Roosters biggest player loss in last three years

[Nonny1980]

The roosters biggest player loss in the last three years bar freddy has to be simon bonetti. He was an awesome hooker who made 40+ tackles per match and provided quick service out of dummy half. He retired at the age of 25 or 26 to go back to the country. If the roosters had him they probably would have won in 2003 and 4 because there would have been no need to buy brett finch. Play bonetti at hooker and wing at half just like 2002. What do rooster fans think of this?

 

[Mr Saab]

makes sense...but we dont live in a world of "what Ifs"

 

[Nonny1980]

Im not saying they would have won. Im just saying I bet in 2002 Rooster fans couldn't imagine the loss of bonetti at so young an age would come back to haunt them.

 

[Mr Saab]

i agree with what you say...bonnetti was a big loss in hindsight.
Very good hooker and very solid around the rucks in defence.
I know chooks fans would have rather had seen this line up the past 3 yrs...

6. fittler
7. wing.
9. bonnetti

 

[Deleted member 10972]

True.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

How about we name our best team out of the players we had from 2000-2005? Like as in a line-up? Based upon the best we had when they were on form, I was thinking along the lines of:

1. Luke Phillips
2. Anthony Minichiello
3. Ryan Cross
4. Shannon Hegarty
5. Matt Sing/Brett Mullins
6. Brad Fittler
7. Adrian Lam
8. Jason Cayless
9. Simon Bonetti
10. Adrian Morley
11. Bryan Fletcher
12. Craig Fitzgibbon
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Craig Wing
15. ???
16. ???
17. ???

The final three bench spots would be between:

Quentin Pongia (2000 - the ill-disciplined yet inspirational ex-Raider, he was in his last few years when with us, but was rarely on the park due to suspensions)

Ian Rubin (2000 - the big Russian international was as tough a competitor as they came, but was unspectacular more often than not, & lacked top gear)

Scott Logan (2000 - he was a young firebrand prop with us, & seemed to have a huge future beckoning for him, till of course the salary cap struck again)

David Solomona (2000 - he was an amazing find with us, always a danger with his passing game and his tremedous strength, till Parra killed his career)

Peter Cusack (2000/2004 - INFINITESIMALLY underrated throughout his career till now...Mr. Reliable, and always safe backup for an injured forward)

Michael Crocker (2001/2005 - yes he's a mug, but when in form and with his head screwed on, he is one of the best, & toughest, backrowers going around)

Chris Flannery (2001/2005 - as versatile as they come, he was a sparkling find, & now he plays for QLD and soon Australia, with plenty of years left for him)

Anthony Tupou (2004/2005 - the kid's amazing, much like what Solomona was to us in 2000, with his skillful offloading, determined charges, & huge hits)

Note: Years were when they had made a relative name for themselves at the club during the disignated (2000-2005) time period.

Post your suggestions everyone!

 

[Sun_Down]

1. Luke Phillips
2. Anthony Minichiello
3. Ryan Cross
4. Shannon Hegarty
5. Brett Mullins
6. Brad Fittler
7. Adrian Lam
8. Jason Cayless
9. Simon Bonetti
10. Adrian Morley
11. Bryan Fletcher
12. Craig Fitzgibbon
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Craig Wing

That is a f**king good team...

And yer, I completely forgot about Bonneti, he was a great player.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

Mullins or Sing is a hard one...maybe even Mullins as a bench option.

 

[Southern Rooster]

The roosters biggest player loss in the last three years bar freddy has to be simon bonetti. He was an awesome hooker who made 40+ tackles per match and provided quick service out of dummy half. He retired at the age of 25 or 26 to go back to the country. If the roosters had him they probably would have won in 2003 and 4 because there would have been no need to buy brett finch. Play bonetti at hooker and wing at half just like 2002. What do rooster fans think of this?

If If's and But's were pots and pans there'd be no room for tinkers.

 

[Southern Rooster]

How about we name our best team out of the players we had from 2000-2005? Like as in a line-up? Based upon the best we had when they were on form, I was thinking along the lines of:

1. Luke Phillips
2. Anthony Minichiello
3. Ryan Cross
4. Shannon Hegarty
5. Matt Sing/Brett Mullins
6. Brad Fittler
7. Adrian Lam
8. Jason Cayless
9. Simon Bonetti
10. Adrian Morley
11. Bryan Fletcher
12. Craig Fitzgibbon
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Craig Wing
15. ???
16. ???
17. ???

