced to play don't suit his natural game and instinct. Reserve grade won't change that.

[HunchoRooster]

Not ridiculous. We were on top in a grinding finals style game and Walker made two rookie errors that led to Sharks tries.
1) When we had Butcher in the sin bin and defending deep is Sharks territory, Walker intentionally strips the ball leading to Sharks penalty
2) Intercept pass when we were not even in a scoring position

Robbo trying to get us to cut the crap and play a tight power game like the backend of last year. Despite being down on forwards we were travelling well with 90% completion rate and looking likely to win. It was a bad week for Walker to be making rookie mistakes.

And yes, I can understand that Radley deserves a kick up the arse too. Maybe that is coming soon if he doesn't grow up.

If that was a finals style game then Penriff would be licking their lips and cake walking to a 3-peat. I don't think either team were particularly good. Surely Walker didn't get dropped for 2 isolated incidents. If Robbo made selection decisions based off isolated incidents, Radley would be rivalling Greg Florimo with North Sydney Bears appearances.

[dice]

If that was a finals style game then Penriff would be licking their lips and cake walking to a 3-peat. I don't think either team were particularly good. Surely Walker didn't get dropped for 2 isolated incidents. If Robbo made selection decisions based off isolated incidents, Radley would be rivalling Greg Florimo with North Sydney Bears appearances.

Do you believe premierships are decided in April?

If we make it to the finals without injuries the Panthers will be shitting themselves.

[Inflictor]

Do you believe premierships are decided in April?

If we make it to the finals without injuries the Panthers will be shitting themselves.

100%

It is astonishing the number of Chicken Littles in here this year and as you said it is only April.

Usually we are laughing at Parra and the Dragons being on top of the ladder at this time of year and laughing at their supporters.

This year we are 2 points off second position, no team looks to be dominating, it looks a much easier comp this year than last year and barring injury we should have a fully fit team in a few weeks. It is all about injuries for us this year (like the last three years). If the injury gods have moved on we will be primed come September.

[Mickie Lane]

I would have kept Walker at 1/2 & given Keary a rest. Keary in the head gear is nowhere near as good as he was.