Buzz’s highlights & lowlights: Trent Robinson needs to replace Chad Townsend in Roosters halves to save season
The Roosters can’t sit back and wait for Sam Walker to return. BUZZ ROTHFIELD reveals the halves shake-up Trent Robinson needs to make to get the best out of his team, plus more in his highlights and lowlights.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Chad Townsend’s statistics in the Roosters’ loss to the Titans on Friday night are a huge concern for coach Trent Robinson – zero runs, zero metres.
Now we all know Cronulla’s 2016 premiership-winning playmaker has never been a running halfback. He’s more of an organiser.
However, the Roosters can’t just sit back and wait for Sam Walker to return in 8-10 weeks.
They need to try Connor Watson and Sandon Smith in the halves. Or give boom rookie Toby Rodwell an opportunity. He’s only 19 but he can play.
Whatever happens, Robinson needs to find a way to get more quality possession to his highly talented centres – Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia.
HIGHLIGHT
A round of upsets, first victories of the season for the St George Illawarra Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys and the proof that regular top-four clubs Melbourne, Penrith and the Sharks are all very beatable this year.
LOWLIGHT
Referee Chris Butler. He not only allowed Reed Mahoney to stay on the field against Cronulla on Saturday night but he was also the man in the bunker who inexplicably denied Penrith prop Moses Leota a fair try against the Rabbitohs on Thursday night.
SHOOSH
Poor old Brandon Smith can’t take a trick. He was absent all week from Roosters training and couldn’t go to Friday night’s match against the Titans after being struck down with a bad dose of influenza. It also meant he couldn’t do his weekly podcast with James Graham.
SPOTTED
Roosters board member Mark Bouris breaking into a gallop to try to get to the kick off of Friday night’s match against the Titans at Allianz Stadium. Our spies saw him sprinting down Moore Park Road as the match started and as fast as he was going, not even Dom Young would have got there in time.
SPOTTED
Premier Chris Minns and NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley in the Melbourne Storm sheds at halftime at Kogarah on Saturday afternoon, not that they were much help for coach Craig Bellamy on a bad day at the office for the super coach.
SPOTTED
The Roosters flogged the Bulldogs 36-4 in SG Ball on Saturday with Tyson Walker, the 17-year-old younger brother of Sam Walker, standing out for the Chooks. Like Sam, Tyson’s a goal-kicker who kicked six from seven attempts in heavy conditions at Mascot. Nick Politis, Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend and Mitch Aubusson were all there to watch the next generation of rookies.
SPOTTED
Incoming St George Illawarra chief executive Tim Watsford in a corporate suite at Kogarah on Saturday chatting to Anthony Pitt, founder of the Academy clothing brand and husband of Fox Sports star Lara Pitt.
360 VIEW
Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm tonight with Braith Anasta, Gordie Tallis, Brent Read and Manly Sea Eagles boss Tony Mestrov, who will take us through the Sea Eagles plans for life after Daly Cherry-Evans.
RICKY’S DILEMMA
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has spoken of his recruitment headaches at the Raiders over the futures of experienced halfback Jamal Fogarty and hooker Tom Starling.
It’s become a dilemma at a development club where so many outstanding young players are emerging to bang on the door for a starting spot, including rookies Ethan Sanders and Owen Pattie.
“I’ve told Jamal and Tommy I want them both to stay,” Stuart said. “I still need their experience to help bring through the kids.
“Jamal and Tommy are both exceptional people to play these roles but I can’t guarantee any player a first grade starting spot.
“If the senior players can’t handle the fact these young players are coming through, they are better off finding another deal.”
“I want every player in our top 30 to know the top 17 each week is picked on form.”
Fogarty has been offered a big money deal at the Manly Sea Eagles as a replacement for Daly Cherry-Evans.
“I’ve told Jamal that if he can get a three-year deal on good money for his wife and family, he should take it,” Stuart said, “but I also said I’d prefer him to stay.
“But I can’t change our long-term vision of bringing talented young players through.
“These kids are aware there are more experienced players in front of them when they sign.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Buzz’s highlights & lowlights: Trent Robinson needs to replace Chad Townsend in Roosters halves to save season
Sport Confidential: Bizarre loophole blocks Bronco’s Super League move
After falling down the playmaking pecking order at Brisbane, Jock Madden’s hopes of a move away to the Super League have been thwarted by a little-known qualification rule. That and more in Sport Confidential.
Bred not Bought: The facts that Roosters haters can’t handle
Critics love to bag the Roosters as a club that buys, rather than nurtures, talent but these are the numbers which will make rival fans eat their sombreros.