The 2015 NRL finals shapes as a pivotal series for the Sydney Roosters. Aside from the obvious allure of being crowned 2015 premiers, the next month will go a along way in determining how this current team will go down in history.
Emerging victorious on October 4 will see the Roosters claim their second tittle in three years; fail to do so and the numbers will read one out of three. While this may not seem too big a difference in the present, as time wears on memories fade and numbers rule all.
This current Roosters team is dominant, three JJ Giltinan Shields in three years, an imposing defensive record and the likes of players such as Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (not to mention Sonny Bill Williams) is just the start.
We know how good they have been, but only because we have had the benefit of watching them play. Future generations will mainly have books and numbers to look at and if the Roosters can’t add to their 2013 title, people looking back will see nothing too special about a team whose record reads one in three.
This isn’t the first time a team’s legacy has been influenced by its grand final record. The predecessors to the current Roosters team, led by champion Brad Fittler, only recorded one victory (2002) in four grand finals (2000, 2002-04). If one looks purely at statistics then this team is not done justice, for they were a great side.
Conversely the Melbourne Storm side of the mid to late 2000s also reached a crossroads on the way to their legacy in 2009. Failure to defeat Parramatta would have seen them only capture one title in four consecutive grand final appearances (2006-09).
Hardly befitting a team boasting the likes of Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. Though their legacy would be tarnished by the 2010 salary cap scandal, victory over Parramatta saw their record improve to two from four. And thus ensuring they would be remembered.
So although this Roosters side is still young and may well have numerous opportunities to win titles in the years to come, part of their legacy will be decided over the next four weeks.
Immortality awaits and if they grasp it firmly with both hands they will be well on their way to entering the record books alongside the great Tricolours teams of the past. They will be looking to match the 1911-13 three-peat pioneers or the 1935-37 side led by Dave Brown and avoid the fate of Fittler’s perennial bridesmaids.
Dominic Unwin
Roar Pro
Yes, The Roosters were so dominant during that period they could easily have ended up with three straight titles. Just goes to show how clinical (and lucky) you have to be to come out on top every time.
littleredrooster
Guest
I'm happy with the chooks efforts since 2000, given the circumstances. 2000 they were very brave against Brisbane who stood offside for the 80 minutes, 2002 won, 2003 light rain, Fittler played with a bodgie shoulder for the second half. 2004 we were robbed against the Dogs who scored from a double movement and we had a fair try disallowed. Also, in 2004 Mick Crocker let us down with 13 seconds to go (3 points down) when Brett Finch put a ball on his chest on the thirty and he had one bloke to beat who was very tired, Crocks got tackled and lost the pill...
Dominic Unwin
Roar Pro
Yes, very hard in the modern era to defend your title. Manly were unlucky in that they had a great side for a number of years but there was always another team that would come along to pip them right at the end. They were certainly the most consistent side over a long period of time and they were very unlucky not to add to their two premierships.
Benny
Guest
No doubt it would be pretty disappointing to come out of this 3 year period with only 1 premiership. I think it just goes to show how hard premierships are to get these days when so many teams are very competitive. Very had to win more than 1 premiership within a short period of time. The only teams to win 2 premierships since 2001 are Manly and Roosters (And Roosters were 11 years apart), is that right?