Walker dropped

[Rooster36]

I agree the bloke only finished his career with 3 comps in a row… who does he think he is ?? I’d trust the 20 year old kid over a bloke who has won 6 comps

[Rooster36]

Death Riding Keary now! haha...

Don't pretend to be a critic now...U are one big triggered fraud

U attacked everyone who was critical of our performances, now u pretending to fit in and criticize yourself...

Dig dig...u fraud.

Good to have ya back … what do you reckon about this week mate ? Where does robbo go if we lose against the drags

[King Salvo]

Lets put the animosities aside for 5 mins and discuss this... I am genuinely intrigued at the school of thought that it will be for Sam's benefit long-term.

If Kez and Manu absolutely kill it, Kez becomes the ball playing lynchpin again and kicks us around the park, Joey is electric and a revelation at 6... how does Walker get back in the side? Is he meant to improve playing NSW Cup for another 2 years until Keary retires? I can't see how that will improve him. We don't have a loan system like other codes. He wouldn't really have any benefit playing off the bench. Obviously if the Roosters carve up with JS/LK combo for the rest of the season, I doubt Walker's development will be at the forefront of everyone's minds.

I don't think he will be in NSW Cup for 2 years though and Manu does have a kicking game of the short variety so not sure if he has a longer one - wait and see

Walker has flaws in his game as we all know.

Do you keep playing him in NRL so these flaws become ingrained and have a detrimental affect on not only the team but also the player or do you initiate remedial action by demoting him to NSW Cup so he can work on eradicating or reducing these flaws in his game.

Coaches have particular playing styles they employ so all players have to be onboard with it and fit in with this style - Coaches won't change a playing style to suit one player.

The Roosters Way as Robbo calls it - which isn't just a style of play it also extends to off field behaviour and on field behaviour -i.e not lying down or trying to milk penalties

As I mentioned on another post Walker plays at 78 kg's compared to his contemporaries who play at around 86 kgs. or 92 kg's as is the case with Cleary- all similar heights - Surely bulking him up to that 86 or so kg's would have been the plan in the off season.

That would help his game especially in D as he certainly is targeted and maybe even his kicking game even distance wise which is another issue.

The issue goes much deeper than just Walker - the so called spine is underperforming - I am not sold on B Smith as a dummy half myself even though people will remind me that he was the Dally M Hooker of the year in 2021.

B Smith is a 50 or so minute player tops as any more minutes then fatigue becomes a factor - if they want him to play longer minutes then he has to do the opposite to Walker and lose 8 or so kg's and improve his fitness and stamina - his Contemporaries play at or around 86 kg's and often 80 minutes.

Keary at half again is not ideal nor is it ideal that there is no one taking on the role of controlling or organising half which one can argue there still isn't with this change - If Manu can't kick then Keary will be it - Tedesco the only other option

Is the Roosters power game still effective or should they look to play a more expansive brand of footy to bring others into play such as Manu when playing centre and Suaalii etc - of course notwithstanding the fluctuations in set completions - one week 61% and the next 88% and error rate

Maybe this change in the halves signals that the Roosters will employ a more expansive style of footy ?

[Juggler]

Watching the last two weeks it was clear that Walker was rattled by the mistakes he made. He couldn’t bounce back in either game.

He’s a 20 year old kid and a couple of weeks off will do him the world of good.

When Latrell came back from his spell in reserves he was in a much better frame of mind and I believe Robbo is playing the same card.

Sanmy will be back in a couple of weeks raring to go with a much clearer head.

I think this may be the case. Time to be (as Ted Lasso said) "a goldfish"?

[HunchoRooster]

I don't think he will be in NSW Cup for 2 years though and Manu does have a kicking game of the short variety so not sure if he has a longer one - wait and see

Walker has flaws in his game as we all know.

Do you keep playing him in NRL so these flaws become ingrained and have a detrimental affect on not only the team but also the player or do you initiate remedial action by demoting him to NSW Cup so he can work on eradicating or reducing these flaws in his game.

Coaches have particular playing styles they employ so all players have to be onboard with it and fit in with this style - Coaches won't change a playing style to suit one player.

The Roosters Way as Robbo calls it - which isn't just a style of play it also extends to off field behaviour and on field behaviour -i.e not lying down or trying to milk penalties

As I mentioned on another post Walker plays at 78 kg's compared to his contemporaries who play at around 86 kgs. or 92 kg's as is the case with Cleary- all similar heights - Surely bulking him up to that 86 or so kg's would have been the plan in the off season.

That would help his game especially in D as he certainly is targeted and maybe even his kicking game even distance wise which is another issue.

The issue goes much deeper than just Walker - the so called spine is underperforming - I am not sold on B Smith as a dummy half myself even though people will remind me that he was the Dally M Hooker of the year in 2021.

B Smith is a 50 or so minute player tops as any more minutes then fatigue becomes a factor - if they want him to play longer minutes then he has to do the opposite to Walker and lose 8 or so kg's and improve his fitness and stamina - his Contemporaries play at or around 86 kg's and often 80 minutes.

