Match Discussion: Round 20 vs Rabbitohs @ ANZ Stadium

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2020 - Round 20
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
Friday 25 September 2020

Kickoff 7:55pm - Nine / Fox

1. Corey Allan 2. Alex Johnston 3. Campbell Graham 4. Dane Gagai 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Liam Knight 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jed Cartwright 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Hame Sele 16. Patrick Mago 17. Keaon Koloamatangi 18. Tevita Tatola 19. Jack Johns 20. Troy Dargan 21. Cory Denniss

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Mitchell Aubusson 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Angus Crichton
Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Nat Butcher 17. Sonny Bill Williams 18. Matt Ikuvalu 19. Daniel Fifita 20. Freddy Lussick 21. Ryan Hall

Referees: Gerard Sutton
Sideline Officials: Chris Butler, Dave Munro
Video Referees: Ashley Klein

​

 

[morley101]

password for tickets is 20Roosters

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

Game day hub:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/22/game-day-hub--rivalry-round-20/

Rabbitohs squad:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/22/rabbitohs-squad--round-20/

Team annoucement from the mighty Roosters:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/22/team-announcement--round-20/

It is finally the last round of this shortened NRL season and we are once again facing off against the old enemy.

This usually intense and bitter rivalry is next scheduled to explode at 7.55 pm, next Friday, 25 September 2020 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. I for one cannot wait for this (as per usual), and so hopefully the mighty Roosters can come with their A-game in hand and give the Rabbitohs a bit of what's what.

The game day page and information, courtesy of the NRL, is:

https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2020/round-20/rabbitohs-v-roosters/

No doubt there is more to come over the next few days, so stay turned ladies and gentlemen!

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Sideline Officials: Chris Butler, Dave Munro
Video Referees: Ashley Klein

I am not particularly happy about this - having both Sutton and Klein involved. It seems as though we are getting these two, together with Ben Cummins, on a rotation. Hopefully they will not be able to stop our progress to (our hopeful destiny of) the three peat!

At the moment, I am tipping Easts by 12.

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

Last time we met the Rabbitohs:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/23/last-time-we-met-the-rabbitohs/

Game day at Easts Leagues Club:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/23/game-day-at-easts-leagues/

Roosters Radio with Aubo:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/24/roosters-radio--mitchell-aubusson/

Coach media with Robbo:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/24/we-know-our-path--trent-robinson/

Match preview:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/24/match-preview--rabbitohs-v-roosters/

Captain's run (Round 20):

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/24/captains-run--round-20/

Squad update:

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2020/09/24/squad-update--morris-out/

NRL match preview:

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/21/rabbitohs-v-roosters-gagai-back-from-ban-rested-stars-return/

Match preview (video):

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/23/rabbitohs-v-roosters---round-20/

Robbo admires Boydy's return:

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/24/robinson-admires-cordners-return/

The odds tonight are $4.00 for them and $1.25 for us.

Well, it is game day ladies and gentlemen. Fire up like you have never fired up before you mighty Eastern Suburbs Roosters, fire up! Let's get this mob from Redfern - do not give them an inch, let's get into them! The Roosters by 12.

 

[horrie hastings]

Brett Morris ruled out , Matt Ikuvalu is in.

 

[taste2taste]

I'm hoping the roosters were treating tonights game as a captains run, knowing that we can't finish outside the 4.

If not, we're F'd !

 

[taste2taste]

Watching the post game show Erin Molan and Paul Gallen are loosely alluding to the roosters may have played in 3rd gear to get no injuries and avoid playing the storm in week 1.

Basically they are saying the roosters threw the game.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Watching the post game show Erin Molan and Paul Gallen are loosely alluding to the roosters may have played in 3rd gear to get no injuries and avoid playing the storm in week 1.

Basically they are saying the roosters threw the game.

Maybe there’s some truth to that but Robbo’s face in the coach’s box says to me there’s some serious fixing to do.

 

[Valheru]

Watching the post game show Erin Molan and Paul Gallen are loosely alluding to the roosters may have played in 3rd gear to get no injuries and avoid playing the storm in week 1.

Basically they are saying the roosters threw the game.

I don't think they were too interested in winning but this was f**king embarrassing.

If they had of lost 32-8 I don't think anyone would give a shit but 60 is something else...

The right edge will be back next week which is where the first and last flurry of points was leaked so that is some saving grace.

The proof will be in the pudding next week. Either there is a monumental bounce back (win or lose) and this game means nothing or we have the cleaners put through us again indicating that 3 years now of being at the top has finally caught up with us.

 

[Valheru]

The last thing I will say is that if any team has earnt a 'forgive run' and some faith from their fans it is this roosters side.

Just need to get over it and move on. Next week was always going to be our next important game.

 

[Warnecke]

The last thing I will say is that if any team has earnt a 'forgive run' and some faith from their fans it is this roosters side.

Just need to get over it and move on. Next week was always going to be our next important game.

Agree! Next week is the real test!

 

[Captain Apollo]

Our worst lost in history to Souths.

The defence was embarrassing. To those who've knocked Jake Friend, he is the glue of our ruck defence and his absence was notable after he went off injured.

At the post match press conference, Robbo said he only trained them lightly this week, and he felt that contributed to the guys taking it easy.

Last night's game is what happens when you don't play hard every match.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Our worst lost in history to Souths.

The defence was embarrassing. To those who've knocked Jake Friend, he is the glue of our ruck defence and his absence was notable after he went off injured.

