Winning a premiership in the NRL is one thing. Defending the crown – well, that it is a completely different story.
It’s been 21 years since the Broncos managed to go back-to-back, winning successive premierships in 1992 and 1993. Of course, the Broncos won premierships in 1997 and 1998 as well, but there will forever be an asterisk besides that feat due to Super League.
On Tuesday, former NRL player – and Roar expert – Steve Turner declared the Roosters sure things heading into this year’s finals series.
Now, I am by no means declaring the Bondi boys home and hosed just yet. But I can certainly see where Steve is coming from.
Because it all seems a bit familiar, doesn’t it? For those who don’t necessarily remember, in Round 26, 2013, the Roosters and Rabbitohs squared off, with the winner to ultimately be deemed the best side after 26 rounds.
The Roosters got the better of the Bunnies on that occasion, and in the process, showed us all why they would go on to be crowned the eventual premiers some four weeks later.
Tonight the two sides meet once more, and the winners will put themselves in the box seat to finish the season as minor premiers.
Manly will have to defeat the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night to leapfrog back into top spot – and from what we’ve seen thus far in 2014, that’s not the easiest of tasks.
While Trent Robinson’s men haven’t been anywhere near as good as they were in last season, I can’t help but sit back and think ‘well, here we go again’.
Having notched five successive wins, a sixth tonight would go a long way towards them being crowned champions once more.
Of course, there are many variables to consider in that discussion. A loss, and we could very well be back at ANZ next week where we’ll do this fixture all over again.
They could be bundled out of the finals with consecutive losses and I could be made to look very stupid.
Put all that aside though. Because this Roosters side is largely unchanged from the 17 players that were declared premiers last October.
Whether the end result also remains unchanged – well, we’ll have to wait and see.
Do you think the Roosters can go back to back?
Jay C
Roar Guru
Ha. Looks like Rothfield agrees with me. ROOSTERS SALARY ESTIMATES Anthony Minichiello $400,000 Daniel Tupou $250,000 Michael Jennings $750,000 Shaun Kenny-Dowall $350,000 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck $250,000 James Maloney $600,000 Mitchell Pearce $800,000 Sonny Bill Williams $1,000,000 Boyd Cordner $450,000 Aidan Guerra $400,000 Jared Waerea Hargreaves $450,000 Jake Friend $375,000 Sam Moa $250,000 Bench Mitch Aubusson $275,000 Dylan Napa $200,000 Jackson Hastings $150,000 Frank Paul Nu’uasala $250,000 The rest: $800,000 Total: $8 million
Dr Yes
Guest
Parrafan, that's a bit rough. To my knowledge, Channel 9 tries to pick a couple of 'regulars' from each club. That's Maloney and Mini from the only Roosters. And Hayne and Mannah from the Eels. Ryan and Gallan from Sharks (before Ryan retired - replaced by Fifita??). Parker and Thaiday from Broncos. Reynolds and Ennis from Bulldogs. Slater and Smith from the Storm. And on it goes. Channel 9 are promiscuous featuring as many players as possible from here-there-and-everywhere. Pretty sure Idris and Soward are the two most featured from the Panthers. You'd imagine they're all on contract to 9. Sonny's no regular, but he does give a 'special Gus-style interview' once a year. And he's far from alone there, as well. So based on that, can't really see your point? 'Sides, surely earnings from jobs/contracts outside the club should remain irrelevant to the salary cap? It's always been so. And would be a clear (illegal) restraint of trade if that changed.
Dr Yes
Guest
@Jay C SBW 1 Million ...... Wrong: $500K under cap (plus share of $600K marquee player TPA) Pearce 750 ...... Certainly not: Cronk doesn't earn that. Try about 450-500K Maloney 500 .......Possibly. But likely reduced by including share of $600K marquee player TPA Mini 750 ...............Completely wrong - would be pretty close to half that. But the long-serving player allowance is $400k (total for each club). So could be $0 under the cap. Friend 500 ......... More like $400K JWH 350 ............ Finally getting one in the ballpark. Also, it's well known that the Chooks are paying just one third of Jennings' contract - Penrith didn't want to pay out his full contract, so they cut a deal. Why? Ask Penrith. Maybe similar reasons as to why Tigers have been paying Sheens megabucks for 2 years? As to suggestions that a rival CEO would voluntarily pay a chunk of his own cap to the Chooks for corrupt reasons or because he's still primarily a Chooks man, despite being a Panthers CEO? Well that just makes you sound a complete goose. Sorry, but it's so.
Squirrel
Guest
Roosters or cowboys.
john badseed
Guest
Just wondering how many Pennys players have regular gigs on nine's 'Footy Show'? How many have a 30 minute chat with Gus about their life,boxing, rugby? When was premiership prize money added to a teams salary cap limits? Would players bought 10 years ago (Manly) have half million dollars sign on deals? Would the Pennys juniors be on the same sort of sign on deals? I know the Broncs have these sorts of TP deals, guess it comes with being the NRL rights holders.
