Roosters season review: Backs

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

The Roosters backline was wrecked by injuries in 2011, however those injuries gave opportunity to some young guns to show their wears, and they didn’t disappoint.
Players like Steve Naughton, Rhys Prichard and Francis Vaiotu will all be better for the run. In addition, players such as Joseph Leilua started to shine towards the end of the year, while Anthony Minichiello experienced a renaissance of sorts, earning back his long-removed NSW fullback jumper.
2011 strengths
The Roosters right hand side attack is still lethal when fully fit and firing, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Aiden Guerra and Joseph Leilua all combining well to sit first, second and third on the try scoring list for the Roosters.
2011 weaknesses
Unfortunately the Roosters depth was tested in 2011 through major injuries, and they struggled to find replacements.
Sam Perrett, who has become a big part of their side, along with Kenny-Dowall, missed plenty of games, and the side struggled in their absence, especially when Minichiello was out though the Origin period and Perrett wasn’t available to fill his place.
2011 vital statistics
Only one player, Joseph Leilua, was able to get into double figures for either tries (11) or line breaks (15) in 2011.
Changes 2011-2012
Out: Kane Linnett, Phil Graham
In: Peni Tagive
What the changes mean
The loss of Graham is covered by the quality backs in the Newtown NSW Cup team, while young Kane Linnett is a slightly bigger loss, mainly due to his potential.
In their place comes Peni Tagive, a player who showed plenty of promise at the Dragons, but has been hampered by injuries in the past two years.
His pace should be a major asset for the Roosters, as long as he can keep healthy.

LINK

Imagine Leilua playing an entire season in the centres.

 

[Lambretta]

nice work Tone

Our backs in 2011 seriously under performed, but much of that was due to a lack of creativity in the halves which stemmed from injuries in the forward pack. When the forwards are going backwards there just isnt room to create attacking opportunity unless you have an open field genius like Carney. In 2011 Carney was either missing physically or missing spiritually (he has pissed off with the club and wanted out of Bondi long before we dumped him imo) and Braith and Mitchell are the type of players that do their best work off the front foot.

I have serious reservations regarding the effectiveness of our back line in 2012. We have gotten rid of Linnett who I thought was a good back up player and we have lost Graham who filled in admirably in the back end of the season and who is an excellent back up for Minichiello in the full back role.

We have gained the young lad from St George and that's a positive, but when we have injuries to Perrett we just seem to lack speed out wide.

If we're to be competative in 2012 we need to keep our best side on the park for the vast majority of the season and as 2011 showed, that's not always possible. If we can we will be good enough to be a mid table side, but I just can't see us as serious contenders for the top eight for 2012 given our current roster unless we are blessed with a golden injury free period and as little rep interruption as possible.

I think the Carney situation really caught the club at the worst possible time as most teams had already shored up their rosters already and we've been left with a big hole in our team.

On the plus side our forward pack is looking very good and our horrible injuries of 2011 has allowed us to bring some excellent back rowers into the squad and has even allowed us to see some promising front rowers. Add this to the continued improvement of Friend and I'm really happy with our pack - but this isn't about our pack it's about our backs.

Leilua will hopefully make the transition to the centres before heading into the back row in later times. If Perrett and SKD stay fit and we can give our backs room to move I'm confident we can still create attractive attacking football.

2012 will be as much about working out who is going to replace Minichiello in the long term and if the club wants to find someone to replace Carney in a creative role in the centre so Anasta can play lock. I still think that's the best option - but the question is who will the club target or will they look to the junior ranks?

I have a feeling that the Roosters will make a play on Kieran Foran or Shaun Johnson for 2013 and will look for a big money signing to replace Mini at the back and will try and find a lightening quick wide either externally or from our Under 21's.

If we can do that I really think with the basis of squad we've already got that we could be the team to beat in 2013.

 

[boo_boo]

He maybe getting old but i thought that Minichello had a good year in an underperforming team.
Never looked out of place in SOO either.
The Roosters will miss him when he finally retires.
He has been a loyal servant to the club.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

nice work Tone

Our backs in 2011 seriously under performed, but much of that was due to a lack of creativity in the halves which stemmed from injuries in the forward pack. When the forwards are going backwards there just isnt room to create attacking opportunity unless you have an open field genius like Carney. In 2011 Carney was either missing physically or missing spiritually (he has pissed off with the club and wanted out of Bondi long before we dumped him imo) and Braith and Mitchell are the type of players that do their best work off the front foot.

I have serious reservations regarding the effectiveness of our back line in 2012. We have gotten rid of Linnett who I thought was a good back up player and we have lost Graham who filled in admirably in the back end of the season and who is an excellent back up for Minichiello in the full back role.

We have gained the young lad from St George and that's a positive, but when we have injuries to Perrett we just seem to lack speed out wide.

If we're to be competative in 2012 we need to keep our best side on the park for the vast majority of the season and as 2011 showed, that's not always possible. If we can we will be good enough to be a mid table side, but I just can't see us as serious contenders for the top eight for 2012 given our current roster unless we are blessed with a golden injury free period and as little rep interruption as possible.

I think the Carney situation really caught the club at the worst possible time as most teams had already shored up their rosters already and we've been left with a big hole in our team.

