Mitchell Pearce can lead Sydney Roosters revival, says Des Hasler

[c-b-b]

Mitchell Pearce is the player to spark a Sydney Roosters revival, Des Hasler believes.

The Roosters host Canterbury in round 17 of the NRL on Thursday night, in Pearce's return from a calf injury.

The former representative playmaker has only played three matches this year due to injury and suspension, and Bulldogs coach Hasler believes Pearce can lead the second-last placed Roosters out of the doldrums.

Ready for action: Mitchell Pearce. Photo: Getty Images

"With Mitchell back, this is probably one of the strongest sides they have fielded this year, all bar Boyd Cordner, they are coming off the bye and they should be pretty fired up," Hasler said at Belmore Sports Ground on Wednesday.

"I imagine Mitchell will want to play as much football as he can.

"Any rugby league player is at their happiest when they are playing footy and he will want to get out there and make every minute count."

Pearce will join Jackson Hastings in the Roosters halves, with Ryan Matterson being pushed out to 18th man.

The Roosters also welcome back State Of Origin stars Blake Ferguson and Aidan Guerra, while winger Joseph Manu falls out of the Tricolours' side.

Centre Josh Morris hasn't been named for the Bulldogs as his recuperation from a groin injury suffered in NSW camp ahead of State of Origin II continues.

"He is 50/50 and he will go through a fitness test but he still has some lingering groin issues," Hasler said.

Will Hopoate will stay at fullback for the Dogs, Hasler insisted, despite Brett Morris' stellar return from a knee injury on the wing last week in which he scored three tries in his first game of the year.

"The (work) load is important there, the load is much greater at fullback and he is not ready for that," Hasler said.

Greg Eastwood returns from a month on the sidelines due to injury in the Canterbury's back-row.

The Bulldogs can force their way into the top four with a win at Allianz Stadium, if Brisbane lose to Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...des-hasler-20160629-gpuc0s.html#ixzz4CwVguSeL

 

[_G-Dog_]

Des has been talking the opposition up since the day he came out of the womb

 

[dogbone]

Will Hopoate will stay at fullback for the Dogs, Hasler insisted, despite Brett Morris' stellar return from a knee injury on the wing last week in which he scored three tries in his first game of the year.

"The (work) load is important there, the load is much greater at fullback and he is not ready for that," Hasler said.

Is that confirmation BMoz will play fullback?

 

[Spoonman84]

Why risk jmoz if he's 50/50 !! Just give him another week off.

 

[Raikkonen]

Why risk jmoz if he's 50/50 !! Just give him another week off.

If Des says 50/50 he doesn't mean it

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Will Hopoate will stay at fullback for the Dogs, Hasler insisted, despite Brett Morris' stellar return from a knee injury on the wing last week in which he scored three tries in his first game of the year.

"The (work) load is important there, the load is much greater at fullback and he is not ready for that," Hasler said.

Is that confirmation BMoz will play fullback?

Hopefully not. He has never been ready for the workload at fb.

 

[GDR]

LOL , good one Des.... one of your best...

 

[Ahecee]

His probably not wrong, Pearce can spark the Roosters.... can't save their season, but could cause some trouble for other teams still in it.

Bigger danger for us is we sometimes fall asleep for these kind of games, tomorrow would be a good time to start showing some consistency.

If nothing else, I expect Pearce to lead the kick chasing all night, and wrestle in the tackles a bit.... we've all seen he loves to get his hands on a dog.

 

[Wolfmother]

Is des trying to say Mitchell Pearce will screw the dogs ?

 

[Realist90]

Hopefully not. He has never been ready for the workload at fb.

Defensively I could agree but attack he was extremely dangerous especially with his speed last year he was a rocket, I hope he can regain that speed after the surgery.
But it's hard to argue his dominance in all avenues on the wing. And rona must stay in the centres he's atleast not a hog like j moz

 

[Bad Billy]

We could be playing the cheso hornets u12 side and hasler would be calling it a danger game.

 

[dogbone]

I think the biggest danger for us is their attacking kicking game. If nothing else they will be hard to combat if Pearce puts up some well placed cross field bombs to SKD, Copley, Tupou and Ferguson. They're all bloody tall!

 

[Heckler]

We could be playing the cheso hornets u12 side and hasler would be calling it a danger game.

He got it right on the Raiders, coming out in the pre season and speaking them up if you recall. They pulled our pants down twice.

 

[KiwiDog7]

Hopefully not. He has never been ready for the workload at fb.

If the Broncos game proved anything it is that Hoppa should fkn stay at fullback for good and B Moz is one of the best if not the best WINGERS and finishers in the game. ie Do not move him to fullback.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

If the Broncos game proved anything it is that Hoppa should fkn stay at fullback for good and B Moz is one of the best if not the best WINGERS and finishers in the game. ie Do not move him to fullback.

Surely it has to stay that way. It will extend Bmoz's career and the Rona/Bmoz combo can be a real strike partnership and develop into one of the best in the league. Hoppa is a natural fb and is also devloping really well there.

 

[LordSidious66]

If Des says 50/50 he doesn't mean it

Man if both Morris are on the field at the same time it would be a boost a really big one.

 

[Bob dog]

He says its one of the strongest line ups they have fielded this year but he doesn't mention its one of the strongest Bulldogs sides fielded this year.
Its going to be on but if we play like last week Sports bet is offering good deals on 13+

 

[M4cca]

Very good roosters team on paper and no doubt they'll lift against us so this is definitely a danger game. It'd be awesome if jmoz plays to see our full strength side on the park coz its one strong looking team

 

[belmore_utd]

Been a while since the Dogs have held a team to nil. Dont care how many points we put on at the momemt but I will be mightily impressed if the Jewsters end the game with a big fat donut.

 

[dogluva]

We could be playing the cheso hornets u12 side and hasler would be calling it a danger game.

Some big kids in that side....