Coaching the Roosters is not an easy gig. They are a club that measures success in terms of premierships and grand finals.
Not making the top eight is unacceptable to the administration and at the very least will have the coaching position under review.
In his relatively short career with the clipboard, Trent Robinson has lifted the Provan-Summons Trophy twice and led the club to three minor premierships since he took over in 2013. He has plenty to tell the grandchildren already.
What comes with success at Easts is the inevitable ‘salary sombrero’ discussion. The perceived privilege that Nick Politis and his Roosters receive above and beyond any other club in the NRL.
In the absence of any hard evidence to the contrary I take the position that the Roosters are an exceptionally well-managed rugby league club with a damn good head coach.
Trent Robinson deserves credit, even considering the Roosters’ resources.
Easts have a number of wealthy and well-connected individuals associated with the organisation. It goes with the territory.
Figures released by the NRL at the end of last year detailing third-party agreements not included in the salary cap and paid to players under private deals with sponsors, show the Roosters are at the bottom end with $200,000.
Compare this with over a million at Melbourne and $800,000 at Brisbane and they are not even close to the top.
The Tricolours are successful due to shrewd recruitment, a superior development system and a coach that will eventually be hailed as one of the best ever.
In the Good Friday golden point victory over fellow title contenders the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park, Robinson was forced to field two debutants in Sam Verrills and Josh Curran while Sitili Tupouniua was playing his second NRL game.
Of the 17 players that took the field in Melbourne, only three – Cooper Cronk, Angus Crichton and James Tedesco – could be considered as players that were established stars at other clubs before being recruited by the Roosters.
While Cronk’s career is winding down, Tedesco has found a new level of consistency under Robinson. It is early days for Crichton to determine the effect his transfer from Souths will have. Luke Keary was an established first grader at Souths but on the outer when he left. He has become a topline half at his new club.
Man of the match against the Storm, Latrell Mitchell, who kicked the magnificent victory-sealing field goal, was a player of immense potential going back to when he starred in the 2014 SG Ball grand final for the Roosters as a 16-year-old.
At 21 he is establishing himself as one of the best in the game. Not every stand out junior becomes an NRL star like Latrell.
Robinson is impressive in the way he handles post-match press conferences. A deep thinker who was known to ask lots of questions of his mentors when he was playing, he appears to be free of the baggage and agenda that consumes some coaches at the NRL level.
Latrell Mitchell of the Roosters (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
His responses to media questions are thoughtful, often revealing the thinking behind his tactical decisions and providing an honest appraisal of how the team is travelling.
The recount of how he used an incapacitated Cooper Cronk as a decoy on the other side of the ruck to Clive Churchill medalist Luke Keary in the 2018 grand final was insightful and entertaining.
Taking the Roosters to Paris to prepare for their World Club Challenge encounter, a region where he played and coached prior to taking up the reigns at Easts, to help promote the code in France, shows that he considers the issues beyond what is in front of his nose.
Robinson was vocal recently when a threat to WNRL funding by the participating clubs loomed saying that women are “the future” of rugby league.
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy described the Roosters as the benchmark and a fair footy team after the Good Friday fixture.
Sitting on ten points after six rounds with three other teams, the Roosters have had only one blip – going down to arch-rivals South Sydney in Round 1.
You have to go back to Brisbane in the 90s to find a team that has won back-to-back premierships. Coaches describe the difficulty finding the hunger in the season following a premiership win. Opponents lift when they meet the premiers.
With a 64 per cent win record in NRL games, only Craig Bellamy (68 per cent) has a better record out of the sixteen head coaches currently plying their trade in the NRL.
Robinson added to his resume after the grand final by taking out the World Club Challenge by defeating Wigan on their home turf last February.
I would not be surprised to see Trent Robinson with a trifecta of NRL premierships to his name come early October.
Nick Ireland
Guest
A good coach is a bloke who coaches throught a depleted roster and still does well. I see no evidence of that with TR. He's had the best cattle of all coaches. Let's see what he does without such pedigree. At the moment he comes across as a "middling" coach. I'm huge Easts fan, but believe Bellyache is streets ahead of this bloke.
