Round 1 vs Eels

[Kilkenny]

Definitely changes to come but Mattheson's big for a centre. He's big enough in the forwards. Same with Ratu.

Ratu has issues in his game which he needs to address if he is to make the top level but he is a powerhouse who gets over and through the defensive line.

 

[Kilkenny]

We are playing the team that will run last no excuse

The Eels will not run last. Very dangerous side particularly given the addition of Ferguson who is a great player. No easy games this year a lot will come down to injury and good fortune. Ashley Klein lead ref for our game this weekend was not the appointment we were looking for.

No one likes make excuses but the injury to Kikau and the sex tapes will have a huge negative impact whether you like it or not.

 

[franklin2323]

I’m not complaining they got deals we couldn’t match . I wish them well . Always felt Corey Waddell was potentially as good as Isaah Yeo and sadly this season may prove me right.

Yeah me too. If not for injury he would of played last year and who knows

 

[franklin2323]

The Eels will not run last. Very dangerous side particularly given the addition of Ferguson who is a great player. No easy games this year a lot will come down to injury and good fortune. Ashley Klein lead ref for our game this weekend was not the appointment we were looking for.

No one likes make excuses but the injury to Kikau and the sex tapes will have a huge negative impact whether you like it or not.

Who will run last then? Look at their spine very ordinary. The bench is poor

Top teams win regardless so a test of where we sit.

 

[Kilkenny]

Who will run last then? Look at their spine very ordinary. The bench is poor

Top teams win regardless so a test of where we sit.

Very ordinary in your eyes.

They were very efficient in the trial albeit George Jennings is a loss for them.

There bench is the equal of ours I don’t see any edge based on the announced squads.

I don’t take anything for granted and we will have to play somewhere near our best to get the two points on Sunday.

 

[TheFrog]

Very dangerous side particularly given the addition of Ferguson who is a great player.

The Roosters rarely get these things wrong. RTS might have won the Dally M but his side has made the finals once in 3 years and out first week. I'm willing to say Ferguson is past his best.

They were very efficient in the trial

If they get 62% of possession again we'll be in for a tough afternoon.

 

[mxlegend99]

Who will run last then? Look at their spine very ordinary. The bench is poor

Top teams win regardless so a test of where we sit.

Check out the Bulldogs backline. Going through teams earlier they stood out as spoon contender material.

 

[Kilkenny]

If things don’t go our way we could finish with the spoon. There are few lock ins for the top eight but I don’t see us being one. There are probably a couple of sides who are guaranteed a spot in the eight and then there are a dozen or so who are all capable of making it if luck and a good run of fortune goes there way.

 

[Matthew Ellis]

Ratu has issues in his game which he needs to address if he is to make the top level but he is a powerhouse who gets over and through the defensive line.

I've only watched him play centre two games but he was noticeably better when he played there compared to wing for me.

 

[Kilkenny]

The Roosters rarely get these things wrong. RTS might have won the Dally M but his side has made the finals once in 3 years and out first week. I'm willing to say Ferguson is past his best.



If they get 62% of possession again we'll be in for a tough afternoon.

I don’t agree I think Ferguson is a great addition and has two to three years left in him. He was terrific in the trial and best winger on show. Yes he is the back end of his career but he is quality.

 

[Panfa]

Im expecting the panthers to bounce back and make amends on sunday arvo in front of a near capacity crowd at home to silence all the negativity over our off season

 

[franklin2323]

Check out the Bulldogs backline. Going through teams earlier they stood out as spoon contender material.

They have CHN on the bench. Cogger and Meaney in NSW Cup and the core of the team that won that comp.

So they can make changes as needed. Don't get me wrong I see them Manly, GC and Parra as bottom 4. Parra just lacks in more positions than the rest

 

[franklin2323]

Very ordinary in your eyes.

They were very efficient in the trial albeit George Jennings is a loss for them.

There bench is the equal of ours I don’t see any edge based on the announced squads.

I don’t take anything for granted and we will have to play somewhere near our best to get the two points on Sunday.

