Team 2025

[Yosh]

I didn’t have Riley Jones at centre on my bingo card lol.

If he’s fit I probably would have played JSaf as he usually takes a few rounds to get going…other than that though it’s pretty much what we were expecting from the rumours.

Wonder how JSaf will got his year. First year without his bro and is our pack leader only behind Frizz right? Hope he can refind his Origin form.

 

[Knight Tales]

M

Really? You and a few other dimwits were in a circle jerk under the table gagging for an Elliot bukkake not long ago ffs.

Don't worry ya'll get that Elliot taste in ya mouth this season, boy will play out of his skin now he's off contract.

Did ya hear there's about 6 clubs chasing his signature? na just kid'n no one's chasing average.

Hope ya not offended about the bukkake, I love giving them, dont mind circles also, love tables. Not so keen on dimwits

Now I hope he has huge year just to watch your epic meltdown. That is a hall of fame level psychotic rant. WTAF.

 

[PhilGould]

Mind you I don’t have a single comment even defending Elliott during one of his weird tirades, only pointing out that the method he was trying to use to argue was incredibly dumb and he was being an obnoxious dickhead to others for no reason.

Felt bad even replying to that latest one so just left it. There's clearly something more going on that the rest of us aren't aware of.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I’m actually weirdly optimistic this year, or at least less pessimistic than usual. We’ve got a pretty settled squad for the first time in ages with very little change from last year to this year. We played terribly at times last year and still managed to win enough games to make the top 8, and KP was missing for about 3 months too.

The defence was pretty good most of the time in 2024 and it’s really the attack where we need to show some big improvement. Sharpe should add an extra running threat at the very least which we desperately lacked with Hastings/Cogger/Crossland/Gamble as the halves last year. Hopefully this frees up some space for KP to do his thing.

We’ll be a tough and gritty side once again, and if we can discover a bit of that attack that we had in 2023 then I think we might end up being pleasantly surprised by where we end up. Not predicting top 4 because I think we’re still not at that level but I could see us being 5th-6th again if KP is fit.

 

[ryan.a87]

Hypothetically, say Sharpe kills is and the we sign Brown

does that mean we play Brown at 7 where he isn’t that good?

 

[Knight Tales]

Mind you I don’t have a single comment even defending Elliott during one of his weird tirades, only pointing out that the method he was trying to use to argue was incredibly dumb and he was being an obnoxious dickhead to others for no reason.

Felt bad even replying to that latest one so just left it. There's clearly something more going on that the rest of us aren't aware of.

Don’t apologise to him. You owe him nowt.

 

[Knight Tales]

There is bloody good footy team in there somewhere. Whereas before we did not have the talent. Now it is between the ears.

 

[perverse]

There is bloody good footy team in there somewhere. Whereas before we did not have the talent. Now it is between the ears.

Yes, tbh I have a lot of confidence in the team outside of the halves. Lots of talented youth is exciting. We might be a little light up front for the next 12 months, but I don't expect that to last long either.

If our halves can just clear the bar of being "decent" most weeks, then we should be aiming pretty high. Need KP on the field too. We are quite strong from the back row to the sideline. Question marks in the middle of the field.

 

[Yosh]

Su'a and Hopgood are supposed to be good prospects right? Are we expecting them to become rep players in the future? They that good?

I'm looking forward to seeing Lucas on the left, Frizz in the middle and KPP on the right. Hopefully we get to see KPP actually use his weapons this season.

 

[perverse]

Su'a and Hopgood are supposed to be good prospects right? Are we expecting them to become rep players in the future? They that good?

I'm looking forward to seeing Lucas on the left, Frizz in the middle and KPP on the right. Hopefully we get to see KPP actually use his weapons this season.

Hopwood could be anything. Su'a less certain but clearly has a lot of aggression and is a big unit.

 

[Haffa]

Yes, tbh I have a lot of confidence in the team

Agreed, thoughts on outfits for the parade and civic reception in October (It's February they haven't broken us yet!)?

 

[Burwood]

Who are you most excited about this season?

Can’t wait to see how Hetherington goes- get the feeling a lot of dominos are going to fall into place for him and he’ll have a big year.

Sharpe and Ponga potentially teaming up should also bring a bit of excitement- didn’t have much opportunity to link up last year with Sharpe on the wing.

 

[perverse]

Who are you most excited about this season?

Can’t wait to see how Hetherington goes- get the feeling a lot of dominos are going to fall into place for him and he’ll have a big year.

Sharpe and Ponga potentially teaming up should also bring a bit of excitement- didn’t have much opportunity to link up last year with Sharpe on the wing.

I think, based on the scant reports and footage I've seen of the younger kids over the last while - Hopwood and Votano head the list of guys I can't wait to see - whether either of them will get a sniff this year or not I'm not sure as they're both very young. The wraps on those 2 are montumental, and when you catch footage of them you can see why. If we can nurture their talents through to first grade successfully, then I am quite sure we have 2 first graders in them at the very least... and that would be underdelivering on their potential.

Sharpe is the one I'm most nervous about. I have high hopes for him, but high fears that the other shoe will drop and other teams will figure him out. And that's before we even talk about the uncertainty about whether he can be a half or not - or where he should play in general. I'm not sure if I'm more worried about him not rising to the hype, or worried about the club mishandling his career - because ultimately 2 fullbacks (or 3 with Votano coming in the next while!) don't fit into one position.

 

[Yosh]

That Votano lad looks big enough to be a centre or winger. Play there till Ponga retires in a decade.

 

[perverse]

That Votano lad looks big enough to be a centre or winger. Play there till Ponga retires in a decade.

We'll see how he goes, but he might be too talented to do that with. Only the Roosters can play someone like Joey Manu in the outside backs forever.

First few years you'll get away with that, after that - if he's as good as he could be - you're going to lose him for big paycheques. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge between here and there, but it's definitely a scenario to have a plan for. These are good problems for a club to have, by the way. When you're struggling to figure out how to fit all the talent coming through into your future roster, I think you're in a decent place.

 

[Knight Tales]

The loss of KP is no longer the knee capper it once was. Not many clubs have half a dozen players who can cover the halves competently and a gun junior fullback who can easily slot in there if god forbid we go through the Kalyn injury cycle again.

 

[perverse]

The loss of KP is no longer the knee capper it once was. Not many clubs have half a dozen players who can cover the halves competently and a gun junior fullback who can easily slot in there if god forbid we go through the Kalyn injury cycle again.

I would say we have half a dozen players that have thus far failed to cover the halves competently, and it's our biggest issue. Fullback is definitely no issue though for sure. We're blessed there.

Sharpe in the 6 is a big decision for the coach, and I can easily see it falling on its face within 6 rounds and flushing another year down the drain just chopping the spine around fruitlessly. That's a very real possibility. These kinds of decisions and whether they work out make and break coaching careers.

 

[Apey]

We're a bottom 9 pushing bottom 4 side without the Pong.

 

[Tom155]

FOX Havent talked about us at all since i turned the game on all eels

 

[Tom155]

Brown straight through soft defence to score

Cogger & Pryce poor