If Cronk joins the Roosters, the 2018 competition is over before it starts

[umina panther]

Opinions are obviously mixed.
I think our retention and recruitment has been f**ked since 2015, with the Pearce release one of a number of bad decisions.

Pearce for Cronk is a sideways move in terms of talent. Obviously, Cronk is the better player with a more distinguished career. Pearce has his flaws and has certainly had big games where he hasn't stepped up, something Cronk is very rarely accused of.

BUT

1. The difference between the 2 players is not enough to compensate for clear deficiencies elsewhere through the side - the coach's 2014 gameplan, the hooker going backwards at an alarming rate, most of the forward pack being has-beens or overrated nuffies. These flaws are limiting Cronk's ability to do anything. His calm game was built off the back of Smith and his forward pack's platform giving him all the time in the world. Everything the Roosters are doing now looks both rushed AND too slow at the same time.

2. Again in respect to the talent difference between the two - You have to wonder how Pearce would be seen if he spent the last 10 years in the Storm and QLD setup being fed by Smith. In those games where Cronk does have a shocker or go missing (and they do exist) he's always had Smith and Slater to likely snatch the game anyway. Not so at the Roosters.

3. Pearce was a devoted clubman and 250odd game player for us. Again, the difference between the two players is not enough to justify punting him. We gambled a favourite son with 5 years left in him for the chance to go 1 game better in Cronk's 2 year lifespan. Even a top roster is no guarantee to get through the finals gauntlet. That chance is looking slimmer by the day, for 2018 at least.



Please, no 28 year old rep half is sticking around as an understudy. Not one decent half in the comp would cop that.

As for your prediction, Dragons Warriors and Tigers have shown enough to suggest they'll be thereabouts in September.
Without comment on Bennett and Bellamy, Robinson is absolutely being out-couched now. He's at risk of becoming another Sticky or Hasler.
Fans are jumping off the Robinson bandwagon quickly, it won't be long until Politis does too unless results turn quickly.

ok

 

[Valheru]

Opinions are obviously mixed.
I think our retention and recruitment has been f**ked since 2015, with the Pearce release one of a number of bad decisions.

Pearce for Cronk is a sideways move in terms of talent. Obviously, Cronk is the better player with a more distinguished career. Pearce has his flaws and has certainly had big games where he hasn't stepped up, something Cronk is very rarely accused of.

BUT

1. The difference between the 2 players is not enough to compensate for clear deficiencies elsewhere through the side - the coach's 2014 gameplan, the hooker going backwards at an alarming rate, most of the forward pack being has-beens or overrated nuffies. These flaws are limiting Cronk's ability to do anything. His calm game was built off the back of Smith and his forward pack's platform giving him all the time in the world. Everything the Roosters are doing now looks both rushed AND too slow at the same time.

2. Again in respect to the talent difference between the two - You have to wonder how Pearce would be seen if he spent the last 10 years in the Storm and QLD setup being fed by Smith. In those games where Cronk does have a shocker or go missing (and they do exist) he's always had Smith and Slater to likely snatch the game anyway. Not so at the Roosters.

3. Pearce was a devoted clubman and 250odd game player for us. Again, the difference between the two players is not enough to justify punting him. We gambled a favourite son with 5 years left in him for the chance to go 1 game better in Cronk's 2 year lifespan. Even a top roster is no guarantee to get through the finals gauntlet. That chance is looking slimmer by the day, for 2018 at least.



Please, no 28 year old rep half is sticking around as an understudy. Not one decent half in the comp would cop that.

As for your prediction, Dragons Warriors and Tigers have shown enough to suggest they'll be thereabouts in September.
Without comment on Bennett and Bellamy, Robinson is absolutely being out-couched now. He's at risk of becoming another Sticky or Hasler.
Fans are jumping off the Robinson bandwagon quickly, it won't be long until Politis does too unless results turn quickly.

Top post and robinson is under tremendous pressure now, he has to be.

We have absolutely no idea in attack only scoring 28 points in 3 weeks, 24 of which were scored by Latrell!

As you say, cronk was brought in to win a comp and nearly halfway through his 1st year (of 2) we haven't looked further away from that goal since 2012 (barring the aberration of 2016).

Defence has actually been quite good which shows the attitude and desire is there but attack has been woeful which comes down to coaching.

 

[gregstar]

1. The difference between the 2 players is not enough to compensate for clear deficiencies elsewhere through the side - the coach's 2014 gameplan, the hooker going backwards at an alarming rate, most of the forward pack being has-beens or overrated nuffies. These flaws are limiting Cronk's ability to do anything. His calm game was built off the back of Smith and his forward pack's platform giving him all the time in the world. Everything the Roosters are doing now looks both rushed AND too slow at the same time.

2. Again in respect to the talent difference between the two - You have to wonder how Pearce would be seen if he spent the last 10 years in the Storm and QLD setup being fed by Smith. In those games where Cronk does have a shocker or go missing (and they do exist) he's always had Smith and Slater to likely snatch the game anyway. Not so at the Roosters.

3. Pearce was a devoted clubman and 250odd game player for us. Again, the difference between the two players is not enough to justify punting him. We gambled a favourite son with 5 years left in him for the chance to go 1 game better in Cronk's 2 year lifespan. Even a top roster is no guarantee to get through the finals gauntlet. That chance is looking slimmer by the day, for 2018 at least.

totally agree.

from yesterday's effort -
no offloads from the forwards who were making plenty of yardage.
not enough dummy half runs.
not enough ball getting to mitchell who is dangerous.
too scripted & robotic in attack leading to needless errors in passes going astray.

as fittler said, stop stubbornly following planned moves when the defense offers a mistake before the move is completed.

if they stopped playing this type of football, they would seriously tear teams apart.

