LIVE GAME Round 18 v Roosters live game discussion

[Speed2burn]

Have whatever opinion you like, but yesterday he played better than 90% of Luai’s games for us thus far.

I think the biggest thing was our forwards yesterday … I don’t think they’ve laid a platform like that all year and it evidently showed. Not discrediting AD, but I think Luai would have played just as well behind that platform set

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Adam has shown impressive speed this year once through a gap. He also attacks the line at speed forcing the defenders to make a rushed decision. His lateral movements are still wanting a bit and he needs to straighten his attack, but both are also on the improve. His defence has improved considerably....he is currently no.117th in the league for missed tackles with 7 team mates racking up more....thats rare air for him historically.
He also has decent ball skills and has a big boot. His goal kicking can be very good as well. He is a leader on the field and has stated many times how much he wants this club to succeed and be a part of it.
He is an great backup comparatively and at 26 has many years still in him.
Unless he gets offered huge money elsewhere, wed be stupid to let a guy this competent walk as well, when weve persisted for so long with him when he was struggling. He performances this year have been a contributer to our more competitive game.

Good post but I cannot see him being a back-up for Luai and Fainu. He needs to look after his own interests and with the shortage of halves, this is the time for him to showcase his talent.

 

[innsaneink]

Hopefully just a burner seeing as he played through.

Yeah...burners though you generally seem to get over and get back to normal....he seemed to be feeling it for the rest of the game.
Just had a look around still no news on him yet

 

[Jolls]

Adam has shown impressive speed this year once through a gap. He also attacks the line at speed forcing the defenders to make a rushed decision. His lateral movements are still wanting a bit and he needs to straighten his attack, but both are also on the improve. His defence has improved considerably....he is currently no.117th in the league for missed tackles with 7 team mates racking up more....thats rare air for him historically.
He also has decent ball skills and has a big boot. His goal kicking can be very good as well. He is a leader on the field and has stated many times how much he wants this club to succeed and be a part of it.
He is an great backup comparatively and at 26 has many years still in him.
Unless he gets offered huge money elsewhere, wed be stupid to let a guy this competent walk as well, when weve persisted for so long with him when he was struggling. He performances this year have been a contributer to our more competitive game.

While what you have stated is correct he still gives up on the defensive play, he still watches dropped balls lie on the ground instead of throwing his body on it, he still fails to lead at crucial times when you really need a leader to stand up (2 x FG opportunites are an example).

I'm not trying the denigrate the bloke, he played well yesterday, but he is not an NRL level half. He has been solid at centre but is not an attacking threat. I agree that there is a place for him in the NRL. I trust that it is not at our club though. We constantly moan that we aren't improving yet now we are happy to accept a bog average player as being acceptable.

If we want to be a top 4 club then we can't afford to be the nice guys and hold onto players becasue they have a good heart. How many Twals, Seyfarths and ADs can you carry? As KoE level players I woudl keep them all - but as starters we need to aim higher.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Yeah...burners though you generally seem to get over and get back to normal....he seemed to be feeling it for the rest of the game.
Just had a look around still no news on him yet

Ice pack on his elbow in the sheds post-game too

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

On reflection, it was youth & inexperience in our team which was costly and kept the game tight with crucial moments.

Luke Laulilii - the 2 one-on-one misses unfortunately contributed to 2 tries to a star attacking centre. He'll learn, he'll improve. Aside from those he was generally strong.

Kit Laulilii - the knock on at the play the ball from kick off was just adrenaline & lack of game IQ. He's still a year away IMO from NRL needing to work on his game in NSW Cup but has plenty of potential.

Tony Sukkar - gave away 2 penalties at crucial times which got the Roosters good field position. Other than those, he was strong, big effort in defence.

 

[Tucker]

Good post but I cannot see him being a back-up for Luai and Fainu. He needs to look after his own interests and with the shortage of halves, this is the time for him to showcase his talent.

Lets be serious here...Latu has a body made from cobwebs and spit. He is injury prone. He is very unlikely to play a full season next year. Luai may be in SOO again also. We need a backup who can put a decent number of games together for us in the halves. Toa is also injury prone. Us having a player who can easily fill 2 positions and play as good as the guy who is out is valuable.
Im assuming Bud is not returning...Who is that going to be if not Doueihi?

 

[Tucker]

While what you have stated is correct he still gives up on the defensive play, he still watches dropped balls lie on the ground instead of throwing his body on it, he still fails to lead at crucial times when you really need a leader to stand up (2 x FG opportunites are an example).

I'm not trying the denigrate the bloke, he played well yesterday, but he is not an NRL level half. He has been solid at centre but is not an attacking threat. I agree that there is a place for him in the NRL. I trust that it is not at our club though. We constantly moan that we aren't improving yet now we are happy to accept a bog average player as being acceptable.

If we want to be a top 4 club then we can't afford to be the nice guys and hold onto players becasue they have a good heart. How many Twals, Seyfarths and ADs can you carry? As KoE level players I woudl keep them all - but as starters we need to aim higher.

Yes as starters, there are too many of them....but for now their replacements are not ready. The cupboard looks pretty bare externally to boot.
Our goal is not top 4 yet....its a few years away.
Our goal is consistency and winning tight games so that we can lift out of the cellar.

 

[Strider]

Yeah our depth is pretty non existent.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Lets be serious here...Latu has a body made from cobwebs and spit. He is injury prone. He is very unlikely to play a full season next year. Luai may be in SOO again also. We need a backup who can put a decent number of games together for us in the halves. Toa is also injury prone. Us having a player who can easily fill 2 positions and play as good as the guy who is out is valuable.
Im assuming Bud is not returning...Who is that going to be if not Doueihi?

