Maybe, but they did invest a lot of years in developing Mitch Pearce playing him alongside some more experienced players. He did develop into a quality first grader but not the match winning leader they needed to guide a pretty good squad to premierships…hence Cronk.
I think they do see a long term future for Walker and will give him a good opportunity which may include stints in lower grades if required.
But why wouldn’t any team want Cleary regardless….he is a hell of a player.

As a roosteres supporter, I’d love to go to the game, but the reality is, I just don’t like suburban grounds unless I can get a good elevated seat. I think the game should be played at Shark Park because the expectations were set at the start and we should never change once set.

But the one thing this and many more articles and every comment doesn’t address, is the fact that the draw is not the same for all teams, and the Sharks have benefited from this the last couple of years at least. (I dont want to bash the Sharks here as I like the team etc..I’m not a hater on any team although I like a little stir once in a while….this isn’t a stir but it’s just relaity!)

The draw is based on tV ratings and which clashes rate best on the box, which the Sharks don’t seem to figure in (which really surprises me as they have a lot of appeal especially with Hynes)

In this case the difference is that some teams have played the top teams twice where as the Sharks got them once! The Roosters for example got Penrith and the Storm twice and Bris once (and lost all of them), the Sharks got them once and also lost all of them. It hink that is the diferenc ethis year with the rest of the draw balancing itself out (although the Sharks got the dogs twice, roosters got them once)

So does this mean they should have a significant advantage? There was only one win difference in the end. Not playing the top teams as often also benefits the for and against. Again this is not specifically talking about te Sharks or Roosters but the draw in general. There are so many inbalances that no team should really get a great leg up anywhere if you were to be fair.
Whether it’s the inbalance of who you play, the impact of Origin or other issues, there is an inbalance. This even impacts the minor premiership or could be the diff between 4th and 5th etc. So maybe all of this needs to be considered along the way…

OR does it…because at the end of the day, it always seems to be the best two teams or close to in the GF and inevitably the team that holds ups the trophy is usually worthy of it. And when you consider some of the inbalances and who has won the comp over time, it is quite and achievement!

In the Roosters case, they had their chances and should have iced a couple of games which they didn’t! And regardless, they are not in the same league as the top 3 to date and if they hold the trophy, it will be one of the gretaest come backs since Lazarus (not the front rower getting elected to parliament, the OG!) and we will celebrate loud and hard!

Back to the ground, I really don’t think they should be playing at a construction site…but that is what it is this year!!

I watch the game from an above view at the front of the stand at Allianz, and having Walker and Keay in the defensive line does highlight some weaknesses. They are 2 spot players, one each side of the ruck.. while they both make tackles, they never dominate and what happens off the back of that is the problem. Teams just spread to their location then roll on. The difference with Manu in the line in 6 was noticeable, however Penrith tore them apart through the middle….but whilest the chooks were poor, I don’t under estimate how good Penrith were. The chooks are a middle of the table team at the moment….around the 6 to 12 mark… I don’t see anything they can do that will change that. They’ll have some good games and put some wins together, but if all teams are at their best, I don’t see the chooks beating the current top few….or even being in their league right now.
If anything I would rather Sam and Manu in the halves with Suali back to wing…. Smith and Momorovki to centre…Keary has served us well, but a tough decision may need to be made.
I am always a peasamist though…… but you know when your team is going to have a crack, I just don’t see it this year.

I think fans just need to grow up and get over it! It’s only a game and this is part of the theatre of the game.. I think teams like to know early also so they can get on with their forward planning and season.
I know many people who follow the game and none really care about this issue. It’s only an issue for the diehards with nothing else going on in life.
Now the raiders fans get to discuss what will happen next year and who will the money be spent on.. and none of them will be worse off because Jack is leaving!

So funny watching fans having a whinge about whether a player should have been binned or not! As if that is the reason they didn’t win! Even the coach knows this! Seriously, do fans really rely on a player being binned to win a game or any odd ref decision for that matter? Fair enough if in the same game you have a player binned, but keeping the game at 13 on 13 should be a priority! All fans should be advocating for this…. don’t bin anyone unless it’s a profesional foul or a super serious issue that takes a player out (then it’s almost worth a send off)
You can disect any game and find many inconsistancies on both sides and the realit is, a team has more control on the result of a game than the ref!
Andrew Wester knows this and will be working on those things during the week!

