Remember that random player?

Still_Nutty said:
I've got to say I always had a soft spot for Robbie Rochow....I thought he was capable of a much better career than he ended up having in the NRL.

He just never seemed to rise to the levels I thought he could.

For me it was probably a fair degree of capability but I'm not sure he had the motor to be a regular first grade footballer, which showed up as errors in his game when he got under fatigue.

Maybe it was tied to his studies, a bit like Josh King was always a bit underdone for us while he was completing his electrical apprenticeship - Chow is a degree qualified civil/structural engineer, which would have been no mean feat to get through while being a F/T footballer.

He was also always a really nice bloke on the side lines after the game who was happy to have a chat, engage with the kids, etc.
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Stress fractures in his back never helped him. Very capable footballer though. He set all kinds of sprinting records in the hunter valley when he was younger. His body caught up and turned him into a very good backrower. Just never could get a grip on his injuries.
 
danknights said:
Stress fractures in his back never helped him. Very capable footballer though. He set all kinds of sprinting records in the hunter valley when he was younger. His body caught up and turned him into a very good backrower. Just never could get a grip on his injuries.
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That explains a lot - I never knew he was dealing with those sorts of underlying issues...it doesn't matter what sort of efforts you put into fitness, in a physically punishing sport like rugby league, playing at the elite level with stress fractures in his back is unbelievable...that really increases my admiration for him in the career he was able to forge in the NRL, in spite of those challenges. 👍
 
Still_Nutty said:
I've got to say I always had a soft spot for Robbie Rochow....I thought he was capable of a much better career than he ended up having in the NRL.

He just never seemed to rise to the levels I thought he could.

For me it was probably a fair degree of capability but I'm not sure he had the motor to be a regular first grade footballer, which showed up as errors in his game when he got under fatigue.

Maybe it was tied to his studies, a bit like Josh King was always a bit underdone for us while he was completing his electrical apprenticeship - Chow is a degree qualified civil/structural engineer, which would have been no mean feat to get through while being a F/T footballer.

He was also always a really nice bloke on the side lines after the game who was happy to have a chat, engage with the kids, etc.
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Who was that prop as well who went to the Dogs I think it was the one that Slater gave crap over about mental health?

But yes Rochow good show, if he played for Storm or another top club now could have been anything.
 
Still_Nutty said:
That explains a lot - I never knew he was dealing with those sorts of underlying issues...it doesn't matter what sort of efforts you put into fitness, in a physically punishing sport like rugby league, playing at the elite level with stress fractures in his back is unbelievable...that really increases my admiration for him in the career he was able to forge in the NRL, in spite of those challenges. 👍
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Yeah I know him personally also played with and against him. Have a lot of time for "rocket", "chow" known by many nicknames. Reminded me to chuck him a text so cheers for that. 👍
 
Rochow was a top junior for us. I think he started out as a back.
He was poached by Melbourne and had a fantastic junior career for them. He was captain of their Toyota cup (u21s) side that won the 2009 title. I remember 1 game where he tore us to pieces, and we had a good side that year.
He did his back at the end of his junior career for Melbourne but still managed to be picked twice as a teenager for Melbourne.
They cut him after a year of struggling to get fit in reserve grade.
I think it was Wayne Bennett who threw him a lifeline with a train and trial deal for us, but it wasn't a usual train and trial - he spent it mostly doing rehab for his back.
He played some decent footy for us, but his back went a few times and he always struggled with it.
I think Brown cut him and he went back to Melbourne who were happy to give one of their best juniors another chance.
His back didn't last long.
He ended up playing 95 NRL games - 75 for us and a handful for Melbourne, Souths and Wests.
 
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Rochow was an expert and finding his knees and elbows for a really quick play the ball. Best at the club at the time.
 
Yeah he was a decent player for us. I always looked back on him with a little bit of a bitter taste though because I remember he just jumped ship out of nowhere to Souths, ala Tariq Sims, presumably to go to a more successful club. But who knows what went down behind the scenes, Browny very well could have told him he didn't have a future here.
 
There was talk about him being a future Knights captain at one stage. I remember him saying in an interview that he told the club not to bother with an offer because he wanted to go elsewhere. Went on to play 20 more games for 3 different clubs in 2 seasons so did us a favour in a way.
 

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David Seage was a fullback we had here around the time of Milton as well. He looked a really, really good player, but he'd get injured every time he'd push back in to first grade, the last time I think was the 2006 final against Manly at the ISC. From memory Kidley reverted to the back that night and had a blinder in a one point win. But between Thaiday and Seage we missed two very good fullbacks making a massive splash around that time.
 
Joshhh said:
Yeah he was a decent player for us. I always looked back on him with a little bit of a bitter taste though because I remember he just jumped ship out of nowhere to Souths, ala Tariq Sims, presumably to go to a more successful club. But who knows what went down behind the scenes, Browny very well could have told him he didn't have a future here.
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I thought he was made an offer to stay but opted to go once Bennett had left. Then he was hit with some bad luck with injuries.
 
Jaelen Feeney!

First prize getter in the Blake Austin lookalike competition 12 years running.
 
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