Are the Roosters the most poorly behaved club in the NRL? Do they have a bad drinking culture?
After what has transpired this week, the answers to both questions would be yes.
Coach Brian Smith says in every press conference after the games that they "give away too many penalites and drop too much ball". The main theme I am trying to get across to you is that the problems at the Roosters is discipline.
I get the vibe that maybe some of the players feel as though they are bigger than the club and that they have no respect for the jersey on and off the field. Nate Myles in every game club game this year has looked a shadow of the player everybody knows he can be. Is it a case of complacency or just no respect for the Roosters. The Daily Telegraph revealed on Thursday that Nick Politis just plain doesnt like Myles which was the reason why he was free to negociate with rival clubs with a year still to run on his current contract.
Has this affected his form? Showing up to work each day knowing your'ne not wanted must be a tough spot to be in. Surely he could find some motivation in playing for his mates until years end. Despite a bad year a club level for Nate Myles he had an awesome State of Origin series for Queensland where he looked very comfortable and more like the Nate Myles of 2010.
Take Myles away and there is a bloke Named Todd Carney. Everyone knows the troubles that he has had off the field and we could talk about them all day.
I will say this though. When the Roosters signed Carney from purgatory in 2009 they knew full well the baggage that he brought with him. He gets sober for a year along with some of his teammates and they have a stunning year with Carney winning the Dally M Medal. Everyone knows the talent that is Todd Carney but I get the feeling that the Roosters though the problem was fixed.
Being an alchoholic is a fight that is never truly won and over the ensuing off season it had been reported that Carney was back on the drink. Knowing the baggage that he had, Nick Politis and Steve Noyce had a chance to try and steer Carney back to sobriety. I believe if the Roosters acted early they could have maybe had a chance at stopping the drink-driving case in February, the all night drinking session with Anthony Watts and the latest indiscretion with Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala.
On a positive note, Darren Lockyer plays career game 350. Possibly the biggest milestone the game has ever seen and the papers are filled with the Hollywood horror story that has become the Sydney Roosters 2011 season. Broncos v Cowboys is a sell-out for the occasion as it should be and it could determine which club will make a top 4 finish pending on what the Dragons can muster for the final 4 weeks before the playoffs.
Knights and Warriors play an important match across the ditch. This is another match that will have a big bearing on the final make up of the top 8.
Wests Tigers will attempt to win their 5th game on the spin as they take on Penrith at Centrebet Stadium where they haven't won in 5 years. They will need to win to get out of the dreaded 8th spot.
If the Rabbitohs defeat Canberra which they should, they will keep their September hopes alive.
All in all the game is in an awesome position and just about any team on their day can win the premiership come semi final time.
Up The Knights!!
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