This time last year, the Sydney Roosters produced one of the most embarrassing performances in their rich history, falling meekly to rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs 52-12 at the SFS at the start of the 2009 NRL season.
What a difference 12 months can make.
After a horrendous 2009 season which culminated in the Roosters receiving the wooden spoon for the first time since 1966, the Bondi Junction club went through a massive transition faze which coincidently saw figures Brad Fittler, Craig Fitzgibbon, Willie Mason, Iosia Soliola and Mark O Meley leave the club.
Former Newcastle Knights boss Brian Smith was chosen to replace Fittler as coach, while Todd Carney, Phil Graham, Daniel Conn and Jared Wearea Hargreaves were recruited to help the chooks rebuild from arguably their most disastrous year both on and off the field.
Although some NRL teams predicted the Roosters to be one of the dark horses in season 2010, no one would have thought that last year’s wooden spooners could comprehensively beat a Rabbitohs side many predict to be top four material.
But upsets have been ripe for the picking so far this weekend, and yesterday’s tussle at ANZ stadium saw a revitalised Roosters outfit play some of their most impressive football in years to defeat the Rabbitohs 36-10.
Indeed not many clubs can attest to having so many playmakers in the one side, but the Roosters will no doubt be an exception after Todd Carney, Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce shone in unison to provide the chooks with an attacking edge not seen since Brad Fittler was playing for the chooks early in the millennium.
Pearce and Carney seemed to have the football on a string on occasions, provided quality service to a Roosters backline that looked dangerous with the ball in hand.
Whilst Anthony Minichiello and Sam Perrett both produced very solid performances, centre Shaun Kenny Dowall could hardly put a foot wrong in probably his best performance for the tri-colours.
The Kiwi Test player scored two tries, including a dazzling four pointer which saw him leave Rabbitohs players Rhys Wesser, Fetuli Talanoa and Colin Best in his wake while sprinting near the touchline in the second half.
Although he was solid on the wing last year, Kenn Dowall’s performance against the Rabbitohs yesterday demonstrated enough potential to suggest he could become one of the feared no.3’s in the NRL.
He has a great mixture of speed and strength, not to mention he is a dangerous presence for opposition under the high ball.
In the forwards, Queensland Origin player Nate Myles showcased why he has not missed a game for the Maroons since debuting for Mal Meninga’s men back in 2006.
One only has to look at the way Myles nearly rounded up Nathan Merritt in the second half to demonstrate how committed he was to leaving his mark against a Rabbitohs side with the so called best pack in the NRL.
Myles ended up making the most tackles out of any player on the park with 34 next to his name. Not to mention he also made 16 hit-ups for 134 metres in an inspirational performance.
It seems filling the shoes of club stalwart Craig Fitzgibbon may not be as difficult as first thought judging by Myles performance.
Indeed all of the seventeen Roosters who took to the field against the more fancied Bunnies yesterday performed their tasks with aplomb.
It was a win befitting of the club’s ‘new attitude, new beginning’ approach – a beginning that could not have started any brighter for a side which finished in Rugby League’s darkest corner last season.
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Souths scored three unanswered tries in the second half, threatening to make a comeback. However, Melbourne quickly snuffed it out.