Mau, Paulo and Terepo too all out. You take half anyones pack out and they will struggle

Improve the basics we win pretty easily

 

[Kilkenny]

Mau, Paulo and Terepo too all out. You take half anyones pack out and they will struggle

Improve the basics we win pretty easily

Mate, I’ve been around a long time and if I have learnt anything it is to take nothing for granted. I honestly think this is a really tough game particularly given the issues around the sex tapes which had a massive negative impact on our preparation and may continue to do so.

 

[Crashtest]

The Roosters rarely get these things wrong. RTS might have won the Dally M but his side has made the finals once in 3 years and out first week. I'm willing to say Ferguson is past his best.
.

That's a tough call to say he is past it. He was first in the NRL last season for total running metres, for total post contact metres, and total runs. And averaged 199.9 running metres a game!

Even Josh Mansour would be impressed by those statistics

 

[GongPanther]

No one likes make excuses but the injury to Kikau and the sex tapes will have a huge negative impact whether you like it or not.

You can almost guarantee a stink when the Parra players onfield sledge our players about this issue. A mighty mental effort will be needed so we don't loose our composure.

 

[Matthew Ellis]

Very ordinary in your eyes.

They were very efficient in the trial albeit George Jennings is a loss for them.

There bench is the equal of ours I don’t see any edge based on the announced squads.

I don’t take anything for granted and we will have to play somewhere near our best to get the two points on Sunday.

In trials things like fatigue don't come into it unless the coach wants them to because there are so many interchanges. Obviously it's different in the real games and that trial team had Manu Mau who is one of their best players and is now injured.

 

[mxlegend99]

They have CHN on the bench. Cogger and Meaney in NSW Cup and the core of the team that won that comp.

So they can make changes as needed. Don't get me wrong I see them Manly, GC and Parra as bottom 4. Parra just lacks in more positions than the rest

Cogger and Meaney? What do a couple of average reserve graders have to do with a laughable NRL backline? I believe Bulldogs roster is inferior to Eels atleast.

1. Will Hopoate
2. Christian Crichton
3. Kerrod Holland
4. Marcela Montoya
5. Reimis Smith
6. Keiran Foran
7. Lachlan Lewis

Will Hopoate and Keiran Foran are the only 2 guys who have ever been above average and their best is years behind them. The Morris brothers best was behind them, but they're still a huge loss when they arent replaced with quality.

Oh and they lost their best forward in David Klemmer and have replaced him with Dylan Napa. Downgrades to an already weak side.

Doesnt mean they cant punch above their weight. Or that injuries could cripple better looking rosters. Or a decent team could just die in the ass for no apparent reason like Cowboys did last year.

But based on team sheets for Round 1. Bulldogs stood out as extremely average to me. But ofcourse their reserve grade side flogged us 12 months ago. So anything is possible.

 

[franklin2323]

Mate, I’ve been around a long time and if I have learnt anything it is to take nothing for granted. I honestly think this is a really tough game particularly given the issues around the sex tapes which had a massive negative impact on our preparation and may continue to do so.

Absolutely but for one there is no excuses. They have 5 guys out. We have 2. 1st time I can remember we have more experience than an opponent. All players love the coach and a huge crowd

 

[franklin2323]

Cogger and Meaney? What do a couple of average reserve graders have to do with a laughable NRL backline? I believe Bulldogs roster is inferior to Eels atleast.

1. Will Hopoate
2. Christian Crichton
3. Kerrod Holland
4. Marcela Montoya
5. Reimis Smith
6. Keiran Foran
7. Lachlan Lewis

Will Hopoate and Keiran Foran are the only 2 guys who have ever been above average and their best is years behind them. The Morris brothers best was behind them, but they're still a huge loss when they arent replaced with quality.

Oh and they lost their best forward in David Klemmer and have replaced him with Dylan Napa. Downgrades to an already weak side.

Doesnt mean they cant punch above their weight. Or that injuries could cripple better looking rosters. Or a decent team could just die in the ass for no apparent reason like Cowboys did last year.

But based on team sheets for Round 1. Bulldogs stood out as extremely average to me. But ofcourse their reserve grade side flogged us 12 months ago. So anything is possible.

Average yes but have options with a good NSW Cup team. Wenty on the other hand will struggle down there