Robson out to prove doubters wrong

[yy_cheng]

In 2005, he won the prestigious Dally M Rookie of the Year award after leading the NRL in try assists. He also received much acclaim from Parramatta legend Peter Sterling, who "handed over" the Eels #7 jersey in an episode of The NRL Footy Show in the middle of 2005. With 40 try assists in his debut season Smith entered the NRL scene with a bang, he was labeled as the next 'Joey' and 'Sterlo'.

He must've been cheap in 05.

 

[yy_cheng]

In 2005, he won the prestigious Dally M Rookie of the Year award after leading the NRL in try assists. He also received much acclaim from Parramatta legend Peter Sterling, who "handed over" the Eels #7 jersey in an episode of The NRL Footy Show in the middle of 2005. With 40 try assists in his debut season Smith entered the NRL scene with a bang, he was labeled as the next 'Joey' and 'Sterlo'.

He must've been cheap in 05.

I think he was more impressive in 05 than Robbo was in 09.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

people underestimate his offloading abilities, particulary for a half, watch some of those late season games and youll notice some of his offloads led to match changing trys - rare particulary for a halfback.

Yes Robbo lacks the mechanics of great halves, but our side is geared differently from others - low emphasis on halfbacks controlling play and more ab-lib play - we play to our sides strengths, not the halves.

he has too be number 1 come start of the year.

 

[yy_cheng]

and probably just the thing why we lost the gf?

 

[The Engineers Room]

and probably just the thing why we lost the gf?

We lost because we tried to ease into the game. Melbourne came out all guns blazing because that was their mistake in 2008.

 

[The Colonel]

people underestimate his offloading abilities, particulary for a half, watch some of those late season games and youll notice some of his offloads led to match changing trys - rare particulary for a halfback.

Yes Robbo lacks the mechanics of great halves, but our side is geared differently from others - low emphasis on halfbacks controlling play and more ab-lib play - we play to our sides strengths, not the halves.

he has too be number 1 come start of the year.

One of the more intelligent posts I've seen from you Ronny. Our halves play in the line with our forwards rather than behind them. It is less about organising and more about using the ball wisely and getting it to our backline.......

 

[84 Baby]

he has too be number 1 come start of the year.

I don't think Robson can play fullback

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I agree with Colonal, that was brilliant Ron. Agree completely.

 

[mickdo]

Yeah, his long passing game isn't really necessary with the style we employ now. It's all about offloads, backing up and short passing. His defence is really the most important thing IMO. In recent years we've really struggled to have a halves pairing where we didn't have to worry about at least one of them being a bit of a turnstile. That's not the case any more.

 

[lingard]

in 35 years of supporting this club I haven't seen an over achievement like Robo's and Mortimers 2009 season..Robo was paid 50K and had no right to play in a grand final and steer us around.

gis overall effort was phenominal.

Well said, Stagger.

 

[lingard]

and probably just the thing why we lost the gf?

We lost the grand final because:
1. We were playing an absolutely sh*t-hot team who were well-seasoned in Grand Final play
2. We actually gave them too much respect and didn`t play our own game in the first half
3. Both Mortimer and Robson kept kicking to Turner in the first half. He was obviously earmarked as a weak link under the kick, but just happened to play a blinder on the day. Do you think this was more Anderson`s fault for not instructing his kickers to cease this ploy earlier, when it obviously wasn`t working?
4. Despite this, we NEARLY won! Any other side would have gone down by forty, I think.

 

[parra pete]

Robson doesn't have to prove anything. He just needs to continue with his form to retain the position. If he maintains it and is overtaken on form by the bloke who replaces him, that will be a good thing for the team.
Jeff Robson is mentally tough. Now he has grabbed the starting 7 position, I think you will find he will play with more confidence and the stability of knowing he is not 'playing for his future' with allow him to be a more comfortable player. From what I know about the bloke - and have observed - Jeff Robson is a player the others enjoy playing alongside --mainly because he doesn't bludge...in attack or defence..

 

[parra pete]

If Luke Burt converted Fuifui try in my opinion the Eels would have collected the gravy.
A conversion would have take the field goal option out of the equation, and the Eels were coming to 'get them'.
The field goal opened the lead to 7 and with five to go, that was the ball game....That's my take on it anyway.

But as the old saying goes" if Aunt Fanny had balls she'd been your uncle..."

 

[yy_cheng]

We lost the grand final because:
3. Both Mortimer and Robson kept kicking to Turner in the first half. He was obviously earmarked as a weak link under the kick, but just happened to play a blinder on the day. Do you think this was more Anderson`s fault for not instructing his kickers to cease this ploy earlier, when it obviously wasn`t working?

And if we had an organizing half like a kimmorley, thurston, lockyer who would've sensed this and taken the initiative to change the tactic out of their own accord and confidence (instead of being a robot), it could've been a different story too!

We lost the grand final because:
4. Despite this, we NEARLY won! Any other side would have gone down by forty, I think.

Same answer as above. It was just that extra bit that was missing!!!!


Look, I like Robbo. Good guy. Honest and gives 100%. I would just like a more skillful, organizing halfback.

Call me old fashion !!!

 

[yy_cheng]

If Luke Burt converted Fuifui try in my opinion the Eels would have collected the gravy.
A conversion would have take the field goal option out of the equation, and the Eels were coming to 'get them'.
The field goal opened the lead to 7 and with five to go, that was the ball game....That's my take on it anyway.

But as the old saying goes" if Aunt Fanny had balls she'd been your uncle..."

2001 was similar. I reckon if we had 10 more minutes in 2001 and in 2009, we would have 2 premierships more by now.

 

[The Colonel]

I would just like a more skillful, organizing halfback.

If we had a more skillful, organizing halfback last year we may not necessarily have been playing in the Grand Final......

 

[strider]

If we had a more skillful, organizing halfback last year we may not necessarily have been playing in the Grand Final......

yeah - someone like cooper cronk would have seen us totally screwed :lol: :lol:

robo did great last year - we all loved what he did - he's an outstanding defender for a halfback ..... but there are limits to his game - I think we tend to overrate a player's actual abilities when they achieve above what we expect from them, clouds our judgement a bit at times

 

[The Colonel]

yeah - someone like cooper cronk would have seen us totally screwed :lol: :lol:

If he was with the team at the start of the year it could have been him out with the broken jaw. That and just because Cronk is in the team (he isn't an organiser nor a classic halfback as Smith is the organiser) doesn't guarantee we win. Plenty of what ifs still exist. Would Cronk be a good fit for the way we played last year or would Soward, Kimmorley, Lockyer, Thurston or Stacey Jones work better??? If Cronk plays do we play the same way???

robo did great last year - we all loved what he did - he's an outstanding defender for a halfback ..... but there are limits to his game - I think we tend to overrate a player's actual abilities when they achieve above what we expect from them, clouds our judgement a bit at times

My judgement isn't clouded. He did the job that was asked of him, did it well and even if Keating doesn't get injured against Manly it doesn't necessarily mean we would have gone as far as we did either.

The fact of the matter is, whether he is a classic, skillful halfback or not, we made the Grand Final with him in the team. We may not this year and his limits may neccessitate we change the halfback. Then again there is every chance we may not have to either.

 

[strider]

his game against the dogs in the prelim final was outstanding - probably a big part of why we won the game


i'd still rather a player like cronk tho :lol: .... i'd be pretty confident saying, switch halfbacks in last yrs GF and the result goes the other way (not saying robo was bad - just a classy half can change a game)

 

[The Colonel]

Possibly. But as I said there is always the chance that we aren't there anyway....