At the post match press conference, Robbo said he only trained them lightly this week, and he felt that contributed to the guys taking it easy.

Last night's game is what happens when you don't play hard every match.

I wanted Jake rested this week because he’s been battered. Hope he’s available to play against Pennies.

 

[Valheru]

Our worst lost in history to Souths.

The defence was embarrassing. To those who've knocked Jake Friend, he is the glue of our ruck defence and his absence was notable after he went off injured.

At the post match press conference, Robbo said he only trained them lightly this week, and he felt that contributed to the guys taking it easy.

Last night's game is what happens when you don't play hard every match.

The right side was a far bigger issue than losing Jake although losing Jake didn't help

Sitilli aubo and iku were just trash. Was it 7 tries down that side?

Crighton manu and B-Moz would have seen 30 less points scored. The boys were flat by no way is it 60 with those guys there.

Liu comes back to lock so crighton can push to right 2nd row.

Sitilli goes to bench and Collins returns to bench.

SBW bench obviously.

If jake playes then Lam gets last bench spot. I can't find room for Aubo unfortunately.

 

[footy75]

Watching the post game show Erin Molan and Paul Gallen are loosely alluding to the roosters may have played in 3rd gear to get no injuries and avoid playing the storm in week 1.

Basically they are saying the roosters threw the game.

they did

the only thing the roosters cared about was getting that over and done with and no injuries.

its hilarious listening to people think the team is done now.

 

[The Fanatical Rooster]

I am still recovering after that performance last night, if you could call it that. A loss is never pleasant, but against this particular mob...

I feel there was more to it than us merely playing badly. The following contributed:

1. We were complacent, particularly given they lost to the Bulldogs last week.

2. We trained softly last week; that needs to be rectified quick smart this week.

3. I believe that we would have preferred to play Penrith and not have to travel next week.

4. We were almost non-existent in defense because we didn't want to risk any further injuries.

It was hard to cop, and was so un-Roosterlike. It was incredibly out of character and embarrassing.

I sincerely hope that we have now got the loss out of our system and Robbo will put a massive rocket up them this week.

Robbo says that every season is different. For us to win now, he would be certainly right about that. I haven't given up, but am apprehensive.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

The right side was a far bigger issue than losing Jake although losing Jake didn't help

Sitilli aubo and iku were just trash. Was it 7 tries down that side?

Crighton manu and B-Moz would have seen 30 less points scored. The boys were flat by no way is it 60 with those guys there.

Liu comes back to lock so crighton can push to right 2nd row.

Sitilli goes to bench and Collins returns to bench.

SBW bench obviously.

If jake playes then Lam gets last bench spot. I can't find room for Aubo unfortunately.

Can I throw a crazy idea at you?
Put Lussick in if Friendy can’t play. Absurd I know but he’s a specialist hooker and has gone well with the minutes he’s had. I know he’s a kid but with less crowds in a COVID year, there might be a little less pressure. Sitili, Collins, Lam and Sonny on the bench.

 

[Valheru]

Can I throw a crazy idea at you?
Put Lussick in if Friendy can’t play. Absurd I know but he’s a specialist hooker and has gone well with the minutes he’s had. I know he’s a kid but with less crowds in a COVID year, there might be a little less pressure. Sitili, Collins, Lam and Sonny on the bench.

Yeah I could live with that. Better to have a specialist there than to not and Lam isn't the type of player who can make 50 plus tackles and still have an impact.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Friend cleared of facial fracture and could play in week one of finals
Adrian Proszenko and Adam Pengilly
September 26, 2020 — 5.13pm

Jake Friend’s finals and State of Origin hopes remain alive after he was cleared of facial fractures on Saturday, but the Roosters rake will still need to pass concussion protocols in order to take his place in the opening weekend of the play-offs.

There were fears Friend’s season could be over after he was involved in an accidental head clash with Campbell Graham just three minutes into his side’s record 60-8 loss to South Sydney. However, scans have cleared Friend of a break in his jaw or cheekbone in a timely boost for the defending premiers.

Rabbitohs v Roosters Round 20 Presser - Trent Robinson

Trent Robinson faces the media after the Roosters' historic loss to the Rabbitohs

Friend is still in some doubt this week after he failed his head-injury assessment, his second concussion in the space of a month. The veteran hooker, who is poised to announce a contract extension shortly, will need to go through a series of cognitive tests to determine his fitness to return to play.

The Roosters have a track record of erring on the side of caution with their concussed players, as evidenced by the way they nursed skipper Boyd Cordner back to health recently.

Should Friend be ruled out, the tricolours will go into the finals with their fourth-choice hooker, given Sam Verrills and Victor Radley are also sidelined with serious knee injuries. Lachlan Lam spent time at dummy half against the Rabbitohs, while Freddy Lussick will also likely be used at hooker should Friend be ruled out.

Friend is a leading contender to wear the Maroons No.9 jersey at the end of the season. An Origin berth is one of the few honours that has escaped him during an illustrious career.

Roosters hooker Jake Friend goes down injured on Friday night.CREDIT:GETTY

Friend’s setback didn’t detract from a stunning performance from Souths, who totally dominated after conceding the opening try. Cody Walker was a standout and shapes as a key figure in Wayne Bennett’s quest for an eighth premiership.

"[Cody's] wonderful to watch,” said halves partner Adam Reynolds. “It's my job to get him clean ball. I steer the team around the park and get him into the field position he needs. He was clinical finishing off a few of those tries.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/fr...ay-in-week-one-of-finals-20200926-p55zjh.html