Twelve months is a long time in rugby league, but even the Sydney Roosters achieved more than they could have bargained for in that period, making the grand final last season just a year after finishing with the wooden spoon. In 2011, the Roosters will be looking to go one step further.
The Roosters were only 40 minutes short of becoming the first league outfit in 77 years to go from wooden spooners, to premiership winners within a season.
Sydney’s bid to emulate the feats of the Western Suburbs side of 1934 however fell short against the St George Illawarra Dragons, losing 32-8 in the premiership decider, despite leading 8-6 at halftime.
Before the start of last season, the Roosters underwent mass changes both on and off the field in a bid to drastically improve on a shocking 2009.
Former Newcastle Knights coach Brian Smith replaced Roosters icon Brad Fittler as head coach, while the Roosters also announced a new major sponsor in Steggles, which replaced Samsung.
On the field, players Craig Fitzgibbon, Willie Mason, Mark O’Meley and Iosia Soliola were deemed surplus by the Roosters, and were replaced by new faces Todd Carney, Phil Graham, Daniel Conn and Jason Ryles.
Indeed all of the Roosters major signings last season played career best football, with Carney in particular becoming the first Rooster since Gary Freeman in 1992 to win the Dally M Medal – the NRL’s highest individual honour.
Having taken the majority of sides by surprise en route to last season‘s grand final appearance, coach Brian Smith faces a tough challenge to take the Roosters to their first premiership victory since 2002.
Despite the success of last season, the Roosters did produce flashbacks of their 2009 form, losing convincingly to cellar dwellers the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys respectively.
Last season’s undoubted lowlight however was the 60-14 thrashing at the hands of the Canterbury Bulldogs in round 3 last season. The Roosters had won their opening two matches to start the year, only to produce the worst performance of any team to partially revive their chances of claiming another wooden spoon.
While the Roosters did very well to get their heads together after that loss, their hopes for a premiership in 2011 will hinge on whether or not they have improved defensively as a unit.
The Roosters conceded an average of 20 points a match last season in comparison to the Dragons meagre 11 points. Brian Smith’s men will need to close that gap if they are to wrestle dominance away from the 2010 premiers.
If they show more defensive steel, the Roosters are capable of putting most NRL sides to the sword, with the attacking triumvirate of Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta all capable of providing quality service to the Roosters talented backline.
The Carney, Pearce and Anasta combination certified itself as the most lethal in the NRL, producing 54 try assists last season. The chemistry shared between these three players will be a huge obstacle for many teams to overcome if they are to get the better of the Roosters in 2011.
Kiwi international Shaun Kenny-Dowall saw his form explode thanks to the above trio, finishing last season as the NRL’s joint leading try-scorer, with 21 tries next to his name.
Kenny-Dowall’s New Zealand team-mate, Sam Perrett, also had a spendid year on the wing for the Roosters. The Kiwi international trailed only Paul Gallen in runs made by a player last season, whilst also rating highly in metres gained (4th) and tackle busts (7th).
Of course, much of the Roosters attacking success was made possible by the great workman-like performances of their forward pack, with Nate Myles, Jared Wearea Hargreaves, Jason Ryles, Daniel Conn, Frank-Paul Nu’uausala and Martin Kennedy all laying a great platform for the Roosters halves to dominate.
No doubt the Roosters will need to click into gear early in 2011 as they face fierce rivals, the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the opening round of the Telstra Premiership.
It was Sydney’s victory in the corresponding round last season against the more fancied Rabbitohs, which set the Roosters on course to the 2010 premiership decider.
The Roosters will be hoping a win against South Sydney will yet again set them on the path to another grand final appearance come October 2011.
Why they’ll win:
– Superb attack with Anasta, Pearce and Carney leading the way
– Solid forward pack always lays a platform for Roosters offence
Why they won’t:
– Roosters defence leaks a lot of points
– Still capable of producing some shocking performances
TAB Sportsbet odds
– Premiership winner – $8.00
– Wooden Spoon – $34.00
Additions: Anthony Watts, Justin Carney, Lama Tasi, Mark Riddell
Departures: Ben Jones (North Queensland Cowboys), James Aubusson (released), Lopini Paea (Catalans Dragons – Super League), Nick Kouparitsas (Harlequins – Super League).
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