2019 Grand Final V Roosters: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[luffraider]

Lockyer was quoted in an article saying George Williams is a dynamic player and could play centres if required.

Seriously some of these former footy players are brain damaged

[Neeeegz]

If he was concussed can we give him another before we run out on Sunday. He went next level

I personally don't believe he was concussed. You can get a bit dizzy for a few secs from a knock and shake it off without being concussed.

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Get Mike Tyson in for an uppercut as the Viking clap starts

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[Neeeegz]

Hodgo will be playing, no doubt about it. Be interesting to see if Havili is on the bench though, just between you and me smashed hat, he has a Steve Jackson try in him the way he bounces off tacklers.

I'd actually have Havili in front of Lui now. Havili can easily play a middle forward role if Hodgo plays 80 minutes, and unfortunately for Lui, errors have started to creep into his game.

I'd also carry Simonsson, Guler and Horsburgh on the bench.

Agree, hate to say it

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[Neeeegz]

Given recent events my bench is:

14. Simonsson
15. Havili
16. Horsburgh
17. Lui

This covers for every potential scenario.

Havili runs just as hard as a prop and can play in the middle.

Papa will be playing big minutes again and Tapine can extend too.

We only need two genuine props on the bench. Guler only gets 10 minutes stints anyway it's not like he's crucial to our success.

I feel like if we're to beat the Roosters we need to throw it around a bit and Havili's offloads will help.

Yes, gives our attack another dimension

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[julian87]

Just on some of the discussion from earlier today about the roosters side. I can’t see them playing Friend. There’s absolutely no way he’d drop a forward off the bench for him when both Radley and Aubusson cover 9 (and the backs) pretty well.

[TongueFTW]

Havilii has been great but he has been found out defensively occasionally. I think he puts a lot of effort into his runs and can become gassed in the defensive line. His defence at marker has been caught out a few times this season. This is why Lui is ahead of him at the moment.

[Botman]

Yeah i was talking to the Rickman earlier saying i'd have Sutton over Lui... but i can also see some value in Havilii there too

in limited minutes, and i think that's all that will asked of our 4th middle (which is the role Havilii would play so long as Hodgson wasnt hurt in game) i think Havilii would be and has been a good impact middle... and the added value of giving us a servicable option at hooker is good

but the other side of that is... we're a rank outside here, we're going to need to be at our best to win this and if Hodgson is hurt, does Havilii save the day? I would say probably not. If Hodgson or the halves get hurt, i would say lady luck was not with us on that day and the result is what it is... i favour playing a high ceiling team over raising our floor.

Which is why id have Havilii or Sutton over Lui... i think they're both more dynamic and the more i think about it, the more i like Havilii... He's proven to be the sort of player who can come on, and bulldoze his way into creating something. That might be pretty useful... i wouldnt select him on the basis of covering Hodgson... I dont think you go into GF's looking to try and cover loses like that.

[Neeeegz]

The fact that we he only been beaten by more than 6 points this year gives me great hope in this game..The biggest worry for mine lies in the battle of the halves.
Let's hope they can find some composure this week because we are going to need it...
The defense is what has got us this far but our attack has been clunky as all hell and most our tries have been very lucky. Just hope our luck continues.

If your forwards dominate and your line speed is good, halves are taken out of the game pretty much

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[Northern Raider]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

[TongueFTW]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

I am pretty sure Stuart is behind a lot of this exaggerated hype behind the Roosters (both Ritchie and Kent are close to him). The betting is not too dissimilar from us against Souths.

[Northern Raider]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

I am pretty sure Stuart is behind a lot of this exaggerated hype behind the Roosters (both Ritchie and Kent are close to him). The betting is not too dissimilar from us against Souths.

We were $1.65 favourites against Souths. We're $3.30 underdogs on Sunday.

[greeneyed]

Preview of Big League Grand Final cover.


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[TongueFTW]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

I am pretty sure Stuart is behind a lot of this exaggerated hype behind the Roosters (both Ritchie and Kent are close to him). The betting is not too dissimilar from us against Souths.

We were $1.65 favourites against Souths. We're $3.30 underdogs on Sunday.

I mean with us in the role of favourites. We were around 1.40 on Betfair against Souths which is what the Roosters are at the moment. My point is it isn’t that extreme and unprecedented in a finals game.

[raiderskater]

Gosh, some of you are being downright awful to Lui, who has done a superb job for us this year.

[Azza]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

Will be fine. Turnip head says we will be a shoe in to win

[Raiders666]

The fact that we he only been beaten by more than 6 points this year gives me great hope in this game..The biggest worry for mine lies in the battle of the halves.
Let's hope they can find some composure this week because we are going to need it...
The defense is what has got us this far but our attack has been clunky as all hell and most our tries have been very lucky. Just hope our luck continues.

