The hardest thing to achieve in any sporting league operating under a salary cap is to be successful while also not suffering the post-premiership blues.
After a golden period in which the Roosters won three trophies in the space of seven seasons under Trent Robinson, they could be forgiven for dropping out of the finals and undergoing a rebuild.
But they’ve managed to make the playoffs the past two years while replenishing their ageing roster to be in prime position for yet another trip to the grand final in 2022.
The silver lining to the cruel, injury-enforced retirements to Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend and Brett Morris, as well as Luke Keary’s torn ACL, is that Robinson has been able to fast-track the likes of Sam Walker and Joseph Suaalii into the NRL arena.
He’s also managed to turn several fringe squad members like Drew Hutchison, Adam Keighran, Fletcher Baker and Ben Marschke into bona fide first-graders, and the fact that none of those four are necessarily guaranteed to get a start in Round 1 points to the club’s enviable depth.
Usually at the end of an era in which a team wins one premiership, let alone three, there is a period where the changing of the guard leads to a drop-off in wins.
Only Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Daniel Tupou remain from the 2013 triumph – they’ve successfully managed to replenish their roster on the run while teams like the Cowboys, after their sole premiership six years ago, are still mired in a long rebuild after holding onto too many veteran players from the club’s Johnathan Thurston-led glory days.
Apart from the disastrous 2015 season, when chief playmaker Mitchell Pearce’s lengthy disciplinary suspension derailed their campaign, the Tricolours have made at least the second round of the playoffs every year since Robinson guided them to glory in his first attempt two years earlier.
Mitchell Pearce in his Roosters days. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
They could have been excused for dropping out of contention again last season, with Josh Morris and Lindsay Collins also suffering long-term injuries, but they ploughed on before running out of puff against Manly in the semi-final stage.
Much of their 2022 outlook depends on Keary’s return from knee surgery. He said last week that he was ready to get back into the full swing of things in pre-season training.
If he can return to somewhat near his best alongside teenage star Sam Walker in the halves, the Chooks will produce plenty of points from James Tedesco, Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii out wide.
And there is not even a hint of a weakness up front in a pack featuring the likes of Angus Crichton, Victor Radley, JWH and Sitili Tupouniua – one of, if not the most improved player in the NRL last season.
Envious rivals can make all the jokes they want about a salary sombrero but the Roosters again look set to be laughing last with a team set to give the 2022 premiership a serious shake.
What’s new
Connor Watson returns to the club after a stint with Newcastle and if not needed to fill any number of positions in the starting side, he provides a quality option for a bench utility. Basically, he becomes their new Mitch Aubusson – the number on his jersey is irrelevant, he will be in the 17 somewhere each round.
Paul Momirovski is also back after bouncing around the Wests Tigers, Melbourne and Penrith, where he did well to fight his way back into the run-on side at centre and was rewarded with a premiership ring.
Adding Bulldogs forward Renouf Atoni to boost the depth in their pack is the only other recruit.
Star on the rise
It was a shame Suaalii didn’t finish his rookie season due to a foot injury but he still played five more games of NRL than anyone else has in recent memory before their 18th birthday.
Robinson eased him into the top grade last season and has the luxury of being able to do so again next year but with the added incentive of having more game time available to the teenage prodigy following the retirements of Brett and Josh Morris, and winger Matt Ikuvalu’s switch to the Sharks.
Whether it’s centre, wing or fullback when Tedesco is out, Suaalii will have a gilt-edged chance to produce plenty of scoring opportunity mixing with the likes of Tedesco, Manu and Keary.
Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Who’s under the pump
The answer is not really anyone at this club in 2022.
Sam Walker will have plenty to live up to in a bid to avoid the dreaded second-year syndrome but he proved last year he was able to cope with big bodies being directed his way. Even the game’s greatest playmakers had down years as they worked their way into their NRL careers, especially when expectations grew quicker than reality, which could be the case with a precocious talent like Walker.
Best-case scenario
They can go all the way. There’s no doubt that if the Roosters avoid the wretched run of injuries that befell them in 2021 that they can be there on grand final night.
Every team will claim at some stage this pre-season they’ve got ‘a good mix of youth and experience’ but this roster is the embodiment of it – a blend of hard-headed veterans, several stars in the prime of their careers, and a bumper crop of young talent rolling off the production line.
Worst-case scenario
Hopefully Keary enjoys a successful return after tearing his ACL but if he is sidelined again or cannot recapture his superb form from 2019-20, the Roosters lack an experienced playmaker that is needed for any team to challenge for the title.
Round 1 predicted team
1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Joseph Suaalii
4. Joseph Manu
5. Paul Momirovski
6. Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Ben Marschke
10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Sitili Tupouniua
12. Angus Crichton
13. Victor Radley
14. Connor Watson
15. Fletcher Baker
16. Lindsay Collins
17. Nat Butcher
Others: Sam Verrills (suspended until Round 2), Renouf Atoni, Egan Butcher, Moala Graham-Taufa, Drew Hutchison, Adam Keighran, Lachlan Lam, Freddy Lussick, Billy Smith, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Ben Thomas, Naufahu Whyte
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Welcome to the jungle Cyril.
