In his last 24 games for the Raiders Sam Williams has had 20 try assists and 4 tries. In Sezer’s last 24 games for Canberra he has 8 try assists and 4 tries.

Sezer is nearly 50 games into his stint at Canberra and he has mostly been disappointing. Sure, Williams isn’t going to be winning the Dally M halfback. But his numbers more than show that he creates enough to put pressure on Sezer to either do better, or be demoted.

The value that Williams creates is a bit of competition for spots. I wouldn’t be assuring Sezer another season at halfback if they have an option there that can do a better job.

Their is a shortage of quality organising and kicking half’s. NSW can’t find one and they don’t have to worry about recruitment. It’s the reason Cleary and Taylor are attracting such big money at such a young age. Ricky has to make do.

They haven’t improved much in terms of their squad. But we are talking about some real minor improvement from their existing squad in order to bag some more close wins. They looked tired of losing at the death last year, like their belief had been shaken. I might live to regret putting Souths in the 8…

The Souths players last season looked like they wanted another plan, any sort of plan because obviously Madge didn’t have the answers. You can spray as much as you like but at the end of the day if you don’t know how to change things up and get the best out of your players it isn’t going to work. They certainly need some depth and competition for spots. And as you say some enthusiasm from someone, they seldom looked like they were enjoying themselves last season

When has injury ever stopped a Queenslander? Just when NSW thinks they might be getting a bit of a break they find a way to pick themselves back up. Slater was just as good as ever last season although he and GI have totally different injuries. He deserves to end his career the same way as Slater

Ok, fair criticism of the point about Origin. You’d have to think that Gagai and Inglis would both be a chance for QLD. If they are both picked the backline is barely a reserve grade one. Aside from that it’s far from my best analysis.

I think the fresh coach is going to do the world of good for Reynolds. He has played his entire first grade career under the same coach and eventually things get stale – look at Des and the Bulldogs. Look at Keary last year or DCE, you don’t know when a player is going to rediscover their best but change is a good start.

Rookie coaches are an unknown. Look at Paul Green for the Cowboys. The Rabbitohs needed change and only time will tell.

Their are plenty of questions marks over Souths and rigntly so. But their is a surprise packet or two every season and the Rabbitohs should be thinking it could be them

Couldn’t have said it any better. The Warriors coaching strategy post Cleary has been quite unbelievable. One season for McClennan and he is out the door. Appointing Matt Elliot with an NRL coaching win record less than 50%, including 5 seasons at the Panthers for no finals wins. Appointing his untried assistant McFadden for 3 seasons. Then demoting him to assistant to bring in Kearney with the awful record you’ve highlighted. You never see a head coach stay on as assistant and run water.

Early on in the peace the Panthers probably weren’t exactly sure what their squad was going to look like, just that those players weren’t the way. They had to buy in the likes of Wallace, Soward, Merrin, Tamou to complement what they could develop. Even last season they had to let Moylan go because culturally he was unhealthy and sign Maloney instead. The Tigers will get their foundation one way or another, but it’s not with players who don’t want to be there.

Never really bought into the soft/tough draw thing too much. Dragons had plenty of good early form early last year but couldn’t get the wins against some lowly teams late in the season. Their will always be a more pressing underlying issue than just the draw as to why a team missed out. Tigers might finish 14th instead of 12th because of a tough draw but they aren’t in a position to blame the draw for costing them a shot at finals footy

I think the point is though that they had the “big three” and Marty T but still couldn’t fire. Mitch Moses has played his best footy away from the tiges. They need personnel changes and to move the stale players on. They’ll have to endure some more tough seasons. But stronger leadership from the coaches box and hopefully better roster management means the tigers are hafiny in the right direction

Wow. Appointing Taylor head coach was a diabolical decision in the first place. One win away from the final? They had 50 put on them in the final round at home, they would have been fodder for any team in the final. Its a handy excuse having instabilty at the top to blame your poor performances on. Woods, Teddy and Moses were happy to take home their paychecks until last season so it can’t have been that traumatising. The way the three were playing away from the tigers just showed how little they were prepared to put in for their team. This kind of angst happened at the Panthers when Lewis/Jennings/Gordon/Coote departed, the Tigers will be better for it just as they were

Not a brook’s fan either. But look who he has had beside him. Braith Anasta, Mitch Moses, Lolohea. Obviously thrust in too early. Been a bit of a victim of some poor management. I’d certainly rather have Packer than Woods.

