Roosters lack firepower: Toovey

By Steve Zemek / Wire

Departing Manly coach Geoff Toovey has ruffled the Sydney Roosters’ feathers just a week out from the finals, questioning whether they have the strike power to win the NRL title.

The Roosters claimed their 12th straight win and third consecutive minor premiership with a 30-0 thumping of South Sydney on Friday night, but Toovey said he was not convinced.

Despite Trent Robinson’s team finishing the season with the best record, having notched 591 points in 24 matches, Toovey used his final press conference to question whether the tri-colours had the attacking spark to win their second title in three years.

The Roosters’ defeated Toovey’s Manly side in the 2013 grand final but he is yet to be convinced they have enough points in them to repeat the feat.

While he lauded them for their depth and execution, he said they lacked an attacking x-factor outside of fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

“Everyone talks about the Roosters, they’re a quality side, they’ve got great depth, they’ve got a great roster,” Toovey said.

“They’re very clinical about what they do. They go about their job very well.

“Apart from (Tuivasa-Sheck), there’s not too many x-factors there.

“I think North Queensland, if they can match them in that consistency, then I think they’ve got a little bit more x-factor.

“But it is finals football and as we know from the past, anything can happen.”

The Crowd Says:

2015-09-07T11:04:34+00:00

NQ Cowboy

Guest


Benny, your comment is just as dumb as Toovey's.

2015-09-07T09:28:08+00:00

Jay C

Roar Guru


Looks like the footy goods have conspired with the weather goods because it will be too windy for the boat next weekend.

2015-09-07T09:27:33+00:00

The Barry

Roar Guru


All those blokes are playing well Pete but I reckon Cordner has had the best turnaround. I'm a big fan but I reckon he's struggled a lot of the year and Guerra has played all over him. He seems to be really hitting his straps now and has stepped up since JWH was injured.

2015-09-07T09:24:14+00:00

The Barry

Roar Guru


Nope. That was definitely an intra Queensland argument. Good to see - that game should be a ripper.

2015-09-07T08:11:28+00:00

pete bloor

Guest


was eaten an intentional pun?

2015-09-07T08:10:38+00:00

pete bloor

Guest


My feeling was that Souths were the team to beat last year, we had a higher ceiling but lower floor. I'd rate this team ahead of the last two because of the additional quality of the group of Guerra, cordner, napa, RTS, friend and Evans versus 13/14

2015-09-07T07:48:09+00:00

The Barry

Roar Guru


Haha

2015-09-07T07:46:27+00:00

The Barry

Roar Guru


Really Sam? I thought they were red hot going into last years semis. They're looking very good this year too - but for mine there are a few more question marks than there were this time last year.

2015-09-07T07:05:07+00:00

DB

Guest


Your father must have dangled you over the balcony one time too many.

2015-09-07T06:16:36+00:00

Kingcowboy

Guest


EJ good Sir, I am not arguing with Jay Z, I like his passion for his team. He goes hard and I respect that. I am just stating what is going to happen on Saturday night. Jack Reed is rubbish and with Morgs running over young Milford all night, I can only see a comprehensive cows victory. I actually hope its a cows v donkeys GF but the Donkeys will be better for the experience next year. End Score, 38-10 Cows!!!

2015-09-07T06:15:53+00:00

Statler and Waldorf

Roar Guru


surely you win meat in meat raffles and chooks in chook raffles though....

2015-09-07T06:06:06+00:00

eagleJack

Roar Guru


QLDers arguing - is this a first? For the record I think the Broncos will win and win well on Saturday. If the Cowboys are a chance they have to get off to a good start. Which they haven't been able to do for months. If they let the Broncos get to a 12 point lead then shut the gate. Good teams, playing finals footy, won't let them back in.

2015-09-07T06:00:06+00:00

Jay C

Roar Guru


I'll have you know my meat raffle skills are unparalleled in rsl's down the entire eaten seaboard.

2015-09-07T05:58:17+00:00

Jay C

Roar Guru


Haha. You want to compare Kane 'who?' Linnett and Justin 'dropsy' O'Neil to Jack Reed and Justin Hodges?

2015-09-07T05:53:58+00:00

The Barry

Roar Guru


Dumbest comment of the day. Get back under your blanket...

2015-09-07T04:26:59+00:00

Blanket Jackson

Guest


Hahaha! Yeah I'm sure you all know more than Geoff Toovey. a bloke that's actually won a premiership. As opposed to most of us commenting here, who would be lucky to win a meat tray from a chook raffle!

2015-09-07T04:25:46+00:00

tauto

Guest


re Geoff tooveys comments afraid too many hits to the head ,Manly knows that, and that got him the sack so where is the missing X factor not a clue about the game as is played now, , some one buy him a program and look at their line up, from wingers to centres and full back , not to mention their forwards ,has he ever said a good word about any team that fogs his team, afraid not ,

2015-09-07T03:04:51+00:00

3 Hats

Guest


Tooves my be right...the Roosters do take the foot off the Gas. I was expecting them to put 60 on Souths...but they didn't, WHY was that? The Roosters just can't aim up in the big games. (FINALS) 2014 got smashed by Souths after leading 12-Nil 2014 led 30-nil against the COWs, a pathetic call against Nth Qld cost them the game 30-31 2103, Won it but Manly were the better team in the Semi and on the GF day. some pathetic calls went against Manly in both games. 2010 lost against the Dragons in the GF. beat the Tigers controversially in Golden point 19-15 Storm were stripped of pts for CHEATING the cap. 2004 Choked against the Dogs in the GF 2003 Choked against the Panthers in the GF. 2002 Won it BUT the Bulldogs were stripped for CHEATING the cap. While many on here have been giving it to my Rabbitohs all year, and on some occasions, rightly so.... Souths are a bloody tired footy team playing with zero confidence and enthusiasm. The past 18 months have caught up with them and I don't expect much against the Sharkies. Where did the fantastic form and enthusiasm go against the COWS? OK, well at least I saw my team WIN A COMP last season. I will die a happy man, no matter what else may happen in the future! The same old suspects are in it this year again. My choice is for, but highly unlikely is either the Sharks or the Cows to win it. If Souths don't!

2015-09-07T02:47:06+00:00

Joe

Roar Rookie


A team with RTS, Ferguson and Jennings has no X-Factor?? Out of all the teams in the finals the Roosters are the team with the most X-Factor. If you look at all the sides and measure them for size, speed, power, x-factor Roosters would probably win all of them except possibly a close contest with Dogs for size. With the roster they have they should win the Premiership very easily. It is going to take an exceptional effort one of the other teams to knock them off the way they're travelling.

2015-09-07T02:36:31+00:00

up in the north

Roar Rookie


Toovey . What are you on lad. We don't need your input. It's tough enough without you putting the mocker on things.

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