Cyril Snodgrass III
Guest
The dead set best thing for the Easts 2022 squad has been the release of Fumbles Ikuvalu .Iku was the weak link in the Roosters lineup Opposing coaches knew it,opposition teams knew it and Easts players knew it It took Coach Robinson 4 long years to work out that Ikuvalu was not of first grade standard Craig Fitzgibbon will eventually regret the signing of Ikuvalu to the Sharks
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
St.George chose the best kicker from the 13 on the field in the days of unlimited tackles. When the four tackle rule came in 1967 they played Dennis Preston at fullback to kick goals because the game was dominated by scrums and scrum penalties. Scrums were packed at the end of four tackles so it was a big part of the game.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
South Sydney's S.G.Ball was the first Sydney Rugby League president after they kicked out Giltinan and Trumper. They made the rule that one had to play for the team in the area they lived. They gave themselves the biggest part of Sydney's south and gave Easts a small part of the north eastern suburbs. Newtown and Balmain never had the large area Souths had and Norths were in Union territory. Glebe and Annandale were small suburban teams. No wonder Souths won most of the competitions in the old days.
Kebin
Guest
Latrell is not the victim
Daryl
Guest
Roosters have to have adam keirigon in 13 ,, winning sides always have permanent goal kicker ,, this using sia t ,, sam w ,, teddy is a joke typevof thing you would do in backyard footy surely coach robo ia awarev
mushi
Roar Guru
Just wondering when your going to enlighten us as to how the retirement of Morris is the most significant event in rugby league history. After all you asked me (for something I didn't assert)
mushi
Roar Guru
What no retort?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"he’ll probably be named captain" I'd put your house on it. I think Kevvie has already indicated that Reynolds will be the new captain, Haas has said he will be happy to follow Reyno and there is no other sensible option. The Broncos recruited the captain for a team that has made the preliminary finals 4 years in a row and made the GF last year. Why wouldn't you want your team to get the full benefit of that leadership and experience? The pressure will definitely be on Reynolds (and Kevvie if the Broncos don't improve substantially). Reynolds can't do it alone though. Without the rest of the team lifting to support him I fear the Broncos will just spin their wheels and Reynolds will be made the scapegoat.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
My comment was made in humour & not intended to be taken seriously.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I forgot about Garrick, he was definitely one of Manly's best in 2021. Saw Reynolds interviewed last night,looked like a Broncos luncheon, he'll probably be named captain. The pressure will be on him and especially Kevvie in 2022.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Couldn't have said it better myself. Same sh... different day, day after day, expressed with the same excessive verbosity...to say the same damn thing, day after day. And, if your post attracts his attention, expect the same two overly verbose and redundant responses: firstly, that you are simply looking to cause trouble with a "guestie" account (as if that nullifies your comment, which has become the' go-to' response) and, secondly, that you must be me...because it is so very difficult for him to accept that his comments and attitude are actually quite universally despised. Easier for him to try to convince others that it is actually one vindictive contributor posing as multiple in an attempt to victimise him. Now it is me who has become to verbose - your short post absolutely nailed it. I applaud you.
Muzz
Guest
Another day,another thread ruined by the same clow n.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Luke Keary played the role of Padawan well to Cooper Cronk’s Jedi Master. Whether he will do even half as well in the role of Jedi Master to his young Padawan Sam Walker is yet to be determined. My money says, Keary chokes! That’s if his dodgy knee or repeat concussions don’t catch up with him first. To be clear, I’m not wishing either on him. Just saying…
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It's not happening BD. Final call made on Josh Hodgson Wests Tigers move Josh Hodgson will see out the final year of his NRL deal in Canberra after talks broke down over a move to Wests Tigers. AAP has been told months of talks are now officially over with the two clubs unable to agree on how much of Hodgson’s salary the Tigers would pay in 2022. It leaves the Tigers with Jacob Liddle as their first-choice hooker for 2022, with youngster Jake Simpkin a rising talent. They still have three spots left on their roster for 2021, with well in excess of $1 million of salary cap space available. https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/leilua-in-shock-switch-to-english-2nd-tier-c-4675703
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
“Ehh, what's up doc?” :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I was talking about Reuben Garrick and forgot that Jason Saab was a Dragon as well. How would those 49 combined Tries and 112 goals have looked added to the Dragons scoreboard in 2021? The ones that got away, hey andrew? :silly: . I know I’m in for it now if Adam Reynolds has a big year for the Broncos. No pressure Adam! Reynolds will probably have to see a chiropractor in 2022 after carrying the entire Broncos side on his back for the whole season. :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I have always been clear on how unnecessary and over the top that tackle by Latrell was as well as his over the top behaviour throwing a ball near (not at) a player's head after scoring. That said, my point is that the Storm and the Panthers got off lightly for most of the year. Kaufusi's intentional head slam and forearm to the face of Ryan Matterson was given a couple of weeks instead of the 6 - 8 weeks it deserved. Nathan Cleary could have been suspended a few times late in the season including his spear tackle in the prelim final that would have left him out of the Grand Final. Do you honestly think if Nathan Cleary or Cameron Munster made that tackle their suspension would have been even half that long?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If you are suggesting playing Victor Radley at dummy half instead of as a mobile middle forward then he would be absolutely wasted there. Look at the advantage players like Cameron Murray, Brandon Smith and Isaah Yeo have for their respective sides. Radley provides a similar advantage for the Roosters as well as shoring up their defence through the middle third of the field.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I'm not talking about extra ball-playing options. It is the difference quality hookers make from dummy half to get players over the advantage line. They are usually able to hold defenders up by jinking out of dummy half and threatening to run and drawing defenders out of the defensive line or get the A and B defenders to turn in and then pass to a ball runner running into a gap once they have forced these defenders to commit. Watch Cook, Koroisau, Grant/Smith and Mahoney at work. A middle forward like Radley can't do that.