Roosters’ fans can be forgiven for crowing over their coach Trent Robinson’s fourth NRL minor premiership in six years at the helm.
That’s no mean feat in the toughest rugby league competition on the planet.
But the minor premiership has proven to be a poisoned chalice more often than not in NRL history.
The current format of 16 teams kicked off in 2007 with the addition of the Gold Coast Titans.
That celebrated 100 years of rugby league competition in Australia, and the tenth year under the auspices of the NRL.
In the 11 completed seasons since, only four minor premiers have held aloft the coveted Norm Provan and Arthur Summons trophy.
The Storm was the first in 2007, suffering a double whammy when the club had the minor premiership, and the premiership, stripped of their honours after being found guilty of rorting the salary cap.
In 2010, St George-Illawarra took out the double, as did the Roosters in 2013, and the Storm last year.
The Melbourne Storm (AAP Image/David Moir)
But the other seven minor premiers all bit the dust.
In 2008, the Storm were the minor premiers, but were hammered 40-0 in the big one by Manly. The Storm were also stripped of that honour in the rorting scandal.
In 2009, the minor premier Dragons were beaten 25-12 by Parramatta in the qualifying final, and with their second chance went down 24-10 to the Broncos. The Storm defeated the Parramatta 23-16 in the grand final.
In 2011, the Storm as minor premiers, were beaten 2012 by the Warriors in the semis, with Manly taking out the decider 24-10.
In 2012, the minor premier Bulldogs were beaten 14-4 by the Storm in the grand final.
In 2014, the Roosters were minor premiers, but were beaten by South Sydney in the semis with the Rabbitohs going on to win 30-6 over the Bulldogs in the big one.
In 2015, the Roosters were again minor premiers but were beaten 31-12 by the Broncos in the semis, with the Cowboys winning their first premiership with a golden point 17-16 success, thanks to a Johnathan Thurston drop goal.
In 2016, the Storm were again minor premiers, but were beaten 14-12 by the Sharks in the grand final – the Sharks’ first premiership in 50 years.
And here we are in the 12th year of the current format, and the Roosters are minor premiers for the fourth year in six, but only winning one premiership.
Can they defy history in the closest competition ever – with just two points covering the top eight teams?
And can Trent Robinson overcome two coaching icons in Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy?
So buckle up rugby league fans, the rest of the season promises to be a fascinating and rocky ride.
JN
Roar Rookie
2016 cant be considered a choke when roosters weren't considered a premiership threat
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I have never been convinced of the Roosters all year and still aren't.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Only if all their Semis are in Brisbane. Which they won't be. Sure the Broncs will smash the Dragons and may beat the Storm the following week but their halves are their weakness. A few weeks ago they played a Souths team minus 4 of our back 5. If the Shoncs played the Rabbitohs this week, they would be having a Mad Monday.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
So which forward pack will dominate the Souths pack? Roosters? No
Pickett
Guest
Broncos and Storm should be favourites. 2 points between 1st and 8 show this is anyone's comp and a team outside the top 4 has a massive chance to win. Broncos most likely.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
2014 to 2018 = 5
RoryStorm
Guest
At the start of the year I picked the GF to be fought out by Melbourne (my eyes are purple) and Cronulla, with the the 2016 result to be reversed with Melbourne winning. Now, I'm not too sure, but I do believe Cronulla have got both the team and more importantly, the coach to go all the way. As a Storm supporter, the one team I dread coming up against is Cronulla. They love playing Melbourne. No, make that beating Melbourne. If only we had Wade Graham in our side.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I think their only hope is to win this weekend which means an extra week off for the injured and they get everybody back including Chambers fit and firing for the prelim. However the way the Bunnies played themselves back into form last week I have my doubts on the Storm getting past them.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I don't think this stat will mean much to this Roosters team. I had picked them to win the premiership in the style that the Storm won it last year but its taken them time to gel the new combos. Now that they have they look like an unbeatable team. They have a big test against the Sharks this week though who I think have the type of game and forwards to beat them. If they get past them the only other team I can think of who will stand a chance are the Bunnies who have a very solid and settled spine as well as GI and the Burgii.
JN
Roar Rookie
4th
Rob
Guest
A choke is not winning a semi after finishing minor premiership like st.George in 2009 the roosters won the gf in 2013 and made the preliminary final in every year of winning the minor premiership in 13, 14 ,15,and last year they come second and made the preliminary final also.I'm sure in a close comp every club would be happy with that ask Parra fans
bbt
Guest
The Storm have surprised finishing 2. Although a supporter I didn't think that anything above 5-8 was possible. We have not had a consistent half/five eight combination, there has been a real inconsistency from some of the players. Add in a bad run of injuries, and Chambers history at the judiciary, and it has not been a great year. Although wishful thinking hopes for a premiership, just cannot see it happening as the half position is just not settled.
Paul
Roar Guru
Can't kk, Cronk has another year to go on his contract.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
One player who doesn't mind aiming up against the Bunnies is the Napper. If the Chooks do exit to a dominant forward pack then I'd rate Robinsons endorsing of his headbutt missile style of tackling as a grave error. At the moment it's a bad error but it could be upgraded to grave. Could be a lesson here for Seibold , when Sam says he's not going to change the way he tackles remind him of how well that attitude served the missile.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
One can only hope Steve....one can only hope.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Not so sure about the Storm this year , Hard Yards ? Plenty of experience, but now getting very tired legs and with error counts aplenty without their vital Cronk ingredient. In the past 5 matches they have been well beaten by Cronulla, Souths & Penrith, had a lucky escape against the Titans & an ordinary win against the Eels. They have plenty of players way out of form. I can see them going out in straight sets this time.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Good Post. Yeah, we haven't heard much of Mr Cronk this year. Look the chooks field a very tidy outfit. Very tidy. But Bellyache can't even pronounce second, sort of swedkind or slickoond. They're big game players (except for 2008 against the Boys, which should be on the HSC Modern History syllabus).
Major Bumsore
Guest
How many of these poached players are in this current Roosters side ?
Major Bumsore
Guest
I think the only thing related to the MP that should be getting discussed is the fact that , after a full season of competition, the winner gets a plate of lamingtons and $50 voucher at JB HiFi. Surely it’s gotta be taken a bit more seriously. As far as the “Kiss of Deeeeaaaath” goes , I think if your getting paid to write this David , it’s money for Jam.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
Maybe poach a few more Souths players