Murrays surrender tackles are a blight on the game! Great player don’t get me wrong, but that touch footy style run and play the ball approach is not what the game is about!

I’d have found a spot for JFH and in years gone by, JWH… two kiwis with 3 initials!
JFH above Murray for me!

What a ridiculous over reaction as it always is with players playing up!!
The only thing fans care about is winning!
The only things sponsors care about is winning! They come and go!
Despite every terrible thing that has been thrown up over the years, the game thrives.
Nobody cares that Keith Richard, Ray Charles or Johnny Cash (or many others) were junkies… the only thing they care about is the music.. they don’t turn the radio off when they are on the air!
Who cares what footy players do! It’s often stupid and funny.. yes there are times when you can not condone things but so many things are just stupid and typical of stupid young men who will grow out of it!
Just get on the field and entertain me and my kids! And if your lifestyle is affecting your ability to do that, then I’m sure the coach will address it.
As for role models, these are supreme athletes who are for the most part great role models for teaching kids discipline, sacrifice and nutrition etc… a hell of a lot better than most the idols kids have including often their own parents who sit and guzzle beer every Friday night whilst watching footy!
Didn’t some mythological figure once sat something about sinning and throwing stones?

I’m a massive fan of Bryan Fletcher! He’s in my top 5 of not 3.. Many rep jerseys and a big part of the roosters rise to a consistent finals team. He could do tough yards, ball play at the line etc, but his off load was awesome!
His combination with Freddie was lethal for many years!

With so many anomalies in the draw and origin etc affecting the comp, I have a real issue with anyone getting an advantage really….but as a couple of others have said, what is the problem we are trying to fix? (is it position 3 and 4 not playing home when position 5 and 6 do?)

This could suck if you came 3 or 4 because of the games you lost during origin or because you had a tough draw..BUT….

As far as I can remember, I can’t think of any Grand final where the two teams didn’t deserve to be there… and when it comes to evental premiers, again, I can’t think of any team who won who didn’t deserve it on the day…but it would be great to get to a GF as the distant 2nd best team and find that Nathan Cleary for example is suspended or injured for that one game. Now that throws up the question of is a finals series the best way to determine the true Champions.. but personally I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The run into the finals that year saw the roosters pretty much sitting even with teams up until the last 20-25 minutes, then they went next level and ran away with the game often by close to 3 points much like this game. This was the case against good teams including in the finals series. Very fit side!

I asked some in the media how do they have a clue what any player gets. One guy (Might have been Dean Richie) said leaks from agents generally! Do you think an agent would leak a low level? They want to pump up their own tires to show they can get their players the top deals to attract other players to the agency.
I’m sure the media doesn’t get any info directly from the club or the player!
I believe Souths leaked to the media that they offered Angus Crichton X amount but couldn’t compete with the roosters. Angus himself said that was absolute rubbish and was more about the rivalry and causing mischief more than anything if it was true.
As I’ve said many times, from the info I know, the dopey guy at the pub would be surprised at the average footballers salary and how many are on minimum wages or close to it.

My understanding from people in the know (take that for what it’s worth) is that they really put emphasis on investment education and setting players up for life through pure education and mentoring as part of the sales pitch. Nothing under handed in that but they have great contacts etc. Mark Bouris is passionate about mentoring so are many rich people. Other clubs also do it. They focus on players who understand that the team needs to share the money around many players to maintain a good squad so they can win trophies. They will not get into a bidding war with teams as they don’t want a player who is just chasing the money.
Latrell was a great example of this…they were willing to make him the highest paid centre in the world but he wanted to play fullback so they took the offer away. (I don’t think Latrell was motivated by money only…he genuinely wanted to play fullback and the roosters knew he wasn’t going to be happy)
I know for a fact the Teddie takes unders as his family is very wealthy anyway. He wanted to leave the Tigers for a chance to win comps and he was a roosters supporter growing up also apparently.
But, that’s just what I heard from very reliable person (My uncle) who is great friends with a prominent player manager. He doesn’t tell me much though.

Def…I think that was what I was trying to say.. it’s been a long time! It’s been amazing that they have had a really solid squad for a good 25 years or so… they keep regenerating the produced players which allows them to go to market to get the X factor player. They also have had a good track record on revitalising careers at a discount rate (Morris x2 /Carney/ Ferguson/ Tetavano going back to Kidwell/Robinson etc…)
Once a team can land on a core group of 6 or so players, then it’s about timing and succession planning, development, and selection of the right purchases.