 

[adamkungl]

The thing is - everyone's waiting for us to click.
But if we don't click soon, we'll completely collapse. The frustration will increase, we'll get desperate, the errors will climb and the defense will disappear.

 

[gregstar]

The thing is - everyone's waiting for us to click.
But if we don't click soon, we'll completely collapse. The frustration will increase, we'll get desperate, the errors will climb and the defense will disappear.

like the sharks last year - i kept waiting for them to click but it didn't happen.
i thought if they had rolled the cowboys, they could have given the comp a good shake.

 

[Meapro Ham]

I don’t think Robinson is under pressure particularly. He has 4 top 4 finishes in 5 years and this season is neither here nor there yet. The attack is off the boil at the moment but they have the players to turn it around.

Even if it turns out to be a poor season I’d say he has enough credit in the bank from previous seasons to survive it.

 

[adamkungl]

I don’t think Robinson is under pressure particularly. He has 4 top 4 finishes in 5 years and this season is neither here nor there yet. The attack is off the boil at the moment but they have the players to turn it around.

Even if it turns out to be a poor season I’d say he has enough credit in the bank from previous seasons to survive it.

Politis keeps a very limited line of credit for coaches.
Sticky was sacked 18 months after a 3rd consecutive Grand Final.

 

[Valheru]

I don’t think Robinson is under pressure particularly. He has 4 top 4 finishes in 5 years and this season is neither here nor there yet. The attack is off the boil at the moment but they have the players to turn it around.

Even if it turns out to be a poor season I’d say he has enough credit in the bank from previous seasons to survive it.

Robinson will absolutely go if we don't make the 8 this year.

 

[Meapro Ham]

Politis keeps a very limited line of credit for coaches.
Sticky was sacked 18 months after a 3rd consecutive Grand Final.

Different time, different coach, different situation. There have been plenty of indications that he wants Robinson there as a long term coach.

 

[Meapro Ham]

Robinson will absolutely go if we don't make the 8 this year.

Nah I doubt it. Just because a few outspoken fans think it will happen doesn’t make it so.

Didn’t happen in 2016, won’t happen this year.

 

[Valheru]

Nah I doubt it. Just because a few outspoken fans think it will happen doesn’t make it so.

Didn’t happen in 2016, won’t happen this year.

Apples and oranges.

Not making the 8 with this roster and lack of injuries (thus far) is unacceptable.

 

[Meapro Ham]

Apples and oranges.

Not making the 8 with this roster and lack of injuries (thus far) is unacceptable.

They will make the 8 anyway so it’s a pointless discussion

 

[adamkungl]

They will make the 8 anyway so it’s a pointless discussion

Given what we paid for Cronk and Tedesco, and who we let go, I'd say anything less than a Grand Final is a failure.

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

Roosters forward pack is pus. Cordner is the only forward that is consistently worth feeding. The rest are useless.

Uncle Nick put all his eggs in the gun back line basket and is now reaping the rewards.

Friend is a giant turd of a player and is getting turdier every week, but at least they have other options at hooker. It's only a matter of time before Friend is banished to reserve grade.

The rest of the forward pack can't be fixed this year. Napa, JWH and basically all bar Cordner need to be replaced. Crichton will be a start next year but unless the Roosters suddenly find or recruit two top class props in the next 6 - 12 months, they will continue to be also rans.

 

[This Year?]

totally agree.

from yesterday's effort -
no offloads from the forwards who were making plenty of yardage.
not enough dummy half runs.
not enough ball getting to mitchell who is dangerous.
too scripted & robotic in attack leading to needless errors in passes going astray.

as fittler said, stop stubbornly following planned moves when the defense offers a mistake before the move is completed.

if they stopped playing this type of football, they would seriously tear teams apart.

That was the thing yesterday, The Roosters were making easy metres all game but didn't capitalise on the space they made. I thought their spine looked slow bar Tedesco. At times I thought they would crack us and was very surprised it took almost an hour. You get the feeling the final piece of the puzzle is missing for the Roosters.

 

[adamkungl]

You get the feeling the final piece of the puzzle is missing for the Roosters.

More like the puzzle has been jammed together in all the wrong ways

 

[Valheru]

Roosters forward pack is pus. Cordner is the only forward that is consistently worth feeding. The rest are useless.

Uncle Nick put all his eggs in the gun back line basket and is now reaping the rewards.

Friend is a giant turd of a player and is getting turdier every week, but at least they have other options at hooker. It's only a matter of time before Friend is banished to reserve grade.

The rest of the forward pack can't be fixed this year. Napa, JWH and basically all bar Cordner need to be replaced. Crichton will be a start next year but unless the Roosters suddenly find or recruit two top class props in the next 6 - 12 months, they will continue to be also rans.

To be fair, I thought ours was the better pack yesterday against a team who allegedly has a top pack.

We just had absolutely nothing in attack.

 

[adamkungl]

To be fair, I thought ours was the better pack yesterday against a team who allegedly has a top pack.

We just had absolutely nothing in attack.

yeah our forward pack tends to cop it when we lose and often justifiably, but yesterday we dominated in field position.
However even on a decent day out metres-wise like yesterday they don't create as many opportunities as they should.
There's no line breaks in them, no footwork, no short range tries, no unstoppable offload, no one that sucks in 3-4 defenders close to the line. They've gone stale. Is it the players or the coach?

 

[King hit]

Cronk looks like he played on to long. Got destroyed yesterday and hasn’t been living up to much.

 

[JJ]

Cronk's hugely overrated IMO people talk like he should be compared with Sterling, Stuart Langer, Thurston and other great halves, when in reality he's more like Pearce etc. Very good but made to look better than he is by the company he's been fortunate enough to keep