Anderson to shift Anasta

[Dave Q]

1 Minichiello
2 Roberts
3 Soliola
4 Mongahan
5 Mellars
6 Lewis
7 Soward
8 Nutley
9 Wing
10 Myles/Shillngton
11 Fitzgibbon
12 Tupou
13 Anasta.

BENCH:
14 Beattie
16 Myles/Shillington
17 Flannery
18 Plum

We really dont need a second hooker, because Soward can move there if needed and anasta into the 5/8 spot.

Mellars MUST be given that wing sopt, he is a superb defender and one of the best wingers under the high ball in the league IMO.

We also have that Willie brown bloke the samoan who apprently is HUGE.

Never seen him play, but i will try and get to the newtown games early and check him out.

1. Minichello-missed a lot of games through injury, betting people dont think he can get back to his best. At his best, one of the top 5 players on planet earth.

2. Roberts-solid classy winger. Panthers have missed him greatly.

3. Soliola- average first grader.

4. Monaghan-average player prone to form slumps.

5. Mellars-average player.

6. Lewis-average player.

7. Soward-Fabulous potential but still unproven at first level.

8. Nutley-Dependable forward, sporadic signs of class.

9. Wing-elite player looking to move on last year. May flourish under Anderson.

10. Myles-tremendous young player. Astute acquisition. Will play well all year.

11. Fitzgibbon-hasnt been at his own heady heights in recent times. Concerns of injury and age, but still capable.

12. Tupou-great player stetching out for elite status.

13. Anasta-struggled without dominant forwards, gifted ball player, good sense of the game. Expect an improvement under Anderson.

Of the reserves, I like Flanners, he just doesnt know how to play a bad game. A real player's player.

Harrison due back say round 8 to be safe, subject to his recovery. Should be approaching full strength by round 14. He's an absolute champion and at full stretch, perhaps your best.

Well I suppose the basics are there but losses have been particularly heavy and this mob will really have to knuckle down. Morley was the best forward in the game, in another league alltogether and his services will be sorely missed.

To be honest, I'd be very surprised to see the 2007 Roosters get into the eight, but they have a great coaching mind in Anderson and if they can carry out his instructions, they may threaten.

 

[Geohood]

3. Soliola- average first grader.

6. Lewis-average player.

You can't be serious! :O

Soliola - No brainer, still very young

Lewis - Still a rookie.. I expect to see him rip it up in the NRL.. Better in attack than Mullen, Carney etc.

 

[Dave Q]

You can't be serious!

Soliola - No brainer, still very young

Lewis - Still a rookie.. I expect to see him rip it up in the NRL.. Better in attack than Mullen, Carney etc.

Not serious enough to make a last stand over the submission or get into an argument, but I am interested that you let the others slip to the keeper.

Who will take Morley's place and can Anasta perform? Its pay-check time braith, he needs to provide some value.

Dont misunderstand me, it will be fascinating to see this side of virtual strangers at work (is that you outside me Amos? I thought it was Luke Rooney!) I'd be putting Flanners in the starting line up.

I'd be sending Wing to 5/8 or outside centre for sure.

He needs air to work his wonderful magic.

Then again, my coaching credentials match my japanese cooking skills.

I may be an idiot, but I do know that there is no better winger than Carney.

 

[Geohood]

Not serious enough to make a last stand over the submission or get into an argument, but I am interested that you let the others slip to the keeper.

Who will take Morley's place and can Anasta perform? Its pay-check time braith, he needs to provide some value.

Dont misunderstand me, it will be fascinating to see this side of virtual strangers at work (is that you outside me Amos? I thought it was Luke Rooney!) I'd be putting Flanners in the starting line up.

I'd be sending Wing to 5/8 or outside centre for sure.

He needs air to work his wonderful magic.

Then again, my coaching credentials match my japanese cooking skills.

I may be an idiot, but I do know that there is no better winger than Carney.

I mean Carney that Raiders guy

Anyway I guess we'll see what side it picked when games start.

 

[Dave Q]

I mean Carney that Raiders guy

Anyway I guess we'll see what side it picked when games start.

 

[melon....]