But what if one of the A grade number 9s just wants to be the starting 9? That seems to me to be Smiths motivation? If Grant isn’t there, chances are he stays!
Many players leave a club they love because of opportunity to be a starting player in their preferred position. Sam Verrils will most likely do the same!

I remember they apparently went hard for Kimmorley and didn’t get him… not sure when but the reports for whatever they are worth, made a big deal out of it!

Good article, I couldn’t care what anybody does in their personal life as long as it doesn’t affect me or others! If it affects performance, then it’s the clubs decision (I can decide not go and watch an underperforming team or player) What drive me mad and you hit the nail on the head, is when people report on it and say they are not good role models? Well, don’t report on it and no kid will know the difference! If they are not in public doing anything wrong in front of kids then don’t break the illusion kids have…nobody ever puts on the front page of the newspaper that Santa Clause is not real… because we like the fun and excitement it brings to kids.
The same reporters will go home and tell their kid how good Kurt Cobain or Ray Charles or Johnny Cash, Slash etc etc are… the fact they were all smack addicts doesn’t mean you turn the radio off when the kids in the car. We all know they had their issues and yet we laud these people, yet the media and perfect humans out there crucify athletes for doing something so many people do! These guys are great role models for discipline, sacrifice, focus and health and you do not get to their level without it, and that’s all kids need to know!
And yes, I’m a bore on the white powder but I enjoy myself!

Steve, I’ve followed your career since the days of the Kardomah and Springfields and the street press (it’s like 25 years?) I have a real issue with any news where they can not name the source. I believe it allows for too much fabrication and mischief especially from certain News outlets. Whether it’s, gossip, sports or politics etc The only news or stories that should be allowed to be published must be factual or reporting on first hand knowledge that can be tested, otherwise it can become a tool for propagating an agenda. If a director wants to remain anonymous, then you can’t print the story. It is of no interest to the people unless it is factual. If its an investigative story, then the first people who should know are the police or relative authorities and all reporting should then follow the progress without prejudice (unless its a police cover up or the likes) but there had better be good evidence. I’m sure you can counter this argument… which I look forward to…nothing in this article changes my opinion.

Does anybody who works for Murdoch have any integrity? Murdoch media only exists to propagate the Murdoch agenda. The sports stories etc filter into the bigger picture of political persuasion and power. Yes, there are a handful of journos that try to keep it balanced and factual… but that is a tiny pot in the Murdoch stable and they only exist to give the illusion of balance!

The quote casts dispersions on his own ability as a coach! The guy is petulant, always has been. Not sure where the future lies for Ricky, but I think his time Is up at the Raiders.

The thing is with JWH….take that stupid stuff out of his game, he is a hell of a front rower!
Has a massive motor and runs hard every time, but also works is butt off in defence with great agility!
He is a massive part of the roosters success for the last decade!

I had a couple of beers and a good chat with the great Arthur Beetson at Easts Leagues back in the day and asked him about the team he mentions in his book which were all known throughout the game as being on steroids.
A couple of their players may have been mentioned here… he did single out one front rower who has won premierships at multiple clubs!
It’s hard for me to admire Lazarus after that conversation and I was a massive fan!

I think Reynolds is the one that should accept the Souths deal if there are concerns about injuries.
The roosters had Minichello on year to year deals for the last few years of his career as Mini was as loyal to the club as they to him but he understood the salary cap implications if he could not continue his career. I think Jake Friend was on similar?
So why can’t Reynolds show his loyalty to the rabbits in the same way. I’m sure he will be looked after beyond his contract especially if he does get injured.
But if injury is not a concern then he should get what he wants where he can!
As has been stated, the rabbitohs have the money, they are just being smart!

Raiders v Tigers 89 had some massive dodgy calls go the raiders way!! But that’s footy!!

The Raiders defense was set… the roosters didn’t play the ball right away and they didn’t go left right away… the tri came after 4 tackles and was the result of BJ racing up out of the line and putting s as legs tackle on Cordner… he couldn’t get up and in the line in time and that’s where Keary exposed them!
Raiders first try came off a 6 again call that was incorrect also!!
They got many great calls including the opportunity of playing against 12 men … they just weren’t good enough …roosters defense was outstanding…