Round 3
Sydney Roosters 8 l. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Anderson slams Roosters following another loss
Mon April 2, 2007
Sydney Roosters Chris Anderson is already on shaky ground after three convincing losses and he hasn't held back accusing his players of giving up following Manly's 30-8 victory at Aussie Stadium yesterday.

The Roosters were leading an under-strengthened Manly side 8-6 until Brett Stewart's second try in the 54th minute changed the tide of the match and the fortunes of the Roosters.

Anderson said, "We just put our hands up. It's not a good thing for a group of players to do.

"Whether they've done it before I don't know. We've just got no fight in us at the moment. We're as low as we can go now.

'We've got to decide one way or another - up or down. Soak up the atmosphere. This is about as bad as it gets."

The Roosters were playing against a Manly side minus captain Matt Orford and Internationals Steve Menzies and Steve Matai and Anderson commented on that, "a good opportunity for us to get two points - they didn't throw a lot at us."

Anderson also added, "As soon as things are down, we want to walk out of the pub."

He was also harsh on himself admitting that being three years out of the NRL had seen him make mistakes. Anderson went on to say, "I've been a bit off the pace. I've lost six on the trot before - we don't want to go there."

In a stark admission, Anderson said that victory yesterday would have, "covered up some things that need to be confronted."

Anderson concluded by saying, "We need to soak up how bad the feeling in the dressing room was after that. You had to be in there - it was pretty ordinary. It's not football that's going to pull it out. It's effort and a little bit of resolve as a group.

"We've got to get some fight. I've got to change a few things and be a little bit better at what I do. I think I've missed some things I should have got."

Manly led 6-0 for much of the first half after Brett Stewart scored a soft try from dummy half in the 23rd minute. The scores were locked up on the stroke of half-time when Mitchell Aubusson scored with Craig Fitzgibbon adding the extras. The Roosters gained the lead four minutes into the second half when Fitzgibbon landed a penalty goal.

Brett Stewart scored a fine individual try in the 54th minute with Manly regaining the lead 12-8 and from there it was a sorry tale for the Bondi men. Anthony Watmough (60m), Glenn Hall (65m) and Travis Burns (78m) added further tries for the depleted Sea Eagles to continue their unbeaten run in 2007 and keep the Roosters stuck on 999 victories.

Anderson was appointed on a two year contract by the Roosters before handing over the reigns to Brad Fittler. Both Anderson and Fittler had a successful association as coach and captain of the Australian Rugby League team in the 1999 Tri Nations, 2000 World Cup and 2001 Ashes Series and it's going to take a lot for Anderson and his assistant Fittler to dig the Roosters out of this hole.

No one can blame Anderson for his comments on the Roosters performance as their supporters and sponsors deserve better than what has been dished out in the opening three rounds. The Roosters however aren't the only big name club on their own in the struggling department with 2006 premiers Brisbane and 2005 premiers Wests Tigers both winless and 2004 premiers The Bulldogs only winning their first match yesterday in what was described as one of the five most boring games.

The Roosters face up to Brisbane in the traditional Good Friday clash and will now be over shadowed by the inform Rabbitohs hosting the Bulldogs in the Telstra Stadium derby with Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court predicting a crowd of around 50,000. Once the Roosters get that elusive 1,000th victory then their season will turn around.

Those wanting Anderson sacked need to have a good look at themselves. Anderson has inherited previous rubbish compounded by poor recruitment and planning since the retirement of Fittler after the 2004 Grand Final. The Roosters have invested high amounts of money on the wrong players and none of those players have produced the results and consistency for what was spent on them. Anderson has to rebuild the Roosters from scratch and develop Fittler as a top line coach in the process and it's going to take a lot of time and patience.

One thing though the Roosters should be encouraged by if management keeps faith in Anderson that he's had a tremendous record in development and rebuilding of sides. He took a no-name Halifax side to Challenge Cup glory in 1987 before joining the Bulldogs as coach. Anderson inherited a side stale from the successful 1980's era that was left in a tremendous mess after the 1989 season. He shed many under performing big names and built the club around Terry Lamb. It proved to be a success as Anderson and Lamb developed the Bulldogs back into a powerhouse and a new generation of players aside from Lamb became genuine premiership contenders by 1993 and won the title in 1995. Anderson later moved to the Melbourne Storm where he built the club from scratch and delivered them a title by the end of their second season before politics forced him out of the building.

The Roosters supporters have to keep faith in Anderson and the rebuilding period taking place.

As for Manly, it's all good news for them. They are shaping up as one of three genuine title contenders along with the Storm and Cowboys. The Sea Eagles have all areas on the field covered and will be there when the whips are cracking.



Roberts in for Soliola
Tue March 27, 2007
Sydney Roosters coach Chris Anderson has rushed back Amos Roberts into the starting side for Sunday's crunch match against Manly with Kiwi International Iosia Soliola being dropped back to Premier League.

Roberts made a successful return from injury for Newtown last week and Anderson had no hesitation in rushing him back into the side at the expense of Soliola who has been struggling for form since an outstanding Tri Nations campaign last year.

Anderson has retained Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce in the halves with youngster Mitchell Aubusson to start from the bench. Anderson does view Anasta as a lock, but with Pearce only in his second match and Aubusson still only a kid, Anderson believes Anasta's experience in the No.6 is vital for the early exchanges.

Nigel Plum comes into the lock position for the injured Anthony Tupou whilst Chris Beattie and Shane Shackleton replace Mickey Paea and Charles Tonga on the bench.

The knives are already out for Anderson after two disappointing losses and the Roosters struggling to build up any combinations after two poor seasons in the post-Brad Fittler era and even worse recruitment policies since Fittler departed the scene.

If the Roosters continue to lose early matches than Anderson who is inheriting the previous mess since the 2004 Grand Final will be the one shown the door. The Roosters have to keep faith in Anderson and allow him time to rebuild and repair the recruitment mistakes made since 2004. Buying an over the hill front-rower is not the answer and the signings of Braith Anasta, Ashley Harrison and Nate Myles haven't delivered the Roosters all they hoped for.

Anderson is an outstanding coach with a great record in developing teams either from scratch or when they've gone through complete rebuilding phases. Anderson's achievements in starting up Melbourne, rebuilding Canterbury after the fallout from a successful era and getting Halifax to Challenge Cup glory should never be under-estimated.

Sydney Roosters team v Manly, Sunday 1st April, Aussie Stadium, 3:00pm:

1 Anthony Minichiello, 2 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 3 Joel Monaghan, 4 Amos Roberts, 5 Sam Perrett, 6 Braith Anasta, 7 Mitchell Pearce, 8 David Shillington, 9 Craig Wing, 10 Danny Nutley, 11 Nate Myles, 12 Craig Fitzgibbon (c), 13 Nigel Plum. Subs: 14 Chris Beattie, 15 Shane Shackleton, 16 Mitchell Aubusson, 17 Lopini Paea.

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