YESTERDAY:
1. Walker - Is not a fullback, will never be a fullback, and not surprisingly could not have looked more uncomfortable, summed up sadly by the awfully spilt bomb into touch in the second half. 105 metres just doesn't cut it. If he is selected there again we might as well go and wait at the spoon ceremony now.
2. Saab - Is not quite a first grader at this point, but we desperately need his height and speed.
3. Parker - 3 missed tackles, and all of them damaging, with nothing in attack to offset it. Would honestly not make first grade at any other club. Has to be dropped.
4. Suli - Did little, but nothing alarming.
5. Garrick - Where to start? Completely out of his depth yesterday. Stats list 1 missed tackle but it felt like more. Not jumping at all for that first try just handed it to Tedesco. Must be dropped.
6. Foran - Sure has a nice pass at the line, but missed an alarming 5 tackles on that paper thin left edge. Must be the bench half/hooker next week for 2 x 15 min spells to protect his body.
7. DCE - The alarmingly disinterested DCE turned up. 3 errors, 7 missed tackles, and worse than all of that just 6 runs for 46 metres. Note that Cleary made 17 runs for 140 metres last night. Awful. Let's hope it's just a one off.
8. Aloiai - Worked hard in a badly beaten team.
9. Croker - Try as he does unfortunately nowhere near a first grade hooker. 5 missed tackles and just 1 run from dummy half in the modern 6 again game is a disaster. Cust has to come in. Or anyone else.
10. Taupau - Never shirks the work, but seems below the impact of former years. Onto next week.
11. Gosiewski - Only played 45 mins, effectively half a game, but 3 runs for 31 metres and 4 missed tackles is very worrying. Davey must come in.
12. Sironen - 80 mins, 36 tackles, 1 missed. No complaints.
13. Jake Trbojevic - 80 mins, 43 tackles, 15 runs, 125 metres. Scary to think what Roosters could have scored without him.
14. Funa - 6 mins. Why was he selected? Completely gives up a vital interchange spot. Must be fullback or winger or left out.
15. Davey - 5 tackle breaks in 35 mins. Must start.
16. Boyle - Just not a first grader. 3 missed tackles (and 4 ineffective). Offers nothing in attack. Must be dropped.
17. Paseka - No problem. Hopefully can do more damage as the weeks unfold.
NEXT WEEK:
Backs.
Walker to centre, Funa in
Garrick out, Tuipoluto in
Parker out, (for Walker)
Foran to 14, Schuster in (and for the rest of the season)
DCE, rocket from Des, followed by an apology at training!
Forwards.
Croker out, Cust in
Gosiewski to bench, Davey starts
Boyle out, Keppie or Sipley on bench
Sure this new team will have a lot to learn, but if we go with the round 1 team against Souths it could well be 60 points.
In summary, this is not intended to be a personal attack on anyone, I love my club and always will, it is simply an honest critique and analysis of what unfolded yesterday, and who must stay/ go if we are to avoid the bottom of the table.
Welcome any comments/thoughts/disagreements.