Muzz
Guest
Surprised with Jay C comment, thought you were better than that. Do you feel the same way about the 2 teams above them?
planko
Guest
Shut your pie hole really ? Souths ? Surely not the Roosters ...
clipper
Guest
Don't know how true that is - their average is just over 12k this year, even though they may finish top of the ladder.
planko
Guest
My point was not this but it is serisouly a coin flip in my opinion noone is 3.75 in fact I think the market should start at $5
Parrafan
Guest
I agree with you, but those Panther players are in year one of their signings whereas Roosters are in the second year after a premiership. I guess we will see if the Panthers players you names will be perceived in the same light as the roosters players you named. Also you forgot SBW signing. I don't think panthers signed someone of that caliber.
Clint
Guest
Where do you get your numbers from Jay C? SBW is not on $1mil. It was more like $650k per year. Pearce would be on $600-$650k max. Cronk is only on that much. Mini would not be on $750k either, especially with his $200k long service allowance, considering Brett Stewart gets $600k per year. You're also not allowing for the $500k prize money they would have gotten for the minor and major premierships, plus $600k marquee player allowance, lack of back-ended and indexed contracts and carry over salary cap $ from previous years where spending was low. Try comparing them to Manly, who have DCE, Foran, B.Stewart, G.Stewart, Watmough, Lyon, Buhrer, Matai and are still under the cap.
Pickett
Guest
But that's the same as our signings last year Parra. O'Donnell was all washed up and unwanted in Aus. Maloney hadn't even played SOO at time of his signing - just a great 2010 season at that point. You could even argue SBW had been out of the game for whatever number of years it was. All perceptions my friend.
Elma Dudd
Guest
If you have access to this confidential information I suggest you drop the Roosters in it and take it up with David smith and co . If not get back to supporting who ever you support and shut ya pie hole :-)
Parrafan
Guest
To be fair Pickett how long has it been since Kite, Soward and Wallace have played origin and wallace and soward have about 6 origins between them. Kite is on his last contract, Soward was playing in the UK having been turfed from Dragons and Wallace wasn't wanted at the Broncos.
Pickett
Guest
@ Jay C You forgot the 'no junior's jibe'. Becasue I've never heard that one before either. In 2013, Easts signed SBW, Baloney, Luke O'Donnell and Jennings. - 2 SOO, 2 internationals In 2014, Penrith signed Kite, Soward, Wallace (just off the top of my head) - 3 SOO, 1 international That's pretty similar type signings. O'Donnell was old washed up vet signed from the UK Superleague, Jennings was unwanted at Penrith and in reserve grade at time of signing and Baloney had one great year for the Worriers in 2010 - but at this stage he was a solid FGer and nothing more. SBW was the only genuine superstar and a big name signing. But of course the media makes out we had 4 HUGE signings - what tripe. While Penny's are a bunch of battlers from the west with no signings at all - what tripe. It's all a perceptions game played out by the media, of which 99% is BS.
Pickett
Guest
For once, I agree with you Johnny Badbreath. If Manly do become minor premiers, they deserve to have all their finals matches at Brookie (assuming they win their first one). If Easts came 1st and Manly 4th, I'd be spewing if the game was at Brookie - hence I get your frustration. That said, them's the rules from the NRL. Go Easts.
Parrafan
Guest
Jay C I think you are forgetting one very important factor. Third Party Agreements. Knowing the amount of business connections the Roosters management has I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of those players you listed have half the money you've listed payed in TPA's. Credit to Roosters for getting people on their board with those connections because it makes a hell of a lot of difference. Just wish the Eels could do something similar, but the dopes at the leagues club vote against Bill Moss becoming a board member. Go figure...
Jay C
Roar Guru
The whole Jennings deal with Gus (Roosters) Gould is dodgy, I can't wait for the next installment where the Roosters want to pay half of one of their stars salaries to go the Panthers. Maloney was on good money to come over. JWH has still been an Inernational for years. All the rest would be on big coin too. SBW 1 Million Pearce 750 Maloney 500 Mini 750 Friend 500 JWH 350 Doesn't leave much room in any cap I have seen. then they tried to register Blake Ferguson as well? Please. Clearly shennanigans are afoot.
Benny
Guest
What you don't realise is that the roosters signed all these guys BEFORE they came stars. Look at all their contracts, they're all contracted until around the end of 2016/2017 and were signed beginning of last year or mid last year. Tupou, moa, friend, maloney, jwh, they were all just average players before last year
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Jennings was unwanted and Panthers are paying most of his contract. Maloney is on nothing special, only had one good season at the warriors 12 months before he signed JWH was in Manlys Reserve Grade Mini has been there 10+ yrs and gets the long service concession Tupou was unwanted by Parra and picked up for a song Moa was nobody before he came to the Roosters Friend has been at the Roosters his whole career. Now who do you support ?