Dragons 3 2 1s

[Valheru]

I know the dragons are barely first grade standard at the moment but you can only beat who you play and this game really was an example of where we could have been had we not had a disastrous pre-season and a horrific injury toll for most of the year. Everyone put in and it was good to see some attacking spark in the team. Our team is so much more structured with Pearce on the field and JWH looks like he is finally getting back to his best after the ACL tear. A special mention to Tupou and Fergo who both had a shocking first half of the season but have never waivered with effort and have found some good form.

Things are looking positive for next year with some nice selection headaches as well.

3 Fergo
2 Pearce
1 Cordner

 

[Captain Apollo]

The backs were flashy, the halves were slick, but it was our forwards which set up this win. 4 of our starting 6 made 100+ metres with ball in hand (i.e. JWH, Napa, Cordner and Taaukeiaho) with Moa coming off the bench to be the 5th.In the first half alone, JWH had made 134 metres, Napa 80 metres and Taukeiaho 108 metres. They kept the Dragons defence back peddling which allowed our backs to cut loose.

For mine:

3 points: Jared Warea-Hargreaves. Only played 47 minutes but his 16 runs for172 metres were all quality and laid a great platform.
2 points: Boyd Cordner. Played the full 80 minutes. 19 runs for 172 metres, 26 tackle (0 misses) and 1 line break. Pure class.
1 point: Mitchell Pearce. Exploited all that space his forwards gave him. Made 9 runs for 72 metres and had 3 try assists in an all round classy performance.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Cordner has played, what, 10 games this year?

And yet he must be close to our Player of the Season.

The man is simply out of this world and one of the top 5-6 Roosters players I've ever seen.

That being said, you could give points to a dozen blokes yesterday. Toops had his best game in years.

3. Cordner
2. Pearce
1. Fergo

 

[Captain Apollo]

Cordner has played, what, 10 games this year?

Cordner has played 11. JWH 12. Pearce 10. Those stats are upto and including Round 24.

They are our big 3, as when they are all out, the team plays rather ordinary.

 

[Valheru]

Cordner has played, what, 10 games this year?

And yet he must be close to our Player of the Season.

The man is simply out of this world and one of the top 5-6 Roosters players I've ever seen.

It's either him or Latrell who amassed a heap of point in the first half of the year especially.

SKD's efforts in the first 8 rounds shouldn't be overlooked either.

 

[Captain Apollo]

It's either him or Latrell who amassed a heap of point in the first half of the year especially.

SKD's efforts in the first 8 rounds shouldn't be overlooked either.

I dare say SKD would be well in the hunt compared to Boyd. No offence, but Boyd did not play his first game until Round 8 this year. He played straight through to Round 11 (i.e. 4 weeks) before his foot injury struck him down. He didn't come back till Round 18 and has played all 6 games since.

By comparison, SKD played Rounds 1-9 then injury struck him. He came back in Round 15 and has played all 7 games since.

Latrell Mitchell has played in all 21 games to date.

 

[Headless Chook]

Honestly, they all played really well, yes even Guerra.

3. Cords
2. Fergs
1. Pearce

Honourable mention to SST. Maloney, who?

 

[Tommy Smith]

Ah yes I forgot Skidsy.

He's been immense. Yes he comes up with an SKD moment EVERY game, including two vs the Dragons. But he is the most damaging dummy half runner I've seen in years.

As amazing as Cordner is, SKD would probably be my Player of the Year when factoring in number of games played. I suspect both SST and Liu will be the ones pushing him all the way for the Award.

 

[Chook]

3 - Fergo - best game in our colurs.
2 - Cords - It's a cut and paste for him every game.
1 - Pearce - Continues to show dominance.

Our pigs were immense, smashed the Merge forwards all game.

Chook.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Players who have played the most first grade games for us this year (up to and including Sunday) -

Latrell Mitchell - 22
Jake Friend - 22
Mitchell Aubusson - 22
Sam Moa - 22
Dylan Napa - 21
Kane Evans - 21
Blake Ferguson - 20
Isaac Lui - 20
Daniel Tupou - 19
Sio Sia Taukeiaho 19
Shaun Kenny-Dowall - 18.
Jackson Hastings - 15.
Connor Watson - 14.

Just thought this might help.

 

[Headless Chook]

Players who have played the most first grade games for us this year (up to and including Sunday) -

Latrell Mitchell - 22
Jake Friend - 22
Mitchell Aubusson - 22
Sam Moa - 22
Dylan Napa - 21
Kane Evans - 21
Blake Ferguson - 20
Isaac Lui - 20
Daniel Tupou - 19
Sio Sia Taukeiaho 19
Shaun Kenny-Dowall - 18.
Jackson Hastings - 15.
Connor Watson - 14.

Just thought this might help.

Captain, this list hits the nail on the proverbial, as plain as day to the major reason we have struggled this year. One word - Pearce. The young halves combos Robbo was forced to throw in the mix, who tried their guts out mind you, sadly were exposed. Geez we needed Pearce on deck all season.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

It's great when you can give points to anyone in the team but I'm giving it to the forwards for their unrelenting in-your-face attack.
3. JWH
2. Cords
1. Napa

I've been a critic of Pearce but I'll give credit where it's due. We're a different team without his direction this year. Stay off the piss, son and become a Roosters legend.

 

[Valheru]

Captain, this list hits the nail on the proverbial, as plain as day to the major reason we have struggled this year. One word - Pearce. The young halves combos Robbo was forced to throw in the mix, who tried their guts out mind you, sadly were exposed. Geez we needed Pearce on deck all season.

I think the JWH/Cordner injuries also played their parts but it is true that if Pearce plays, even without the 2 forwards we at least win 3 of our first 8 as opposed to 1. From there the confidence isn't completely shot to pieces and we have some hope of making the finals albeit our injuries all year were pretty bad.

As we all know, Pearce wasn't injured the first 8 weeks so it is essentially his fault the season has been so bad (and the media who made it out like it was a murder case). Oh well, you can only learn from your mistakes and I am sure he knows it better than anyone.

 

[Headless Chook]

I think the JWH/Cordner injuries also played their parts but it is true that if Pearce plays, even without the 2 forwards we at least win 3 of our first 8 as opposed to 1. From there the confidence isn't completely shot to pieces and we have some hope of making the finals albeit our injuries all year were pretty bad.

As we all know, Pearce wasn't injured the first 8 weeks so it is essentially his fault the season has been so bad (and the media who made it out like it was a murder case). Oh well, you can only learn from your mistakes and I am sure he knows it better than anyone.

So true. With two of our tried and tested starting forward pack missing for a third of the season, it was always going to be tough.

Allowing for the players we let go (some questionable) we really needed everything to click into gear right from the start.