Footy Fan
Guest
You're missing the core idea of moneyball - always pay "unders". Many players are attracted to the Roosters - we know not from crazed internet troll stories, but direct interviews with players and agents. They want to join not because they can "cash in" on salary - quite the reverse. But because they rate the systems, coaching and culture highly, and believe they can contest premierships, play their best, improve greatly (if a younger player), possibly earn rep honours. Players do cash in on salary when they leave the roosters, in a huge way. Players have doubled, tripled, quadrupled salary when they've spent 3 or 4 years and joined a club desperate for talent. But the Chooks always pay "unders". Moneyball all the way. 180 degrees opposite to the "transit lounge" days when other teams developed and Chooks attracted with cash - now Chooks develop and others must pay "overs" to compensate for leaving the environment . I reckon you have about 3 figures correct and your totals are out by about 800k-ish.
Footy Fan
Guest
I do believe all teams are audited every year - the complete story of player payments and benefits. What, do you think they pick 2 or 3, audit them and just say "that'll do, we'll trust the word of the rest"? Saying he's never been audited is tosh.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Some people may believe St George won 11 in a row with a star studded team in a club with deep pockets but they are wrong. Players were semi-professional as they were paid some money but most had jobs. Frank Facer was very careful with what little money they had but they did have a policy of buying one player a year to join the juniors being graded. It was Wests who were known as the millionaires. St George probably lost in 67 because they had chosen Ian Walsh over Kevin Ryan as the new coach in 1966. Coaches are important as St George found out in 1975.
Nayfo
Guest
At the end of the day I don’t think Robinson gives a rats what everyone else thinks. People can choose to get upset and continue to whinge about the Roosters rotting the cap but I dare say he doesn’t lose sleep over it.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Wayne had to deal with Tinkler's unrealistic demands
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
It has to tick a few of those boxes, surely? :-)
The Barry
Roar Guru
So is trotting out the old “Roosters are rorting the cap” line continually “bold, thinking outside the box, encouraging debate, stirring the pot, engaging in banter and generally trying to make things less boring” Not sure which... ;-)
The Barry
Roar Guru
There were massive question marks about Jennings attitude and the Panthers were picking up a large part of his tab. I don’t remember Maloney’s price tag from the time but I doubt it was 500K in those days for a 25 year old with one successful season on his resume at three different clubs.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
You are talking 3 of the best players in their positions in a 6 year period. Who else can make a claim to that? Klemmer is a great prop, is he head and shoulders above the rest of the competition? I'd say JWH is a better player in that position. Inglis is a legend, no argument there. JT13 is a Cowboy, not someone that was brought into the side. The comparison is a bit of a stretch, surely?
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Jennings wasn't really on the nose, playing origin in 2012, highest panthers point scorer. Phil Gould drove him out, it was nothing on performance. Maloney led the Warriors to the GF in 2011, and he played pretty well in 2012, its just a rough club to play for. And for each of them, reported salary was around $500K a year. With a cap of $5.8M, thats is 1/5 signed for 2 players. I believe that constitutes a massive signing.
Pickett
Guest
@ The Berries Too true. I reckon the following were definite superstars/marquee signings for the chooks over the last 6 years: - SBW - Cronk - Tedesco That's 3 over a 6 year period. Other clubs in the NRL would have made similar type signings eg Newcastle & Klemmer, Sou ffs & Inglis, Cowboys and JT13 etc, but it's only East's who get a lot of ink about it. You and I share the exact same opinion re Maloney and Jennings. You can also add Keary who was unwanted at Souths thanks to the Phone Chukka and did not play any rep footy while at Redfern. As 40/20 mentioned, Latrell and Manu were virtual unknowns at the beginning of 2018. By the end of last year and beginning of this year, they are arguably the greatest centre pairing in the comp (and possibly the history of Easts).
