Nicholls

[semaj97]

At what point do we drop FPN to NSW cup and bring up Nicholls? In my opinion that should be FPN's last game for a little while. We needed him to step up against a very strong cowboys pack and he didn't really. FPN is good in the dressing room, so should he be 18th man maybe?

[DJ89]

Last change for FPN v his countrymen.

If he doesn't show up for that he should be banished.

Whitehead will take his spot anyway next year IMO.

[-PJ-]

At what point do we drop FPN to NSW cup and bring up Nicholls? In my opinion that should be FPN's last game for a little while. We needed him to step up against a very strong cowboys pack and he didn't really. FPN is good in the dressing room, so should he be 18th man maybe?

BJ is 18th man which makes FPN 19th.

[julian87]

I'd absolutely drop FPN next week.

Makes few runs, throws stupid passes and makes crucial errors. At this point of the season it stands as a really poor signing for mine.

[Matt]

FPN is either on or off. This is a massive issue. Even worse, he is off far more than he is on.

[LP Raider]

Nicholls gets a bad wrap much like Williams has, he has always been in my 17.

Kennedy or Frank, couldn't care less who is dropped.

[semaj97]

I agree that Kennedy doesn't add much to our team other than being a fill in if one of our guys goes down injured

[semaj97]

Is this maybe the time to give Pengai some first team action off the bench?

[Matt]

Is this maybe the time to give Pengai some first team action off the bench?

Gotta give him a shot at some stage

[Coastalraider]

Has Pangai played any NSW cup? I would think that if Ricky had any plans to give him first grade time he would have been playing against men rather than 20 year olds?

[Brew]

I would honestly rather Bateman play than Kennedy. I thought Bateman looked good in his limited time in first grade.

[-GD-]

FPN bar about two games has been woeful, should be at Mounties next week.

[Fair Cop]

FPN is failing. Nicholls has to be a better option.

[VictorTheViking]

After seeing nicholls in nsw cup today im not so sure :/, but anyone is better than fpn atm...terriblr

[dreaming09]

This is exactly why the Roosters moved him on. At this point in time he shouldn't be in the leadership group.
The younger boys are showing more commitment and leadership than big FPN an the moment.

[Matt]

Not sure Nicholls is the answer, but FPN isnt either.
Nicholls is a bit of a winning charm though, so could be worth swapping him in on that fact alone

[dubby]

Nichols is more consistent then FPN. Frankie, when angry, is a beast. Rest of the time he's mediocre.
However nichols will likely be moved on end of the year.

[Toviii]

Vaughan, Boyd, Shillington, and Nicholls are the best props at the club ATM. At least you know what you'll get from them.

[VictorTheViking]

After what i saw yesterday im liking lynch aswell

[BadnMean]

Nicholls was much better in his last 2 FG games than Frank has been in many of of his. Nicholls can't wreck a pack like FPN on his best days but talk about resting on your laurels.

Thing to consider is, if Nicholls had produced 5 runs for 45m and 20 tackles in his minutes we'd say "job done". From FPN we cry out for more. If FPN is on big $$ then it's a fair enough cry too.

I'd pick Nicholls over FPN. But Ricky won't. Not this year.

[BluntForce]

NICHOLLS and KOD were being dominated in defence. KOD rarely made impact and rarely found his front. NICHOLLS i will give a few more weeks to get his confidence back after his facial fracture, he was also getting dominated in defence yet had impact at the line.

You want your fronties to find their front after causing the D line to bend. KOD did not do this. LYNCh is mediocre at best.

For the PAGE bashers, he found his front virtually every time he took the ball up.

[VictorTheViking]

Blunty....page played all of 15 minutes yesterday....and wasnt hugely better than lynch if at all...did you watch more than one player?

[-TW-]

In pages defence, buttriss' service was ordinary

Numerous times he got floating end over end passes and the defence nailed him before he could wind up

He had a few good runs, and landed on his elbows for quick ptbs

[greeneyed]

I thought PAGE was pretty good yesterday really.

[Raidersrawesome]

Hes not playing big minutes .

[Green Jamey]

Nichols reminds me of Jason Ryles ,not a line breaker but a guy who makes metres regardless.
Page is a basher, like Ruben Wiki.

[mattygordo]

Nichols reminds me of Jason Ryles ,not a line breaker but a guy who makes metres regardless.
Page is a basher, like Ruben Wiki.

Nicholls made a line break that lead to a try v the titans. Made a lb in the Souths game as well. Fair effort for a prop. Has a good combination with Williams. He's really come on this year. Should be in the 17.

[Toviii]

If Ricky knows what is good for him he'll drop FPN for Nicholls.

[VictorTheViking]

Nicholls isnt really showing enough in nsw cup to warrant the call up...but what other choice do we have?

[Toviii]

Exactly. It's not like FPN is showing much in first grade. Has done nothing since the Titans game.

[Matt]

Given FPN has been ordinary, surely we are no worse off with Nicholls.
The alternative is to give Page or TPJ a debut.
How is Lynch going these days? Is he debut ready?
OR go to KOD for say a 20-25min stint.

[CJ42]

I don't get those saying Nicholls isn't showing enough in nsw cup, he was similar to that before playing FG this year and in FG was probably the form
Of his career.

[Please]

Is this not just a numpty swap?

Oh.. FPN is not sportsing good in first grade, let's swap him for this young fella that can't do sportsing good at a lower grade.

[Timbo]

I think the odds of Ricky dropping FPN are virtually nil.

He's said he wants rep players in the side so that the younger guys have the influence of 150+ first grade players, and guys who have experienced the intensity of matches at a level higher than FG.

That was his whole rationale for going so hard at FPN in the first place. He isn't going anywhere.

I would also like to ask everyone to look for something this weekend in FPN's play;

My flatmate is a huge Roosters fans, and I was lamenting the fact that FPN is either a MOTM performer, or passenger. He said whilst that's always been partially true and he copped a lot of flack for it at the Roosters, what is not often acknowledged is how much work he does off the ball and how important he is in set pieces. I have to admit, I had a look out for that on Saturday and he's not wrong - he runs excellent decoy lines and usually suckers in the defence quite well, I'm guessing solely on his reputation. He also hits and spins out of tackles quite well, usually drawing in a third man.

These are things that are not obvious unless you're really looking for them and that don't show up on the stats sheet. Keep your eyes on him this Saturday arvo and see if it's the case.

[Raidersrawesome]

That's a fair point Timbo.