1. Minichello-missed a lot of games through injury, betting people dont think he can get back to his best. At his best, one of the top 5 players on planet earth.

2. Roberts-solid classy winger. Panthers have missed him greatly.

3. Soliola- average first grader.

4. Monaghan-average player prone to form slumps.

5. Mellars-average player.

6. Lewis-average player.

7. Soward-Fabulous potential but still unproven at first level.

8. Nutley-Dependable forward, sporadic signs of class.

9. Wing-elite player looking to move on last year. May flourish under Anderson.

10. Myles-tremendous young player. Astute acquisition. Will play well all year.

11. Fitzgibbon-hasnt been at his own heady heights in recent times. Concerns of injury and age, but still capable.

12. Tupou-great player stetching out for elite status.

13. Anasta-struggled without dominant forwards, gifted ball player, good sense of the game. Expect an improvement under Anderson.

Of the reserves, I like Flanners, he just doesnt know how to play a bad game. A real player's player.

Harrison due back say round 8 to be safe, subject to his recovery. Should be approaching full strength by round 14. He's an absolute champion and at full stretch, perhaps your best.

Well I suppose the basics are there but losses have been particularly heavy and this mob will really have to knuckle down. Morley was the best forward in the game, in another league alltogether and his services will be sorely missed.

To be honest, I'd be very surprised to see the 2007 Roosters get into the eight, but they have a great coaching mind in Anderson and if they can carry out his instructions, they may threaten.

Did you watch the Tri-nations? Soliola is a little more than an average first grader. His performances for NZ were inspiring, and he was probably the best on ground in a losing side on final night....including the aussies. Soliola has discipline issues around teh play the ball, but he's still a kid and it looks like he has removed those issues and should belt most centres he faces.

 

[Hallatia]

Did you watch the Tri-nations? Soliola is a little more than an average first grader. His performances for NZ were inspiring, and he was probably the best on ground in a losing side on final night....including the aussies. Soliola has discipline issues around teh play the ball, but he's still a kid and it looks like he has removed those issues and should belt most centres he faces.

whilst what your saying is true he has a few more problems than that in his play, but he is still young and if Roosters will stick with him and help him ut he will be quite the force

 

[Dave Q]

When those wonderful kiwis don the black, they shift up about three full levels.

Still dont know about him. I wont put a negative taint on him, but I'm not yet convinced.

Also, given injuries etc the game is more a squad thing now.

So I wonder how the roosters are placed for depth?

 

[Geohood]

When those wonderful kiwis don the black, they shift up about three full levels.

Still dont know about him. I wont put a negative taint on him, but I'm not yet convinced.

Also, given injuries etc the game is more a squad thing now.

So I wonder how the roosters are placed for depth?

Depth is probably one of the Roosters' greatest strengths.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

We have plenty of depth in the backline. Assuming our FG backline is PROBABLY going to look like

Mini
Roberts
Soliola
Flannery
Monaghan

according to Chris Anderson on 2UE, we have some excelent depth. At fullback, we have young Shaun Foley, who put in some brilliant wholehearted performances at the end of last season. He's only small, but he is brilliant under the high ball, will take on the biggest guys in defence, & take plenty of hitups. On the wings, we have young John Williams from Parra, who is big, very fast, & already has a FG hattrick. We also have young Kiwi NZ A representative Shaun Kenny-Dowall, a huge winger with plenty of pace & skill. In the ranks is also Tongan rep David Pangai, another strong winger with a huge future. As for centre depth, we have two more experienced customers in the powerful Vince Mellars, who impressed with his strength, defence & ability under the high ball in FG, along with Sam Perrett, who had some excellent performances on the wing in 2006 in FG, even scoring a hattrick, but is far more dangerous setting up his winger in the centres. Looking past them, we also have potential fill-in centres such as Setaimata Sa & Mitch Aubusson, our 2 PL locks who both are dangerous customers on the fringes, using size, speed & offloads to shred up defences.

