granted - that was a shocker against the roosters, but i'd reckon we'll need purtell against the eels

What this article doesn't mention is that Bretty Kelly takes Purtell's place. Hopefully this provides a nessessary shake up. The Raiders seem to have lost a lot of their form from last season. With Campese being target, Herbert really needs to step up!

The raiders will go nowhere this season, the main problem why - Furner can't coach! Unfortunately i think the raiders will be wooden spooners in 09.

David Furner's coaching isn't the Raiders' problem. He was there last year, remember. The problem is in the halves. The obvious lack of faith in young Herbert to mix it with other first grade halves was evidenced by Campese's constant switching to halfback which compounded the problem. Campese's bursts from five-eighth went missing, along with the Raider's attack. The club needs to find a first grade halfback - and soon.

Herbert is first grade and quality - he just needs to believe in himself close to the line. We lacked "go forward" up front which compounded the problem (also finishing), injuries has reduced us to a forward pack of second rowers so the forwards need to get extra mongrel to draw in opposition players and bend the line more. Also faster play the ball is need (fast dummy half running up the middle to get the opposition forwards back peddling That my two cents from Brisbane

Sorry to disappoint Brizvegas, Herbert is not 1st grade standard, To slow, lacks direction and forced Campo to play an unusual style of game game. Agree that we lacked go forward but I though Shillington was a front rower and that's what he was bought for? Josh Millere is also a front rower plus one or two others. It was a day when there was no on field direction and Alan Tongue with his coach should be held accountable. No game plan and for a team not being able to score any points for almost 120 minutes needs to be addressed...Yes?? And this comes from your halback/dummy half area. I agree that Croker should be given his chances as he played okay and keep your eye on #4 in Premier league. Please Raiders look at Michael Monaghan

i agree with herby needs to step up. Ive been really dissapointed in his form this year,he seems scared to take the line on, and in doing so creates more work for campese. i dont know where we go from here?! adrian purtell should not have been dropped and made scapegoat. he ca sniff out a try and we will need that this weekend. Brett kelly is in no shape or form to be picked this week. i dont know if anyone else notices, that whilst he has big frame and is no slouch, he is week and always ends up on his back. what happened to huihahau? he scored two tries last week???? mccrone needs to be given a shot aswell!!!! or better still if we are gonna change lineups all the time, what about giving some of the under20s a go. Duggan wouldnt look out of place, drury low is a freak! with speed to burn! enen daniel vidot would look the goods. all we need to do in my opinon is bye a halfback.... i hear michael witts looking at rugby?? i reckon he'd be a good addition.... but all i really want is michael monnas back. Seriously! he'd complete us. come raiders, the seasons only young.. we need to start winning and this starts this weekend against the eels!

The halfs are an issue. Herbet did have some form late last year so would be good for him to repeat the dose, he is lacking confidence and has been crook. The first half against the tigers last week showed that Furner is keen to develop the style he inherited from Henry. Weare missing Logan and Tilse, they are quality props. We are really missing Colin Best and with Phil Graham missing the quality that was in the centres last year is not there at the moment so lacking penetrtation in the centres, half back and front row, now wonder playing average.

herbert showed late last season he is quality and definitely up to it. hasn't shown that quality this season though. the problem on the weekend was that we were monstered in the forwards. roosters were never backpedalling, and as such were able to rush up in defence all game. herby and campo never had any time and the ball rarely made it far from the ruck area because the defence were always arriving so quickly. roosters were delaying our play the ball and we needed to do better at getting some penalties out of that. and with the roosters defence coming up so quickly, we needed to do some chips and grubbers into the holes behind them. i blame the coaching for that, but am not ready to write off furner just yet.

Furner has to make some changes. Purtells side of the field was leaking points and he was hardly lbusting through their defense in attack. As for Picker, he should have been in the starting 13 from round 1. Why wasn't he?