The final three bench spots would be between:

Quentin Pongia (2000 - the ill-disciplined yet inspirational ex-Raider, he was in his last few years when with us, but was rarely on the park due to suspensions)

Ian Rubin (2000 - the big Russian international was as tough a competitor as they came, but was unspectacular more often than not, & lacked top gear)

Scott Logan (2000 - he was a young firebrand prop with us, & seemed to have a huge future beckoning for him, till of course the salary cap struck again)

David Solomona (2000 - he was an amazing find with us, always a danger with his passing game and his tremedous strength, till Parra killed his career)

Peter Cusack (2000/2004 - INFINITESIMALLY underrated throughout his career till now...Mr. Reliable, and always safe backup for an injured forward)

Michael Crocker (2001/2005 - yes he's a mug, but when in form and with his head screwed on, he is one of the best, & toughest, backrowers going around)

Chris Flannery (2001/2005 - as versatile as they come, he was a sparkling find, & now he plays for QLD and soon Australia, with plenty of years left for him)

Anthony Tupou (2004/2005 - the kid's amazing, much like what Solomona was to us in 2000, with his skillful offloading, determined charges, & huge hits)

Note: Years were when they had made a relative name for themselves at the club during the disignated (2000-2005) time period.

Post your suggestions everyone!

Salary cap would not have let us keep all those players so it is irrelevant really.

Simon Bonetti was a big loss not just as a player but he was along with Ricko, Fletch and Freddy the heart and soul of the side. That is what the Roosters are missing at the moment the experienced blokes that do the little things off the field that build the club's culture up. I believe that for years the Roosters struggled in that area but from 1999 till 2004 we had it really good due to people like Ricko, Freddy, Flecth and Bonetts in that regard. Even Peter Cusack whom I rated as a big loss this year was a part of that group to a lesser extent.

 

[fat_mike]

i was thinking about simon a few weeks back while watching the 2002 grand final again. was such a solid hooker. a no bullcrap player who got he job done.

 

[Raiders Rock]

I agree, Bonetti was a great player and a huge loss for you guys. A real pity about the Yak and Heggerty too, they seem to be really struggling at Souths.

I thought that the loss of those two hurt you guys more than Bonetti though, and next year without Cayless, Crocker and Ricko could be really bad too, you lose a lot of mongrel in those three. Lets hope that Braith Anasta can give you a bit more direction in the halves and steer the team around the paddock because on paper you still look really strong.

Unfortunately you simply can't replace a player of the quality of Freddy, but Braith is probably the next best thing I think. But still, Fitzgibbon, Wing, Minichello, Morley, Roberts, Monaghan, Finch, Flannery and Tupo are all players that any NRL team would kill to have on their playing rosters and you've probably got the best coach and support staff in the game too so heads up boys, you'll be back...

Damned if I know how they all fit under the salary cap, they probably all play for $20.00 per game??

 

[fat_mike]

i dont believe heagarty is a loss at all. like finch freddy made hegarty look better than he really is. yak is a big loss, like bonetti he just gets the job done.

 

[rufus youngblood]

I But still, Fitzgibbon, Wing, Minichello, Morley, Roberts, Monaghan, Finch, Flannery and Tupo are all players that any NRL team would kill to have on their playing rosters and you've probably got the best coach and support staff in the game too so heads up boys, you'll be back...

Damned if I know how they all fit under the salary cap, they probably all play for $20.00 per game??

Ask any rosters supporter and we would kill to have finch taken away and replaced by soward.

 

[Denny Crane]

I would have Finch at no.7 any day of the week over Adrian Lam. He was by far the most overrated no.7 we had!!!!!

He lost us the 2000 Grand Final......Watch the replay. his passing game, lack of tackling and all around sh*tness cost us that game in a big way....

 

[rooster69]

People forget Chad Robinson - I cant think of a more solid reliable man to have on your bench , had a good work rate as well , something our bench has lacked this year.

 

[Alan Shore]

Was Qld that desperate for halves back then?

What happened to Ian Rubin? I liked that guy.

 

[dice]

IMO, Luke Phillips was the biggest loss. Safe, plenty of ticker, and highly underrated. His absence cost us the '03 final.