 

[Dave Q]

We have plenty of depth in the backline. Assuming our FG backline is PROBABLY going to look like

Mini
Roberts
Soliola
Flannery
Monaghan

according to Chris Anderson on 2UE, we have some excelent depth. At fullback, we have young Shaun Foley, who put in some brilliant wholehearted performances at the end of last season. He's only small, but he is brilliant under the high ball, will take on the biggest guys in defence, & take plenty of hitups. On the wings, we have young John Williams from Parra, who is big, very fast, & already has a FG hattrick. We also have young Kiwi NZ A representative Shaun Kenny-Dowall, a huge winger with plenty of pace & skill. In the ranks is also Tongan rep David Pangai, another strong winger with a huge future. As for centre depth, we have two more experienced customers in the powerful Vince Mellars, who impressed with his strength, defence & ability under the high ball in FG, along with Sam Perrett, who had some excellent performances on the wing in 2006 in FG, even scoring a hattrick, but is far more dangerous setting up his winger in the centres. Looking past them, we also have potential fill-in centres such as Setaimata Sa & Mitch Aubusson, our 2 PL locks who both are dangerous customers on the fringes, using size, speed & offloads to shred up defences.

I think its the coaches duty to talk up the side, depth and all and Ive never heard a coach speak ill of depth except after injuries and a loss. But I like to hear coaches wherever possible as they usually know a bit about our game.

(cough)

Now I like perret too, maybe even to start in the Centres for that matter. I'm tiring of big backs trying to use brute force, as far as outside backs go, I like the little guys ducking and weaving. So there wasnt much of Merritt on the wing last year, a light and breezy looking bloke but possessing wonderful positonal acumen, leaping through and around more fancied, stronger and boofier opposition.

You just dont need a chunky Hodges or Rooney anymore out wide. So long as your bloke has speed, a decent one-on-one tackle, a fair read and can catch on the hop you are away!

 

[Deleted member 10972]

I think its the coaches duty to talk up the side, depth and all and Ive never heard a coach speak ill of depth except after injuries and a loss. But I like to hear coaches wherever possible as they usually know a bit about our game.

(cough)

Now I like perret too, maybe even to start in the Centres for that matter. I'm tiring of big backs trying to use brute force, as far as outside backs go, I like the little guys ducking and weaving. So there wasnt much of Merritt on the wing last year, a light and breezy looking bloke but possessing wonderful positonal acumen, leaping through and around more fancied, stronger and boofier opposition.

You just dont need a chunky Hodges or Rooney anymore out wide. So long as your bloke has speed, a decent one-on-one tackle, a fair read and can catch on the hop you are away!

Sorry i think i mis-typed that. I meant that the backline i showed you was what Anderson stated on 2UE. The rest was me talking about the depth. My fault, mate.

 

[Dave Q]

No apologies required, it was good. I learnt something.

Its shaping up as a very interesting year for you guys. More than other teams I think.

Stuart had to go. It was time for a change, a new direction. Anderson is a fair replacement, a very clever man. He builds footballers too.

I think fans get get caught up in the moment in new fans and coaches etc and fail to acknowledge that for the most part, each new season brings new opposition teams, new coahes, new defensive patterns, new players etc. You just cant judge a side by their last years perfomance-maybe a very rough guide.

The Roosters will have to cope without some big name players, but so do other sides. Souths could lay claim to an overall strengthening, but as you know, the base was fairly low to start with and they lacked any appreciable depth.

Manly will struggle without BK and I dont know if Jamie Lyon is the answer for them. Pretty handy player but they really needed a replacement for BK, not some stellar back. For mine, a Flanners or a Priddis may have been of more value in their overall context. They really should have bid for Priddo when he had contract problems with the Panthers last year.

But I'll be keeping a sly eye on you.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

I just feel that our team would look a WHOLE lot better if we had a real strike centre instead of Flannery, a real strike winger instad of Monaghan, an experienced half instead of one of Harrison or Anasta, & maybe some younger equivalents of Beattie & Doyle. Our teams would be far more balanced in that case.

 

[Dave Q]

I just feel that our team would look a WHOLE lot better if we had a real strike centre instead of Flannery, a real strike winger instad of Monaghan, an experienced half instead of one of Harrison or Anasta, & maybe some younger equivalents of Beattie & Doyle. Our teams would be far more balanced in that case.

