Have we seen the Roosters of old in 2015? Not yet, but they are starting to show glimpses of their best and at their best they are near unstoppable.
Despite off-field distractions, Trent Robinson seems to have the Bondi boys starting to boil at the right time of the year.
We got a taste of the real Roosters as they dominated the Bulldogs in every aspect of Friday night’s game – that is until complacency set in. Dropping 28 unanswered points shows an attitude adjustment is necessary.
For that period of the game the Roosters lost all respect for the ball and opposition. Credit to the Dogs for not packing it in after a horror start, they fought hard and probably deserved that win more, but it didn’t work out for them.
The Roosters got a well-timed wakeup call during that match, and we won’t see another performance like that from them. They have a tough run home which should put them in good stead for the finals, especially the Brookvale clash with Manly. They could be challenging for the minor premiership – a four-point deficit can be washed away quickly – and they have the squad to do it.
For the Roosters to be successful their forwards must make an immediate impact from the get go. They surely don’t need any help finding aggression with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Dylan Napa. They have a massive pack that is surprisingly fast and agile. When you combine that with solid fringe players like Aiden Guerra and Mitchell Aubusson – the latter being one of the most underrated players in the game – you get a strong engine room to carry the team up field and give the halves a solid platform to lay on points.
And the points can come fast. Their outside backs have speed, height and agility, which makes them threatening whether it be via aerial bombardment, rolling one along the ground, or burning edge defenders on the outside.
However this can all be undone by their inability to defend their right edge. The Bulldogs exploited that edge numerous times and it’s hard to imagine other coaches haven’t taken note of this deficiency. The problem seems to be a mixture of communication breakdowns and defending outside in instead of all sliding across as a unit. Sounds like an easy fix, but they only have a few weeks to do so before it becomes a major issue.
I’m going to spotlight Mitchell Pearce as the man to lead the Roosters deep into the finals. He has overcome the constant barrage of criticism he faces each time he plays for the Blues, and incorporated a lot more second-phase play into his game with 26 offloads this season, as well as putting players through gaps regularly (17 linebreak assists).
Pearce and James Maloney need to link up more during the set and create the threat of them both attacking at the same time.
Regardless of off-field incidents and injuries, the Roosters are in a solid position and have the depth to cover any player in their starting side. Brendan Elliot has been immense since coming into the team, while Jackson Hastings is filling in well with his bench roll – expect him to get more game time during these last few rounds, especially with the impending departure of Maloney.
If they hit their peak, maybe only South Sydney or a Johnathan Thurston-inspired Cowboys could touch the Roosters.
Unless the curse strikes again and they meet the Sharks. If you can’t beat them join them – just ask James Maloney.
Mike from Tari
Guest
No.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's not a bad theory but it still leaves a few questions: Does that mean Pearce looks great when he's part of a great halves combination but not so good when he's the focal point? He's played excellent footy with Carney and Maloney for the Roosters but not when he's paired with them at Origin. He's had more than a few origin seasons to settle in but doesn't seem that much more assured. On Friday night (and in many other club games) he was the dominant halves partner but rarely if ever does that for NSW.
Pickett
Guest
Not paranoid Barry. Those 6 or 7 straight in a row to the Doggies were ridiculous. Ok...maybe some were justified. But how is it that the Berries suddenly became angels and conceded only 2 penalties the entire match? No need to respond, Easts (and it's supporters) have been putting up with it for years.
jamesb
Guest
The Barry Here is my theory. Pearce doesn't have a dominant halves partner outside of him. When JT started out in origin, he had Locky next to him. That allowed JT to settle into a few origin series. When Pearce made his debut at origin, he didn't have the luxury of having a dominant half like Locky or Joey next to him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Pearce was brilliant on Friday. Serious question - why can he not own and control a game like that for NSW?
