It was bad enough Trent Robinson’s Roosters went into the Manly game at Allianz on Saturday night 0-3 for the season.
But it’s far worse that the lack of a decent goal-kicker robbed the Roosters of victory, despite scoring four tries to three.
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon converted all three of Manly’s tries, but Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Jackson Hastings could only manage one between them attempting to convert the Roosters’ four four-pointers.
There’s six points down the drain for the Roosters with Manly hanging on like grim death to win 22-20.
Besides, Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall deserved a better 200th game celebration after scoring his 113th and 114th career tries.
Only Lyon with 119, Brett Morris 121, Greg Inglis 134, Manu Vatuvei 146, Brett Stewart 163, and Billy Slater with 172 have scored more tries than Kenny-Dowall among current players.
And Kenny-Dowall was one of the Roosters better players last night in a vastly improved performance after last round’s embarrassing 40-nil loss to the Cowboys crossing for seven tries.
But the reality is the Roosters are anchored at the bottom of the NRL table as the only team not to win a game in four. They have the worst defence of any side with 125 points, 75 more points than they’ve scored.
That really hurts, but unless Robinson finds a reliable goal-kicker in a hurry, the pain will become a lot greater.
Sure the Roosters are missing rep players Boyd Cordner, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and Mitchell Pearce. More recently they lost Dale Copley with a pectoral injury, and Ian Henderson with a badly broken leg.
But there’s plenty of talent still available.
The brightest of them all is 18-year-old fullback Latrell Mitchell whose express speed to carries his 193cm, 104kg frame – this youngster could be anything in his debut season.
Add Kenny-Dowall, Daniel Tupou, and Blake Ferguson and there are four of the most dangerous backs in the NRL.
Up front there’s Aidan Guerra who is not only a Queensland Origin forward, but equally at home in the backs. In captain Jake Friend there’s one of the leading defenders in the NRL who gets though a ton of work every game.
That’s more than enough to get the Roosters off the bottom of the table and start making genuine top eight contention noises.
But all that talent will be wasted if Trent Robinson doesn’t find a reliable goal-kicker – yesterday.
MAX
Guest
The return of your big 3 cannot come soon enough. Until then you are up against Warriors, Souths, Penrith, St. George and probably the Knights. Even then, without a proven goal kicker the chances of making the 8 are now slim. I was hoping for Muzz's sake that Easts would win 2 of the first 6 (thinking MP would only get 6 weeks) Now faced with the task of winning 14 or 15 of 20 games your ' 2017 onwards ' path looks best. The lesson for all clubs is to have 'several' reliable goal kickers on hand.
pete bloor
Guest
Nope not all easts supporters. If we retain Maloney we put back the development of Hastings (unless we are doing a time machine trick and knew about the Pearce incident - better use of said time machine would be to prevent it) plus we have to pay for a few key positions going forward that we now can't afford.The Maloney number was part of a "what team do we want 2017 onwards". Maloney is a great #2 half that has a habit of going on tilt when things are tight which loses you as many games as it wins. He is a top class goalkicker but do you hamstring your cap paying a goal kicker when to finish top 4 you generally need to avoid close games.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Or you could look at it another way, you move SKD to centre and slot in a very talented Joe Burgess to the wing. Brendan Elliot a good player also.
Same As It Ever Was
Guest
Lots of problems here , but I agree David lack of an accomplished goal kicker has cost two games already for a team that can ill afford this issue And it was plain as he nose etc when Maloney left and was not replaced by a recognised kicker For a club who's recruitment had been excellent for the last few years this year it's looks really poor Copley may be injured but he looked nowhere near first grade standard in his games So in the offseason centre shuffle the Roosters lose the best available in Jennings and pick up the worst available in Copley ????
East Bound & Down
Guest
At 5 zip you'd have to wonder , next week is their biggest game since the 13 GF .
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Lordy, whilst goal kicking is an issue it is one of many for the Chooks at present. I'd say the biggest issue is confidence, they're missing key troops and the backups aren't stepping up. When they get all troops back, they can make a run provided they don't have too much ground to make up. Early days still, way too early to right off the Roosters. I say this as a Bunnies fan btw !
Nowhere
Guest
SKD is only the best player for them having a go at the moment
Benny
Guest
Actually SKD was one of the roosters' best for the second half of last season. Really found form and that has continued into this year
Simon
Guest
I'm pretty sure he's out for the season with a broken leg.
MAX
Guest
Muzz, Sio is gold and yours until the final whistle of 2017. Keep a weather eye out for Mr Doyle.
Muzz
Guest
Hastings is carrying a quad injury which is aggravated when he kicks.
Jarrod Free
Roar Rookie
Isn't Hastings an accomplished goal kicker?
Muzz
Guest
Nice stats eye. How about all run metres. SST has been the Roosters best forward. Only one word can explain how bad Guerra is playing.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Finding a goal kicker is the least of their issues
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
At least they're getting plenty of practice with their kick offs when re-starting play.........
The eye
Guest
I've got him at zero linebreaks and zero try assists..he's just not troubling defences like we know he can..his coach would have higher expectations for his talent and game impact than played 'pretty well'..
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Yep - you're both right on that front, there are plenty of folks who crack under pressure, or in front of a crowd. It's the same in all sports. The best case I ever saw was a pro-golfer in Townsville who would drive the ball over 300 metres and as straight as an arrow in regular competition play. His short game was sensational and he regularly sunk longish putts. As soon as a crowd was watching he went to pieces and looked like a regular weekend hack. The difference with NRL premiership players though, is that they should have gained that experience coming through the grades and playing in front of some reasonable crowds. Compare League to Union, AFL, and Soccer - many players can kick with both feet in these 3 codes, where as in league many have trouble kicking with one.
peeeko
Guest
i bet Guerra plays well in origin
peeeko
Guest
SST is playing pretty well
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Tend to agree with this. I'd even suggest Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Jackson Hastings are very good kickers at training. SST had great follow through and struck the ball well. Which I wasn't expecting. But put them in a game situation, with wary legs and an abundance of pressure, and a 95% kicker at training starts hitting them at 60%. They simply need experience which obviously takes time.