I agree, Flanners doesnt seem to me to be a strike centre nor do either Anasta and Harrison seem well-suited at half, although if you need a half and havent got one, they are certainly good enough to stand-in ...short term.

Souths will have three specialist halfs fighting it out for firsts because they undertsand their value. Taylor is working with all of them. I like Smith over Williams myself.

Anasta is a traditional back whilst Harrison is a forward with a tremendous work rate. But Ash wont be seen at his devastating best for probably half the season. Patience!

Anderson has the challenge of coaching the team he receives. He was late on-board and accordingly, I think he had very little say in the selection process. If things go pear-shaped, he shouldnt be left carrying the baby.

But lets see what he can do.

 

[2 True Blues]

Some interesting points guys. Will be a better season in 2007 for sure looking at the team on paper ETC..........

 

[Deleted member 10972]

After re-thinking how the teams would look, i think the best balance for our team would be:

1. Fullback - Anthony Minichiello
2. Winger - Amos Roberts
3. Power Centre - Iosia Soliola
4. Strike Centre - Chris Flannery
5. Winger - Joel Monaghan
6. Five-Eighth - Jamie Soward/Ashley Harrison
7. Halfback - Josh Lewis
8. Prop-Forward - Danny Nutley
9. Hooker - Craig Wing
10. Front Rower - David Shillington
11. Second Rower - Nate Myles
12. Second Rower - Craig Fitzgibbon
13. Lock- Braith Anasta

14. Dummy Half - Johnny Doyle
15. Lock - Nigel 'The Axe' Plum
16. Second Rower - Anthony Tupou
17. Prop-Forward - Chris Beattie

1. Fullback - Shaun Foley
2. Winger - Shaun Kenny-Dowall or David Pangai
3. Power Centre - Vince Mellars
4. Strike Centre - Sam Perrett
5. Winger - John Williams
6. Five-Eighth - Ashley Harrison/Jamie Soward (Anthony Watts while Harrison is injured)
7. Halfback - Mitchell Pearce
8. Prop-Forward - Charlie Tonga
9. Hooker - Heath L'Estrange
10. Front Rower - Shane Shackleton
11. Second Rower - Mickey Paea
12. Second Rower - Lopini Paea
13. Lock - Mitch Aubusson

14. Dummy Half - George Ndaira
15. Lock - Setaimata Sa
16. Prop-Forward - Frank-Paul Nuuausala or Willie Brown
17. Second Rower - Steve Meredith

Looking at that team, both grades are 100% quality, & for the first time in a LONG time, everyone except for the slightest few are in a position that matches not only the teams balance, but their own skills. Ricky used to have backrowers like Tupou, Morley & Fitzgibbon at prop, locks like Harrison & Flannery in the starting backrow, centres like Mellars & Perrett on the wing, etc. He also often made the mistake of confusing a front rower (tall, long strides, e.g. Civoniceva) with a prop (short, stocky, e.g. Webcke). The most successful teams discern between these two, e.g. Broncos, Warriors (Wiki/Price) & Dragons (Bailey/Ryles). The only players above who probably aren't in their ideal position are highlighted. If Anasta was successful as a 5-8, we could simply switch him & Harrison, & the problem would be solved, but Anasta's poor form at 5-8, although improving his game, causes that issue. The other issue is the Flannery/Monaghan flank. Monaghan IMO could pass as a capable strike centre, but that would leave only a vacant wing spot & Flannery. I'm not sure how we could solve that, but i think in the long run, it would be insignificant, & they might turn out okay. I mean, Elford & Fitzhenry was a GF-winning flank, surely Monaghan & Flannery could be just as good.

 

[2 True Blues]

Don't forget ANASTA was playing with injury for most of 2006 as well mate. ( Apparently !! ). So it's all good mate, especially with a fresh back from injury Monaghan as well.....

 

[2 True Blues]

I'll be watching BROWN, Ndaira, and Williams with a lot of interest in 2007 as well mate !!

 

[Deleted member 10972]

LOL, i'd still take Cusack, Cayless, Morley, Cross & Crocker back anyday. With them, you could have Mostyn & Bulgarelli in the halves & still be winning.