Little Red Rooster
Guest
We outnumbered you on Friday night...
littleredrooster
Guest
Pearcy was good the other night.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha...get a new routine mate. You can't steal the 'us against the world' mentality from Manly and the Dogs. It just doesn't work when the silver spooned, cheque book wielding roosters with the channel 9 publicity machine behind them try and position themselves as the competition battlers. Politis. Bouris. McInnes. Gyngell. Battlers. The Roosters won the comp less than two years ago and you're trying to claim there's a conspiracy to stop you winning?!?!? You got gifted the win against the cowboys last year. The only reason you didn't make the grand final is you weren't good enough. Hahahahaha....littleredchickenlittle...the sky is falling, the sky is falling......
harryroosterof ryde
Guest
Roosters looking good.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
"If you go to home games of the Dogs or Souths you will hear the fans screaming…mainly for free kicks to get them out of trouble. Unfortunately, weak referees comply, knowing that the NRL will appreciate the bums on seats." So the solution is plain and simple. Get some fans. You know, ones that like to go to games.
littleredrooster
Guest
Keep up the good posts Samtwocan. The mighty Tricolours have endured much over the course of the last 107 years or so. the presence of Souths, for example, who stole both our junior territory in the 1950's and as a result, left us with no junior clubs. We have had a running battle with the rabbits fuelled by the very nucleus of that act of treachery for years. The johnny come lately supporters of the souths of today only believe what some of their ARBD suffering old timers say, and, sadly what rusty wrote in that stupid book...But the real truth of the matter in the present day game is that we have been the most penalty caned team in the competition for a few years now. If you go to home games of the Dogs or Souths you will hear the fans screaming...mainly for free kicks to get them out of trouble. Unfortunately, weak referees comply, knowing that the NRL will appreciate the bums on seats. At present we have a team that can swing a game with total X factor skill and a forward pack that will continue to leave blokes on the ground, and we will win the comp....against the odds, and the NRL objective, which is, hoping for a Brisbane, Cows, Souths and Dogs Final four weekend.
Samtwocan
Guest
I do agree that they go off the boil and they are at times their own worst enemy... But I watched that game twice and the run of penalties against one team while the other had none and certainly deserved some turned the momentum of the game ... Any long term genuine supporters are one eyed mate ... Nature of the beast .
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm not copping that. Week after week I watch the bulldogs have four defenders pile on and peel off one at a time. Because the bulldogs have a big side other teams are given free reign to slowly release. Sam - try making an impartial comment at some stage...you might enjoy it and it will do wonders for your credibility.
The Barry
Roar Guru
So do you agree or disagree? On one hand you say the roosters need to lift their intensity - which was my point - and on the other some paranoid rant about Greenberg fixing results with refs mid game.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I don't see why not. Especially if they throw together the first 30mins of last Friday for at least double that
RT
Guest
Oh I get it. Sarcasm. You sir are hilarious. I declare your comment the jest of the season. 1908. Every season. Heartland - maybe not, heart of the NRL - you betcha!
Samtwocan
Guest
And to use the term " falling asleep" that's exactly what the bulldogs player were doing on top of the Roosters in every second tackle .
Samtwocan
Guest
What was it six or seven straight penalties which most were innocuous to say the least almost like Mr Greenburg was in the refs ears instructing that the fix is on. Id like to see any team defend against that kind of possession . Having said that they do need to lift their intensity because that's exactly what happened with the Cows last year to almost see them out of the finals.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Let's be honest it's not just the Bulldogs game where the roosters have fallen asleep at the switch. 45 minute footy doesn't win you comps. The roosters do look great at their best but it's been a while since they've produced that for 80 minutes. That will be top of robinsons priority list leading into semis.
fiddlesticks
Guest
I certainly hope so, i love it when a true heartland club wins the trophy. The east is great, you can generally ask the publican to switch the TV over from the AFL and he will politely say "no, we don't want NRL types in this bar". The local junior nursery of 3 clubs will also get a huge boost. Without the roosters, 16yo kids would have to get poached by a club paying less money