Keary at half again is not ideal nor is it ideal that there is no one taking on the role of controlling or organising half which one can argue there still isn't with this change - If Manu can't kick then Keary will be it - Tedesco the only other option

Is the Roosters power game still effective or should they look to play a more expansive brand of footy to bring others into play such as Manu when playing centre and Suaalii etc - of course notwithstanding the fluctuations in set completions - one week 61% and the next 88% and error rate

Maybe this change in the halves signals that the Roosters will employ a more expansive style of footy ?

Surprisingly I'm in agreeance with you regarding Cheese. I didn't love the signing because I knew he didn't have the motor. He had played something like 3 full 80min games at hooker at Melbourne. I think he's an excellent player but not a marquee hooker, time will tell. Automatically we need to carry someone on the bench to cover him, which changes dynamic of the side.

Still doesn't overly answer the question but regarding Sammy. I guess to answer yours, you'd just let him make those errors and grow from them whilst getting first grade experience. Obviously if it become unbearable, then you would definitely need to take action. I dont think he's been anywhere near that bad. He definitely needs to add on size but that comes from a pre-season + nature not through reserve grade footy.

I think we are going to miss his goal kicking the most.

[A Country Member]

Watching the last two weeks it was clear that Walker was rattled by the mistakes he made. He couldn’t bounce back in either game.

He’s a 20 year old kid and a couple of weeks off will do him the world of good.

When Latrell came back from his spell in reserves he was in a much better frame of mind and I believe Robbo is playing the same card.

Sanmy will be back in a couple of weeks raring to go with a much clearer head.

That’s about it.
A player that has lost confidence in his abilities and didn’t have answers to get his form and the team back into winning spots.

A couple of weeks is magic round in Brisbane where you floated a return. Close to his home town.

It’s interesting to see Sandon Smith has been pulled from the Reserve grade squad and there isn’t a replacement named at half.

[King Salvo]

That’s about it.
A player that has lost confidence in his abilities and didn’t have answers to get his form and the team back into winning spots.

A couple of weeks is magic round in Brisbane where you floated a return. Close to his home town.

It’s interesting to see Sandon Smith has been pulled from the Reserve grade squad and there isn’t a replacement named at half.

I think that vacant half spot is Walkers if he does play NSW Cup if not Smith will be back in at Half

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The worst thing about this for Sam is not so much being dropped, its the excessive media/social media scrutiny that bites. Relentless.

[ism22]

A bunch of players have spoken to the media and declared that Walker will bounce back, he's signed a long-term contract, he can do stuff that other halves can't and he's destined to be a superstar.

IMO we will never know if this is about form, confidence, an internal conflict or something entirely different. However, the messaging from the playing group seems to be that they're all behind him.

To me this one doesn't smell of when Hastings and Flanno got dumped. I think there's definitely a way back for him. While I get it that Walker's from a League family... I don't think that (like Flanno/Hastings) he's got his dad/uncle calling up the club to tell Robbo he's a shyte coach for dumping their kid. I'd liken it more to one of 'Trell's fishing trips where he just had to get a way for a bit, renew his passion for making our 1sts and re-group with the boys in a few weeks time when Robbo's decided that he's ready.

[roosterchook]

It will happen if failure continues!

I’m a great believer in giving players a chance but if they don’t learn they need to be reassessed as to their qualification to be in firsts. We’ve lost every match Rads has been sin binned. JWH seems to have turned a new leaf but Rads is still letting the entire team down. We can’t play and win with 12 players.

[milanja]

I’m a great believer in giving players a chance but if they don’t learn they need to be reassessed as to their qualification to be in firsts. We’ve lost every match Rads has been sin binned. JWH seems to have turned a new leaf but Rads is still letting the entire team down. We can’t play and win with 12 players.

Radleys sin binning v the sharks had no bearing on the match, and he was also directed to give away the penalty.

unsure of why he was selected to be the scapegoat though.

[Eggspert]

Good to have ya back … what do you reckon about this week mate ? Where does robbo go if we lose against the drags

If we lose then Robbo goes home & looks in the mirror & says "f##k we lost against a crap Dragons team & my isolation of Sammy was probably wrong & not worth all the pain this week"

Then he might say "well f##k maybe the problem isnt the players maybe it's __"

[King Salvo]

The worst thing about this for Sam is not so much being dropped, its the excessive media/social media scrutiny that bites. Relentless.

Ditto the Hutchinator - certainly relentless on here also

[King Salvo]

Radleys sin binning v the sharks had no bearing on the match, and he was also directed to give away the penalty.

unsure of why he was selected to be the scapegoat though.

It's not based on the one game this "demotion" though - cumulative games

[milanja]

It's not based on the one game this "demotion" though - cumulative games

I meant, why was Radley picked to be the sin binning scapegoat.