Match Discussion: Round 1 vs Sydney @ Sydney Cricket Ground

[Zoidberg]

Great team performance. Everyone did their job. Attack is a complete 180 for us. Offloads!!!
I had been concerned about how we would go without Pearce but everyone looks to have stepped up and shared responsibility. It’s Clifford’s team, and Clune can be a threat with his running game or just get the ball out to our strike centres. Ponga is the x-factor.

I’ve gone from being hopeful to make the 8 to being confident with this match. Consistency is the key.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I can't remember when we, or any other team for that matter, have had so many out on the field with half skills
Clune
Clifford
Crossland
Mann
Ponga
Randall for kicks

The ones that don't fit into the halves provide options.
I'm a bit wary, though, that Ponga is taking on too much kicking. He should be 3rd or 4th option.

 

[PhilGould]

NRL Press Conference: Roosters v Knights - Round 1, 2022

Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights coaches and captains chat to the media after their Telstra Premiership Round 1 clash.

www.nrl.com

Live stream of the post game press conference. Robbo just started, Knights up next

 

[Jono078]

I really hate to be negative before a ball is kicked in anger... but that is a shit looking team. Like, any outsider looking at that list could be forgiven for thinking that's a list competing for the spoon. Half of the spine is reserve graders, centres go OK but the wingers are either unproven or just ordinary/offer nothing particularly exciting. Back row with Fitzgibbon and Mann... Barnett the only recognised NRL player on the bench...

Our coaching staff better have done quite a number in the off season, is all I can say. So many rookies, unknowns and squad-fillers in there. A lot needs to go right. Looking at that list, I can't help but feel that a LOT of recruitment went poorly in the past 12 months.

Reports have it AOB had this printed off and delivered to the boy pre-game

Joey has tipped us to win…could just be to save face on Tv….imagine the uproar if he spent a whole offseason training us, only to tip against us round 1

He's going to tip us all year

Now I know why

 

[Yosh]

Our attack was amazing. More offloads in one game then we have had the past two seasons.

Personally, the highlight for me was Young's try. In previous seasons, we would always screw up a line break. Either drop it or the next three plays would be hit ups from the forwards. Great to see us make a line break down the left, then immediately shift it to the right and everyone played their part perfectly.

Defense was superb also.

 

[slotmachine]

Haven't had a smoke in years but feel like I need one after that.

 

[Zoidberg]

There were a few calls which we could’ve challenged and we didn’t. I’m pretty happy they had confidence in their defence and knew we were on top and didn’t need to take the risk.

 

[perverse]

Our biggest star out there today was Andrew Johns. That was really fun to watch, but not getting ahead of myself. Our plodders still have their plod moments and ruin a lot.

The coaches have done their job in the off season, though. We're moving and promoting the ball again. That Gagai/Young side could be very dangerous. Was very impressed with Young.

I wonder how Connor was feeling in the sheds.

 

[Old dog]

Very good performance especially considering our 7-8 injuries but on that performance if all were available only Dan and Brailey would oust 2 the others would be in reserves, likely Crossland and Momoisea meaning Randall to 14 and JSaf to bench

 

[Sir Galahad]

Our biggest star out there today was Andrew Johns.

Yep Joey's fingerprints were all over that game.

 

[perverse]

The only other thing I'll say is that we've had many, many false dawns... and everyone patting themselves on the back today should cast their mind back over the past 15-20 years of being a Knights fan before getting too excited. We were good today, but the Roosters were very bad too. Uncharacteristically poor from them.

It's something to build on though, and I just like seeing us with a little bit of enterprise in attack again. Joey is worth his weight in gold. Welcome home old boy.

 

[Sir Galahad]

more than individual performances I'm stoked about the attitude and energy. Some of those tackles stung the Rorters.

They'll gain alot of much needed confidence from that game.

A champion team beats a team of champions every day.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

The only other thing I'll say is that we've had many, many false dawns... and everyone patting themselves on the back today should cast their mind back over the past 15-20 years of being a Knights fan before getting too excited. We were good today, but the Roosters were very bad too. Uncharacteristically poor from them.

It's something to build on though, and I just like seeing us with a little bit of enterprise in attack again. Joey is worth his weight in gold. Welcome home old boy.

Roosters were as good as we allowed them to be. We were up in their faces all game.

 

[ryan.a87]

Does Lee walk straight into Tualas spot ?
I know it’s only one game….I see no reason to demote either winger when hunt and Lee are fit

 

[Jono078]

Lee has been out for so long he’d be best coming back through reserves before tossing out either Tuala or Young.

Anyone prepared to credit AOB for today??

And yes you don’t want to get ahead of yourself but you have to be happy because today could have been a lot worse than what it was. I think there are plenty of great signs and there seems to be a great base to work from.

And when was the last time we showed this kind of resilience for 80 minutes? It was truly a complete team performance.

 

[Knight Tales]

AOB is smart enough to bring the greatest player in history and let him coach his attack. He will have a long career making calls like this. Does anyone really think. Bellamy and Bennett do it all on their own? They are world class man managers.

 

[perverse]

Roosters were as good as we allowed them to be. We were up in their faces all game.

If I had a nickel for every time I'd said this, I'd have a shitload of nickels.

 

[perverse]

Lee has been out for so long he’d be best coming back through reserves before tossing out either Tuala or Young.

Anyone prepared to credit AOB for today??

And yes you don’t want to get ahead of yourself but you have to be happy because today could have been a lot worse than what it was. I think there are plenty of great signs and there seems to be a great base to work from.

And when was the last time we showed this kind of resilience for 80 minutes? It was truly a complete team performance.

Sure, O'Brien played a part in it. He's head coach.

It could have been a lot worse, for sure. Really happy with how they played overall, although I'd love to see Ponga be Ponga... I'd still love to not see Kurt Mann in the team and I'd love to see us actually ice opportunities when we make line breaks, too. Loved the physicality and the willingness to promote the footy, though.

 

[Sir Galahad]

AOB is smart enough to bring the greatest player in history and let him coach his attack. He will have a long career making calls like this. Does anyone really think. Bellamy and Bennett do it all on their own? They are world class man managers.

Absolutely. It's about bringing in the right support team and trusting them to do the job.

 

[Spot On]

Roosters were as good as we allowed them to be. We were up in their faces all game.

The Roosters were obviously nowhere near their best and many looked underdone. The bloke playing out in the centres has 5 games in 2 or 3 seasons under his belt.

That said, it was clear from the trials we were looking 1000% better with the ball which was the total opposite to the trials in 2021 and the way we have played for years. f**k knows why it takes Andrew Johns to teach a coach who was at Melbourne for a decade how to rugby league when you have possession????

Bizzare.

We would have lost that game last year, even with the Roosters being below par.
So good to see the ball being kicked high to play for errors from the opposition instead of the crap Pearce dished up.

So good to see the hooker put his foot to the ball as well. Been waiting decades to see that from this club.