Agreed. But sadly it probably won’t be the case. The Tigers take on the Rabbitohs in the last Thursday night game of the season in what could be the most inconsequential game of the round

They’re Outs far outweigh the Ins. Gagai saved his best for Queensland but it is a shame he won’t play in Knights colours as they start to recruit players who may have brought out the best in him. Plenty of the recruits will benefit from a fresh start and benefit those around them with experience. Ponga could be the next big thing, as Cleary and Taylor have been in recent seasons, but time will tell. It will be interesting to see the halves pairing and if it ends up injury affected. Lamb tried his guts out last season and could be a star with Pearce alongside him or will Pearce need a bloke like Hodkinson beside him if isn’t let go before 2018

Have to agree with souvalis. They have recruited really strongly in some areas, the pack needs some experience which they now have and Pearce could potentially be the signing of the year if he fires. Gagai was their biggest loss and even then his best three games of the season were always in Maroon. In regards to Ponga, while he may be untried at this level the Knights can at least hope for stability. As I said I am a big fan of Ross but he is no fullback. Hopefully Ponga can stay fit and prove himself early – we have had some fantastic young players come in and kill it recently, Cleary and Taylor for example, no reason why he can’t go the same way.

I can’t buy into them playing finals football because they do have such a high turnover, combinations take time and they are relying somewhat on Pearce to dominate, and so he should for his million dollar salary. They have recruited strongly and I can see them really being in the mix especially over the Origin period. But it takes a while to “learn how to win” after three seasons of bringing up the rear. The Knights making the 8 would be the feel good story of 2018 and I’d certainly be happy to wrong about them

The Raiders will definitely struggle without Hodgson for the start of the year and will have far too much ground to make up once he returns. But their are at least three other teams who would be my pick for the spoon at this stage – the Bulldogs, Tigers or Warriors.

Dugan is the best fullback option the Dragons have, he is a strong ball runner and good fullback but not for NSW. Tedesco and Moylan offer too much more in terms of ball playing which we always seem to lack with the halves we pick, that is why Hayne was the right choice in 2014, he was the attack for the Blues in game 1 and the defence that won them the series in game 2. He can make his good contributions from the wing or even centre

The Panthers with some real clinical play to jag another close win. Soward just kept the Roosters on the rack in the last 10 after it looked like they might give it away. It was a tense game despite the awful conditions and both sides had their chances to win it.

The Panthers kept getting out to good leads but the Roosters just kept coming at the them. It was typified with Latrell Mitchell’s 2nd try as the Roosters just kept offloading until he got through to get them within 4 and they looked like they were coming to get the Panthers.

The Panthers will just be happy to get a win after some close games.

For the Panthers Latu was a standout with some of his carries, along with the kicking game of Soward. Cartwright and Moylan were quieter in attack than usual, with Cartwright having plenty of tackles to make.

The Roosters young brigade should be proud. Latrell Mitchell in particular was fantastic for an 18 year old. Hastings and Nikorima are both going to be better for having a more experienced playmaker beside them.

The Roosters will look to build next week in their inaugural ANZAC day clash against the Dragons.

The Panthers meanwhile will have to be better against a hot Sharks outfit at Shark Park.

ROAR MVP

3- Jamie Soward: the game was won off the back of his kicking game. Two 40/20 attempts that resulted in drop outs. In the last 10 minutes he got another 3. It was control that would be the envy of any playmaker. While his defence could have been much better he made up for it.
2- Latrell Mitchell: needs plenty of plaudits for his contribution at such a young age. 2 tries, 2 line breaks and 130m as well a few offloads. Added plenty in attack.
1- Leilani Latu: had a great first half with nearly 150m. Was the hardest runner for the Panthers and justified his starting position. Finished with 222m and some good tackles too.

That is all for the Roar tonight. Join us on Friday for the next lot of NRL action with the Rabbitohs travelling to Suncorp to take on the Broncos.

80′

The Panthers make the mistake. The Roosters have to go 80m. They throw it around and Hatings kicks but Tupou knocks on. Panthers win it.

FULLTIME

Panthers 20
Roosters 16

79′

The Roosters work it away and spread it. Evans with a big run but loses it in the tackle. Inside the final 2 and if Panthers play it right the Roosters won’t get the ball. Penalty Panthers. It is a differential penalty which means goal kick?

Panthers 20
Roosters 16

78′

Just hitting it up now. They go wide and it goes to ground but they regather. The 5th and Wallace tries to go over but can’t get there. Panthers will have to defend to win it.

Panthers 20
Roosters 16

76′

Hiku runs along way and it tackled. Merrin with another carry and it is a carbon copy and McKendry tries to get over. Soward gets yet another drop out and they have to score now. 3 minutes to go.

Panthers 20
Roosters 16

75′

Merrin nearly carries a Rooster over and now McKendry nearly barges over. Soward with another kick for a drop out.

Panthers 20
Roosters 16

74′

Panthers 20 out, Soward kicks back towards the posts for Moylan who can’t get there but makes the tackle and it is the 8th drop out of the night.

Panthers 20
Roosters 16

73′

Roosters escape from jail and work it away, Moylan was in and the pass, considering what we see every week was not forward. Friend gets it away under pressure and the Panthers will start from their 40

Panthers 20
Roosters 16