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This week I came across an article penned by NRL.com writers announcing that the only side to make the eight from a 0-5 position were the Brisbane Broncos in 1999, where they limped in thanks to 14 straight wins mid-season.
There are only three other sides to have made the finals from such a perilous position, and they were all in the 50s and 60s.
I believe that this Sydney Roosters side has the ability and personnel to become the not only just the fifth side to make finals from a ‘zero and five’ or whatever the number gets up to, but to press for the Premiership.
I seem to find that already the Roosters seem to have been written off by many pundits as any chance of being able to conjure up a season worthy of being a challenger. This is a side that has secured three straight minor premierships previous to this season, as well as being the title holders just three seasons ago.
And last I checked, it’s only Round 6 of a 26-round season. Remember the Titans sitting atop the ladder last year after six rounds and everyone thinking they were a genuine chance to play finals? Oh, how we laugh now. The fact of the matter is, the season is a long hard slog, and many twists and turns happen before September hits.
Admittedly, the chooks have lost some firepower from their previous years. James Maloney, Michael Jennings and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are all representative players, play key positions, and by all reports, are decent young men.
A tough trio to lose at the best of time but decisions had to be made for the future and betterment of the club and these three all commanded too much money when the rest of the squad was taken into consideration.
To combat these losses, the Roosters recruited exciting young prospects in Jayden Nikorima and English international Joe Burgess as well as promoting youth player Latrell Mitchell.
These youngsters have taken longer than anticipated to find their feet in the NRL, with Burgess having been dropped twice, Nikorima benched sporadically and Mitchell changing positions.
To compact this, the inexperience of fellow developed players such as Jackson Hastings, Kane Evans and Dale Copley haven’t fired despite their season or so more of experience. Add to this the injuries of key players Jared Warea-Hargreaves and Boyd Corder, as well as the now-infamous Mitchell Pearce scandal and subsequent suspension, it was almost like the perfect storm hit the Roosters before they knew what happened.
Luckily for the Bondi boys, it is only Round 6. They still have the same general core of hard-working, reliable and effective players such as Mitch Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Aiden Guerra and Club Captain Jake Friend.
With any luck the Roosters should have their strongest side together for Round 11, potentially against Canterbury. Warea-Hargreaves and Cordner are due back from injury around that time, and Pearce should be playing his third match back.
The pressure on the youngsters should then subside substantially as the pack inherits a fair bit more go-forward, something the Roosters have severely lacked, as well as the leading of an experienced half-back around the field.
Origin will then hit, with rep regulars Guerra and Cordner likely to again get picked. Blake Ferguson is every change for a NSW wing spot, while Pearce will more than likely get over-looked due to the lack of game-time. Not ideal, but the bye schedule is favourable and will play twice before Origin, once against the Warriors and then against an equally diminished Parramatta.
Following the commencement of Origin at Round 13, the Roosters then play five bottom eight sides from last year as well as understrength Storm twice directly after Origin games.
Looking at the ladder standings from last season gives you a fair indication of what the points you might need to qualify for finals. 28 points was enough to get St.George-Illawarra through to the eighth spot, with 12 wins and two byes.
Budgeting for a similar scenario for the Roosters means they need to win at least five matches before Round 13 at least if they are to win the seven games that they are expected to after it.
Penrith, St.George-Illawarra, Newcastle, Gold Coast and Canterbury reads the five matches the Roosters have after facing South Sydney at ANZ on Friday night. Doesn’t seem so farfetched now does it?
The strongest Roosters 17 will have in total 10 internationals, six Origin Representatives and a myriad of Junior Kangaroos and Kiwis members, a coach with a 70 per cent win ratio and the basis of a team who, barring injury, could have taken it all the way last season, and we are writing them off?
Imagine the experience Mitchell, Nikorima, Hastings, Burgess, Evans et al are getting at the moment. Sure, they are losing games, but apart from the embarrassment of North Queensland and the ambush in Round 1 from the Bunnies, the Roosters have lost by one point to Canberra, two points to Manly and in golden point to the Warriors.
That’s three close losses to teams that are sure to be contenders for finals, all with a side that is still finding its feet and missing arguably its three best players.
I haven’t even mentioned the ‘worst-kept secret’ about Nick Politis chasing Jarryd Hayne tooth and nail should be fail in his second bid in the NFL, or the fact that Sonny-Bill is almost a dead cert to return once his Olympic Dream is decided, be that before June 30 or next season.
The fact of the matter is, records are meant to be broken. The Roosters have the side to buck all trends and become the first side in history to win from a 0-5 start, and hell they could even do it from eighth spot.
Does anyone remember the 11 straight wins last year that only ended at semi-final time? Does anyone remember that JWH and Pearce were both out for a significant time of this? Momentum is an amazing thing to gain in sport and a bloody hard thing to stop once it gets going.
Just ask the Cowboys of 2015. Until the Roosters are mathematically out of the Top eight race, I’m still giving them every chance.
Last look on the TAB had them $41 to win the Comp, value if I’ve ever seen it.
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