If your forwards dominate and your line speed is good, halves are taken out of the game pretty much

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Maybe....They still need to distribute and make the right options.. Even more important is the kicking game. Not sure I've seen the Roosters kick out on the full as much as we do.
I just hope the boys play a little more calm than they did against the Bunnies

[Woodgers]

Yeah i was talking to the Rickman earlier saying i'd have Sutton over Lui... but i can also see some value in Havilii there too

in limited minutes, and i think that's all that will asked of our 4th middle (which is the role Havilii would play so long as Hodgson wasnt hurt in game) i think Havilii would be and has been a good impact middle... and the added value of giving us a servicable option at hooker is good

but the other side of that is... we're a rank outside here, we're going to need to be at our best to win this and if Hodgson is hurt, does Havilii save the day? I would say probably not. If Hodgson or the halves get hurt, i would say lady luck was not with us on that day and the result is what it is... i favour playing a high ceiling team over raising our floor.

Which is why id have Havilii or Sutton over Lui... i think they're both more dynamic and the more i think about it, the more i like Havilii... He's proven to be the sort of player who can come on, and bulldoze his way into creating something. That might be pretty useful... i wouldnt select him on the basis of covering Hodgson... I dont think you go into GF's looking to try and cover loses like that.

I think it would be a mountain but I don't think it is unattainable to win if Hodgo went down and Havili stepped in at some point. I've been saying forever and a day, I think the big middles prefer playing with Havili at dummy half, you're just steaming onto the ball, you're not trying to guess what the dummy half might do and how many times he circles around before passing it to you. It's a different dynamic which i've been talking about since Baptiste days. There is something said for a simple dummy half if you're a big middle. The further options suffer obviously but I don't think it is a done deal. Havili is not a rubbish player, he's at least serviceable.

You blokes are probably convincing me either way, play him as a point of different and a bit more mobility and ball play.

[afgtnk]

I think the 'problem' with Lui is that when the physicality of the game kicks up as few gears, as it always does in finals, he's too prone to getting dominated due to his lack of power.

It works fine when he's playing in the lower intensity of a regular season match where players aren't looking to belt you into next week on every single play. No doubt he's been a solid performer this season but I think Stick may have made the wrong choice here.

As for Havili, the primary reason he plays is to provide that cover for Hodgo IMO. If it's a straight middle forward swap Sutton wins every day of the week and twice on Grand Final day,

[Boomercm]

Ugly story breaking about Bateman’s contract talks. Seems his new agent is doing him no favours! Hopefully the headlines won’t be a distraction.

His new agent is a knob of the highest order. There is a few of them (Sezer, BJ, JB) up in the air for next year. It won't prove a distraction this week though.

[Botman]

agreed, also errors have recently crept back into his game.

[Billy Walker]

Ugly story breaking about Bateman’s contract talks. Seems his new agent is doing him no favours! Hopefully the headlines won’t be a distraction.

His new agent is a knob of the highest order. There is a few of them (Sezer, BJ, JB) up in the air for next year. It won't prove a distraction this week though.

I think JB has thrown cold water on it which is great. At the end of the day even if it was true and terrible it isn’t like it would make Papa decide to run any less harder or Jack decide he want a premiership ring any less. We are going into a GF virtually injury free with no judiciary issues to resolve- it’s all gravy!!

[-PJ-]

I do love gravy...

[Warlord]

Ugly story breaking about Bateman’s contract talks. Seems his new agent is doing him no favours! Hopefully the headlines won’t be a distraction.

His new agent is a knob of the highest order. There is a few of them (Sezer, BJ, JB) up in the air for next year. It won't prove a distraction this week though.

I think JB has thrown cold water on it which is great. At the end of the day even if it was true and terrible it isn’t like it would make Papa decide to run any less harder or Jack decide he want a premiership ring any less. We are going into a GF virtually injury free with no judiciary issues to resolve- it’s all gravy!!

You've done a brilliant job of assuaging my fears here - been having minor palpitations over losing JB!

[cat]

Preview of Big League Grand Final cover.


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Is it still Thursday it goes on sale or early this week?

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[raiderskater]

If it's a straight middle forward swap Sutton wins every day of the week and twice on Grand Final day,

Except that Sutton hasn't played for a couple of weeks. That's a big deal.

[Woodgers]

Dunno if that is a massive deal if you're asking him for 2 x 10 minutes in a GF packed with adrenaline. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been priming him for it.

[Seiffert82]

I like the idea of Havili on the bench, not just as coverage for Hodgo, but for the shock value of playing Havili at 9 and Hodgo as first receiver at some point in the game. I think this structure worked wonders in attack when we had Baptiste coming off the bench, but we haven't seen Hodgson at 7 for ages.

I dunno, carrying three props in Guler, Horsburgh and Lui on the bench seems a bit of an overkill. In a game where you might want to throw the dice I'd look at a bench of Simonsson, Havili, Red Rage and Lui (or Guler). Tapine can easily play more minutes in the middle than he has been.

Our attack has been as clunky as anything all season - why not throw something different at the Roosters for 15-20 mins if we are chasing points?

[pickles]

One advantage that Lui does have over Guler is that we know he can knock out decent minutes if he needs to and maintain the quality. I think Ricky like Guler as a big body and that has been necessary against the Bunnies and Storm packs.

