Round 1 Vs The Roosters

[BuddPanther]

Doesn’t matter who we pick or the Roosters for that matter. The deciding factor is, who is going to be the main ref in charge? If it is Klein or Cummins, we’ll need to wait until rd 2 for our first win.....

 

[Panfa]

We won't get the rub of the green no matter which ref.We are the most penalised side in the comp and the most disliked by the officials.

 

[Kilkenny]

I am as guilty as many about complaining, rightly or wrongly, about whether we get a fair go from the match officials but going into Round 1 I don’t care who the officials are. New season, level playing field and hope we are the masters of our own destiny.

 

[Bob]

I am as guilty as many about complaining, rightly or wrongly, about whether we get a fair go from the match officials but going into Round 1 I don’t care who the officials are. New season, level playing field and hope we are the masters of our own destiny.

So do I

 

[OldPanther]

Doesn’t matter who we pick or the Roosters for that matter. The deciding factor is, who is going to be the main ref in charge? If it is Klein or Cummins, we’ll need to wait until rd 2 for our first win.....

We won't get the rub of the green no matter which ref.We are the most penalised side in the comp and the most disliked by the officials.

We also have ridiculous error counts and terrible defense but it's definitely the refs.

 

[kinghippo]

We are notorious slow starters. If we won our first 3, it would shake the comp to the point that the TAB would have us as $1.01 for the comp.

Until we shake these historical bad starts, there is no reason to go the other way. Even the TAB for this game has the Roosters $1.40 V Panthers $3.00. As a rule of thumb, the weight of money is far too much.

The roosters looked pretty good in England and are deserving favourites. We have been very poor starters but often the roosters and storm are as well so I am happy to get them out of the way early.
Fingers crossed we put in a good showing, up against the best defence in the comp is a good test of our hopefully new an improved attack.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I like Brent don’t get me wrong.

I just think he has flaws in his game which can really hurt. As we saw against the Eels there were at least two very poor reads in defence and a couple of handling errors one of which led to the Eels having a chance to win the game but for the missed conversation.

At NRL level you cannot afford to carry someone who may make such poor decisions in defence and or make fundamental handling errors in key areas.

I think he will be in the team, he just wouldn’t be in mine for Round 1 and I would go with the future in Chrichton.

He’s a winger, and easily a better option than Mansour.

 

[mxlegend99]

Roosters lost the opening round to Tigers and Souths the past 2 years. They don't have a history of starting strong really. They like to slowly ramp it up and not peak early on like the Dragons have a history of doing.

We arent going to face them at their best. It won't be easy under any circumstances. But they should be beatable for us.

Aside from the WCC they havent had a proper hit out in pre-season either

 

[Fangs]

As said already this is the best time to play the Roosters. Our early draw is tough and we need every win possible.

 

[age.s]

He’s a winger, and easily a better option than Mansour.

Debatable at best.

 

[Dave's mate]

Debatable at best.

Hight and speed alone make him better at this point. Sauce is cooked imo

 

[herbert henry1908]

Debatable at best.

Really?

If it was the Mansour of 3-4 years ago then he’s easily better, but he’s a shadow of that. He brings effort still, but little speed and his height is a concern.

 

[age.s]

Really?

If it was the Mansour of 3-4 years ago then he’s easily better, but he’s a shadow of that. He brings effort still, but little speed and his height is a concern.

Mansour is much better out of our own end. Better on the ground defensively. Has Naden covered for experience comfortably. Naden has height/aerial ability (theoretically) and had a better first half of last year (not second). Naden also has a nose for a try that Sauce doesn't which you want in your team.

You can certainly make an argument for Naden. I just object to the idea that a guy who's never played wing at NRL level is "easily" a better winger than a 29 y/o who's 100 odd games into his career, played for state and country and had a very good second half of 2019 after a poor period triggered by a horrific facial injury.

 

[OldPanther]

Mansour is much better out of our own end. Better on the ground defensively. Has Naden covered for experience comfortably. Naden has height/aerial ability (theoretically) and had a better first half of last year (not second). Naden also has a nose for a try that Sauce doesn't which you want in your team.

You can certainly make an argument for Naden. I just object to the idea that a guy who's never played wing at NRL level is "easily" a better winger than a 29 y/o who's 100 odd games into his career, played for state and country and had a very good second half of 2019 after a poor period triggered by a horrific facial injury.

Mansour had a good second half to 2019?

 

[herbert henry1908]

Mansour is much better out of our own end. Better on the ground defensively. Has Naden covered for experience comfortably. Naden has height/aerial ability (theoretically) and had a better first half of last year (not second). Naden also has a nose for a try that Sauce doesn't which you want in your team.

You can certainly make an argument for Naden. I just object to the idea that a guy who's never played wing at NRL level is "easily" a better winger than a 29 y/o who's 100 odd games into his career, played for state and country and had a very good second half of 2019 after a poor period triggered by a horrific facial injury.

With the long term future in mind, I think he’s easily the better option to go for. I’m realistic in that we aren’t going to be very competitive this year, I’d rather look ahead and start building for 2021+

First and foremost a winger should be about attack, and in a team lacking attacking options I don’t think we can afford to consider a winger for their defence. But Mansour will have defensive issues with the new tackling in the air rule.


Plus I really disagree he had a very good second half of the season, it only looked good because the first half was so bad. Mansour scored 1 try for the whole season, in 19 games. That’s beyond bad for a winger.


Other stats - 9 line breaks. His best ever was 25

tackle busts - 51 - best ever is 147

 

[age.s]

Mansour had a good second half to 2019?

That was my impression watching the games, yes.

I've heard the arguments for Naden and those against Josh quite a few times at this point. Didn't really want to cover old ground, I just think the idea that it's cut and dried is wrong. They're both players that bring plenty of uncertainty and potential upside to the position.

 

[betcats]

Mansour is much better out of our own end. Better on the ground defensively. Has Naden covered for experience comfortably. Naden has height/aerial ability (theoretically) and had a better first half of last year (not second). Naden also has a nose for a try that Sauce doesn't which you want in your team.

You can certainly make an argument for Naden. I just object to the idea that a guy who's never played wing at NRL level is "easily" a better winger than a 29 y/o who's 100 odd games into his career, played for state and country and had a very good second half of 2019 after a poor period triggered by a horrific facial injury.

Nadens aerial ability is not theoretical.

 

[OldPanther]

That was my impression watching the games, yes.

I've heard the arguments for Naden and those against Josh quite a few times at this point. Didn't really want to cover old ground, I just think the idea that it's cut and dried is wrong. They're both players that bring plenty of uncertainty and potential upside to the position.

Fair enough I was just curious on that point since I didn't really think the same. Thought maybe I missed something.

 

[age.s]

Nadens aerial ability is not theoretical.

How many times have we seen him get bombed?

 

[Valheru]

We have lost 5/7 round 1 games under Robbo

Panthers are overs