Doueihi is a talented player and a great back-up to have for the halves so we're on the same page. In this market with the shortage of quality halves, I cannot see him remaining when other clubs will offer more.

 

[Tucker]

Doueihi is a talented player and a great back-up to have for the halves so we're on the same page. In this market with the shortage of quality halves, I cannot see him remaining when other clubs will offer more.

Yes, and Ive said the same.
If he gets offered big paper, then he'll have to go as we need to spend in other areas.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

While what you have stated is correct he still gives up on the defensive play, he still watches dropped balls lie on the ground instead of throwing his body on it, he still fails to lead at crucial times when you really need a leader to stand up (2 x FG opportunites are an example).

I'm not trying the denigrate the bloke, he played well yesterday, but he is not an NRL level half. He has been solid at centre but is not an attacking threat. I agree that there is a place for him in the NRL. I trust that it is not at our club though. We constantly moan that we aren't improving yet now we are happy to accept a bog average player as being acceptable.

If we want to be a top 4 club then we can't afford to be the nice guys and hold onto players becasue they have a good heart. How many Twals, Seyfarths and ADs can you carry? As KoE level players I woudl keep them all - but as starters we need to aim higher.

For me if we are going to the next level, AD does not have a spot in our first 17. As a depth backline utility on $300k max yes but he will want more hence signing on with Moses.

For too long he has produced decent games like yesterday but they are few and far between. We've been bitten many times. I do admit he has been solid at left centre this season, mostly in defence, but he's not the future in this position.

And yes we see his passing ability & physical presence but as Jolls says he does not have the effort areas required of a lock forward and he's not all-of-a-sudden going to find that in a pre-season at his age. That's may opinion anyway.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Doueihi is a talented player and a great back-up to have for the halves so we're on the same page. In this market with the shortage of quality halves, I cannot see him remaining when other clubs will offer more.

The only way he remains is if the Perth Bears sign him for 2027 and we offer a 1-year extension.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Yes, and Ive said the same.
If he gets offered big paper, then he'll have to go as we need to spend in other areas.

Here's a left field option, watching Bula play he is the classic second 5/8 from fullback. We know Turuva can play fullback and Staines is a quality winger. With the shortage of halves, it is becoming increasingly unlikely you can keep an NRL quality half in NSW Cup. I'm sure Marshall will know what to do.

 

[Jolls]

Yes as starters, there are too many of them....but for now their replacements are not ready. The cupboard looks pretty bare externally to boot.
Our goal is not top 4 yet....its a few years away.
Our goal is consistency and winning tight games so that we can lift out of the cellar.

Consistency was what 25 was supposed to be about. For mine our roster has us as about a 12th in the NRL pecking order, you have stated that shoud be top 8. Clearly we disagree on the roster quality; however, either way the strategic goal is to become a top 4 club. To achieve this we need to make the hard right decsions now. This is where the moral courage of leaders starts to show.

Benji and Richo have copped a fair bit over the Galvin/TDS decisions. I personally think the early decisions on Galvin were the wrong ones - but I think both have shown courage in making the right decison for the club now and going forward. The TDS call would have been very difficult - nto one I would like to have had to make but they did and they are owning it. Only time will tell if it was the right one or not.

The decision on the roster for 2026 and beyond needs to be made with the same conviction. We can't afford to keep AD, Twal and Seyfarth level players on the roster as starters. Bula will be another of the hard right decsions that have to be made in the near future. He is a good fullback - but if we want to be a top 4 club - I think we need better.

We need to invest heavily in his development over the off season and see what he brings by mid 26. Unless he improves his ability in and around the ruck we will continue to miss the opportunities generated and that is one of the differences between being top 4 and the rest.

We have languished at the bottom of the ladder for too long. We need to make the hard right decisions based on the what is being demonstrated and not be convinced by a win that guys like AD have the skills required to have us climbing the ladder.

 

[TopTiger]

Ice pack on his elbow in the sheds post-game too

Could also possibly be a bicep injury but he did battle his way through the game.

 

[clontarfkid]

The only way he remains is if the Perth Bears sign him for 2027 and we offer a 1-year extension.

That cld work for everybody....
Only Perth wld sign him as their first choice no 6...and it buys us some time
Dependent on Bud ,who last I heard was being returned to sender..4 into 2 wont go

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Lets be serious here...Latu has a body made from cobwebs and spit. He is injury prone. He is very unlikely to play a full season next year. Luai may be in SOO again also. We need a backup who can put a decent number of games together for us in the halves. Toa is also injury prone. Us having a player who can easily fill 2 positions and play as good as the guy who is out is valuable.
Im assuming Bud is not returning...Who is that going to be if not Doueihi?

They see Mason as the emerging 5/8 IMO, maybe dummy 1/2 in preseason plans?
Our new KOE centres have the centre positions covered.

 

[Tucker]

Here's a left field option, watching Bula play he is the classic second 5/8 from fullback. We know Turuva can play fullback and Staines is a quality winger. With the shortage of halves, it is becoming increasingly unlikely you can keep an NRL quality half in NSW Cup. I'm sure Marshall will know what to do.

This part I am very very sceptical of. Very.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

That cld work for everybody....
Only Perth wld sign him as their first choice no 6...and it buys us some time
Dependent on Bud ,who last I heard was being returned to sender..4 into 2 wont go

Seriously I wouldn't mind Bud returning with our roster as it is. The only issue would be taking up the reported $550K per year for 2 years and his relationship with Benji. He'd be a great #14 as halves & hooker cover who could relieve Api for 10 mins and even slot into lock for 10 mins when forwards are getting tired to bring line speed, leg speed & depth in backline structure.