On the plus side our forward pack is looking very good and our horrible injuries of 2011 has allowed us to bring some excellent back rowers into the squad and has even allowed us to see some promising front rowers. Add this to the continued improvement of Friend and I'm really happy with our pack - but this isn't about our pack it's about our backs.

Leilua will hopefully make the transition to the centres before heading into the back row in later times. If Perrett and SKD stay fit and we can give our backs room to move I'm confident we can still create attractive attacking football.

2012 will be as much about working out who is going to replace Minichiello in the long term and if the club wants to find someone to replace Carney in a creative role in the centre so Anasta can play lock. I still think that's the best option - but the question is who will the club target or will they look to the junior ranks?

I have a feeling that the Roosters will make a play on Kieran Foran or Shaun Johnson for 2013 and will look for a big money signing to replace Mini at the back and will try and find a lightening quick wide either externally or from our Under 21's.

If we can do that I really think with the basis of squad we've already got that we could be the team to beat in 2013.

I don't agree with the guy saying our depth didn't disappoint because they were pretty average at best imo. Injuries didn't help but seriously we can't even field a decent backline at full strength.

Minichiello has been ordinary for a few years now he really should have done himself a favour and taken an overseas retirement package this year but his lack of speed really killed a lot of half chances which this year was vital because they didn't come all that often. He's safe under the high ball but he can embarrassing to watch at times.

The forwards are wonderful though it is just a pity we haven't got players anywhere else to finish it off.

A fullback with speed, a competent 5/8, a goal kicker, a winger, a centre....we're f**ked.

 

[Geohood]

If Moga has a good debut year and dosent get injured id be happy.. Even though hes untested. Gives us something to look forward to add to the mix

 

[Freddy's Girl]

I don't agree with the guy saying our depth didn't disappoint because they were pretty average at best imo. Injuries didn't help but seriously we can't even field a decent backline at full strength.

Minichiello has been ordinary for a few years now he really should have done himself a favour and taken an overseas retirement package this year but his lack of speed really killed a lot of half chances which this year was vital because they didn't come all that often. He's safe under the high ball but he can embarrassing to watch at times.

The forwards are wonderful though it is just a pity we haven't got players anywhere else to finish it off.

A fullback with speed, a competent 5/8, a goal kicker, a winger, a centre....we're f**ked.

Mini isn't the player he once was but he is still capable of producing the goods for us. Big problem this season was smith changing the attacking structure and that saw mini taking the roll of a ball player which he never will be and it always killed our backline movement.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Mini isn't the player he once was but he is still capable of producing the goods for us. Big problem this season was smith changing the attacking structure and that saw mini taking the roll of a ball player which he never will be and it always killed our backline movement.

His biggest asset back in his prime was pace. I remember watching him tear down the sidelines in 2000 and when he moved to fullback he ran hard and pinballed his way through tackles. He's a safe option under the high ball and is prone to a few good games, his best since that merkin from Souffs drove him down to China was for NSW, but when we have the super creative inside ball to Minichiello it produces fail every time.

No hate, love the bloke to death and I'll always support him but he's past it and it isn't helping him or us.

 

[Lambretta]

The forwards are wonderful though it is just a pity we haven't got players anywhere else to finish it off.

A fullback with speed, a competent 5/8, a goal kicker, a winger, a centre....we're f**ked.

Agreed - but I really get the feeling we're dealing with the shit we've been dealt and hoping our kids can fill in - while keeping an eye on 2013. We lost a five eighth and goal kicker through no fault of our clubs planning.

I expect Mini's replacement will be announced in 2013 (should have been done already, but we've been loyal and that's not a bad thing)

Wingers and centres are what we need and I'm amazed we let Linnett and Graham go with no replacements coming in. How do we go for less depth in an area that requires more depth?

Answers on a postcard to "you don't know what you're doing", Bondi Junction

 

[Geohood]

No replacements? Tagive, Henry and Moga.. All young and full of strike potential

 

[MARSHALL ZHUKOV]

who will play 5/8??- Aubs will need someone to run off as we missed that too in 2011- Aubs may have to play some centre perhaps as we are a bit thin in the three quarters

 

[Lambretta]

No replacements? Tagive, Henry and Moga.. All young and full of strike potential

The reserve grades are full of potential

(butchering a Jack Gibson quote to suit my purposes)

 

[Ozzy]

No replacements? Tagive, Henry and Moga.. All young and full of strike potential

Loan them to QANTAS. :sarcasm:

 

[morley101]

I assume Leilua will move to left centre. He has now played 40 NRL games and is still only 20. He can break tackles but is still pretty green in defence. He played most of his juniors as a centre and only moved to the wing in NRL.

I assume Tagive will one wing for round 1 but Moga will get his chance in the
trials and break through to first grade later on.

Reserve outside backs will be Henry, Carney and Pritchard. I'd expect Aubusson will play centre if injuries happen as we have a plethora of backrowers.

 

[H.H]

Speaking of Minichiello, check this out from 2005:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JcjmnQvv8g

Includes a nice bit of ball play to Amos at the start too.

Absolutely ridiculous how good this guy was in his prime and an absolute tragedy he was cut down in that prime.