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The Silvertails have Braith Anasta signed on for another two years, Todd Carney tip-toeing a fine line – but can they go all the way this year?
Team: Sydney Roosters
Homeground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Brian Smith
Season 2010: Sixth (P24, W14, L10, 46 pts)
2011 squad: Braith Anasta, Tinirau Arona, Mitchell Aubusson, Justin Carney, Todd Carney, Anthony Cherrington, Daniel Conn, Boyd Crodner, Jonathan Ford, Jake Friend, Byron Fruean, Phil Graham, Aidan Guerra, Martin Kennedy, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Mark Khierallah, Joseph Leilua, Kane Linnett, Mose Masoe, Anthony Minichiello, Nate Myles, Steve Naughton, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Mitchell Pearce, Sam Perrett, Rhys Pritchard, Mark Riddell, Jason Ryles, Tom Symonds, Brad Takairangi, Lama Tasi, David Thomas, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Anthony Watts
Ins: Justin Carney, Anthony watts, Lama Tasi, Mark Riddell
Outs: Lopini Paea, Nick Kouparitsas, Ben Jones, Brad Murray, Jacob Miller
Season preview: They may have finished sixth on the regular season ladder, but it was no surprise that the Roosters’ momentum sent them to the grand final, where they were out-classed, out-defended and a beaten by the juggernaut that was the Red V.
This was a team that peaked at the right end of the season, flying on the back of some good luck, a lack of expectation, determination, and the incredible form of Dally M winner Todd Carney.
Barring disaster – or a suspension-worthy Carney-related scandal – there’s no reason the Roosters won’t dominate a good section of the competition the way they did last year.
Ben Jones and Brad Murray have both moved on, faced with a long, long wait before they could bag a first-grade start ahead of Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce.
Justin Carney, meanwhile, is a canny buy, and Brian Smith will be banking on him shaking off some post-injury rust in the first few rounds and rediscovering his skill on the wing.
Anthony Watts’ pre-season injury should be patched over by the combination of Jake Friend and Super League return Mark Riddell, he of the famous post-try celebration and deceptively fast hands.
Young gun Kane Linnett and break-out centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall are both firecrackers in attack, while forwards Mose Masoe, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Frank-Paul Nuuausala should all continue to improve in discipline and increase their impact this year.
The question for this team is – with only one amazing season under their belt – whether their free-flowing attack and willingness to take risks has been developed in the pre-season to include the kind of defence they will need to defeat teams like their grand final opponents, St George Illawarra.
X-Factor: Todd Carney is something of a talisman on the field for the Roosters. His drifting sideways runs and pin-point passing game can create space in the most stubborn defensive line.
Main man: If the rumour mill predictions are true, and Braith Anasta really is keen to leave the Bondi club, it would be a body blow for the Roosters. Playing at lock and sharing of the on-field organisation with Mitchell Pearce, Anasta’s combination with Pearce and Carney is the cornerstone of the Chooks’ famous attack.
Predicted 2011 finish: Third
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