Sutton probably looks better when he plays more minutes and with our current team that might work against him.

The reality this week is that some quality players who have made a massive contribution to the season are going to miss out this week and I genuinely feel for them. It really takes a squad to get this far.

[RedRaider]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

1965 was St.George v South Sydney with more than 78,000 watching at the SCG. St.George won their 10th straight title. I don't know what Dean Ritchie is talking about regarding 1965.

1969 was a boil over with Balmain beating Souths in the Grand Final. I remember watching it and it was the longest Rugby League game ever. Everytime the Rabbitohs got a run on, a Balmain player would go down and the game would stop. I think we saw the same tactics when the Chooks got us by 4 points in Rd 21 this year. The trainers now control the game in that they signal an injury to a player and the game stops. It breaks the momentum of the attacking team when the defending team constantly has players going to ground. As we saw in Rd 21 this year some of the players were 40-50 meters from the action but still the play was brought to a halt. Robinsons Momentum Killer Tactics. Amazing that a squirt of the miracle water saw the Chook players on their feet and playing 'as if' nothing had happened.

[-PJ-]

Preview of Big League Grand Final cover.


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Is it still Thursday it goes on sale or early this week?

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And will it be $9.95

[kiwi raider]

I like the idea of Havili on the bench, not just as coverage for Hodgo, but for the shock value of playing Havili at 9 and Hodgo as first receiver at some point in the game. I think this structure worked wonders in attack when we had Baptiste coming off the bench, but we haven't seen Hodgson at 7 for ages.

I dunno, carrying three props in Guler, Horsburgh and Lui on the bench seems a bit of an overkill. In a game where you might want to throw the dice I'd look at a bench of Simonsson, Havili, Red Rage and Lui (or Guler). Tapine can easily play more minutes in the middle than he has been.

Our attack has been as clunky as anything all season - why not throw something different at the Roosters for 15-20 mins if we are chasing points?

yea that was something I was thinking too, if we're chasing points and our attack isn't working this is something you might want to have up as an option.
I'm just not sure you change a team at all that's got you to this point though, interesting debate

[Northern Raider]

Dean Ritchie on NRL 360 said based on betting odds we would be the biggest upset since 1965. There's plenty of ammunition for Sticky to play the underdog card.

Being realistic though, we fans shouldn't underestimate the task ahead.

1965 was St.George v South Sydney with more than 78,000 watching at the SCG. St.George won their 10th straight title. I don't know what Dean Ritchie is talking about regarding 1965.

1969 was a boil over with Balmain beating Souths in the Grand Final. I remember watching it and it was the longest Rugby League game ever. Everytime the Rabbitohs got a run on, a Balmain player would go down and the game would stop. I think we saw the same tactics when the Chooks got us by 4 points in Rd 21 this year. The trainers now control the game in that they signal an injury to a player and the game stops. It breaks the momentum of the attacking team when the defending team constantly has players going to ground. As we saw in Rd 21 this year some of the players were 40-50 meters from the action but still the play was brought to a halt. Robinsons Momentum Killer Tactics. Amazing that a squirt of the miracle water saw the Chook players on their feet and playing 'as if' nothing had happened.

He may have got the wrong year or more likely I didn't hear it right.

1969 = the famous Balmain Flop. That premiership was all the talk back in 1989 with many saying the 20 year cycle was an omen of a Tigers win. Raiders caused a big upset that day too. Anybody know what the betting market was back then? My Sportsbet account wasn't active.

[LastRaider]

So this is how I see it.

If you look at the last 10 years of Grand Finals it’s not the best attacking team or the team with the best set plays, the glamour players or who executes best.

It’s the team who defends best, scraps for everything and captures moments which win Grand Finals. If you look at how we played this year this is what we do. We defend hard and we are opportunitists who capitalise on moments. We have the formula to win this grand final and being an underdog is just the way I like it.

We are the quiet achievers, the scrappers, we’re awkward to play, we are the round pegs in the square hole. We are Raiders!

[Green Blogger]

I love the way that we are being totally written off by the Sydney media. I just read an article that describes the Roosters forward pack as the most feared pack in the game. Really? I get the wraps on their young players but how does a pack containing Radley, Aubusson, Verrills and Liu be better than a forward pack that contains six international reps (acknolwedging that Sia is a former international)? I sense that people are seeing what they want to see and not actually stopping to look at the facts. The Raiders have 7 internationals and 2 state of origin reps running out on Sunday that is not bad.

Dean Ritchie is the only one I have heard this week pick up on this. Last night on NRL360 when the usual conversation was going on about the Rooster by how far he highlighted that the entire Canberra forward pack are Internationals and this is not going to be the walk over that people think it is.

Bring it on!

[Beejay]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... cd0430f9d7

Has anyone else posted this article from Daily Telegraph Nick Campton?
Probably the best article ever written. Pretty much every person on this forum would be feeling these words more than anyone outside of the Raiders could ever imagine.