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
You have unmasked me db! How perceptive of you and yes, I used to be quite light on my feet and side stepped many an obstacle in my youth. That's why I went into politics! Bahahahahahaha
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Is that addressed to me or "The Barry" Rob? I'm assuming that it isn't me because towing the line of the popular view is boring and something I am not known for. It's much more fun to try to argue the contrary position of an argument don't you think? Just like thrusting a stick into an ant hill or knocking down a bee hive and waiting to see the reaction! Not thst I am an eco terrorist or am given to commuting "eco aggressions". LOL I'm also happy to agree to disagree and, to be fair, TB did give me that option but I just had to rattle his cage one more time. ;-)
db
Guest
PB, as usual, you conveniently miss the point by stepping around it and responding to matters not even raised. Your response is similar to the drunken ramblings of Barnaby Joyce in a radio interview on Monday.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
I am aware of some information in regards to evidence from high profiled figures within the game who have confirmed the extent of Nick Politis's considerable influence on the game behind the scenes. That confirms why the Roosters have never been audited despite the public outcry against having a roster full of representative talent. I have to check with my first-hand source though to see if I am at liberty to share more. Sometimes in life TB there is evidence to a truth that cannot simply be cut and pasted onto a forum.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Accountable in the sense that you replied to my post and I received a notification of a reply challenging my use of the word accountable. You also have the opportunity to search my history to see if I am being consistent in my views or whether I am contradicting myself. I don't have the same opportunity. Accountable also in the sense that when I make a bold statement (which are MUCH more fun than timid, ingratiating one's) I often find a line of profiles queued up waiting to take a swing. It's the price you pay for being bold, thinking outside the box, encouraging debate, stirring the pot, engaging in banter and generally trying to make things less boring. Of late though YOU at least appear to have joined in on the banter at times as has your feathered friend Dutski. So no harm, no fowl. ;-) As for multiple profiles well that was something I disclosed for the sake of transparency and this change was forced on me due to excessive censorship which silenced most of my opinions. Indeed, I have no idea if this comment will even go up, but I am trying to answer your challenge db and I haven't been belligerent or demeaning in my reply, now have I? ;-)
Joe
Roar Rookie
Agree that on field results are important. I'd rather have both a star studded home developed team that wins premiership which fortunately for Storm fans we did have. I don't know whether people forget after 50 years, maybe a 100 ...I think everyone still knows those St George 11 in a row was won with a star studded team in a club with deep pockets. Yeah, at the end of it all they'll all be remembered as great coaches due to premierships won.
The Barry
Roar Guru
“But, as you say, you won’t be convinced even if I waterboarded Nick Politis to get a confession” this I’ve said if you’ve got a smoking gun I’m all ears but please don’t talk about stories you’ve googled and found on the internet as “proof”. Are you suggesting every time a journalist files a story, it’s fact? Come on...I know you know better than that. Things like calling a player a “million dollar man” is a much more attention grabbing story and headline than “he’s an 850K man”. Three weeks ago it was widely reported that TPJ was a million dollar man. Fact. Contracts aren’t structured in such a linear way as one season = x dollars so when we’re all sitting here saying “Joe Bloggs is on 800K” it’s an approximation of his perceived value and not in any way evidence of what he’s receiving from the club. The Dogs and the Roosters don’t have the same amount of money to pay players. It’s not a level playing field. But that’s because the Bulldogs are paying vast sums of money for players now playing at other clubs. We’re paying Kieran Foran the best part of a million bucks a year for 16 games over a season and a half. He’s still signed for next year. Mbye is still taking up about half a mill of our cap and I think is next year too. We’re still paying Woods. We’re still paying Klemmer. Of course the two rosters look different. But that doesn’t equate to the Bulldogs have a poor roster therefore the Roosters must be rorting, not even close.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Its nowhere near as important as on field results. Would you rather have a “bought” team that wins premierships or a “home grown” team that regularly finishes 7th...or 2nd for that matter? As time goes by it gets less and less important. No one will look back in 50 years and say “well he developed more players”. But the other thing is Robinson has developed loads of players. Not to the same level as Bellamy but he still has a good track record in that regard.