The NSW government hasn’t made sports betting compulsory yet, but when they do, and I have to bet some of my ill-gotten gains on just one club to win this year’s competition, I’ll be going all-in on the Sydney Roosters to take out their third premiership in five years.
We all know the Roosters are coming off a horror 2021 season that not only saw them farewell captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend to early retirement, but also lose a number of key players due to serious injuries.
Despite this they still finished in fifth place, just out of the top four on for and against, and then made it as far as the semi-finals before being annihilated by Manly. For me, it’s a case of what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and while the Roosters injury woes would have killed the finals aspirations of most other clubs stone dead, they hung in there and kept swinging.
It’s worth noting that no team has won the competition in the last ten years after finishing any lower than third on the table and in each of the last five years, the premiers have come from the teams finishing either first or second.
Accordingly, if the Roosters are to be successful this year, they need to be aiming for a top-two finish, and they look likely to do that, not only because they look far stronger this year than they were in 2021, but also because most of their rivals for a top-of-the-table finish look weaker.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Let’s start with the Roosters strengths. The most obvious of these is that they are a well-run club who’ll leave no stone unturned in their quest for success, and they are coached by one of the best in the business in three-time premiership-winning coach, Trent Robinson.
In addition to that, they have arguably the strongest squad in the competition. Their first-string spine of James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Sam Walker and Sam Verrills is one of the best in the league, and they have proven back-up options in Connor Watson, Lachlan Lam, Drew Hutchison, Adam Keighran, Freddy Lussick and Ben Marschke.
They also have some top performers in the outside backs in Joey Manu, Daniel Tupou, Kevin Naiqama, and Paul Momirovski, and will welcome young contenders in Joseph Suaalii and Billy Smith back from injury to add to their depth.
And what about their forwards. In Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Lindsay Collins, they have three of the best front rowers in the game, and new signing Renouf Atoni should reach his potential in that company, while the Chooks’ back row of Angus Crichton, Sitili Tupouniua and Victor Radley is as good as any in the competition.
The injuries of last season also saw the Roosters build their forward depth and give some emerging players a chance in the top grade, and their back-up forward strength of Egan Butcher, Nat Butcher, and Fletcher Baker together with young giants in Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Naufahu Whyte and Tuku Hau Tapuha is impressive.
That’s some team, virtually without a weakness, and note that along with their coach, 11 of the Roosters squad have played in winning grand-finals, and know what it takes to lift the trophy.
So, what about their opposition? Who will challenge the Roosters for a top-of-the-table finish this year, and how are they shaping up? Obviously, last year’s top four of Melbourne, Penrith, Souths and Manly will all be in the mix again, with Parramatta probably the only other team to be a serious threat.
Premiers Penrith have lost some key players from their 2021 squad and will largely be replacing them internally, while both Apisai Koroisau and Viliame Kikau may already have one eye on the 2023 exit door. The team’s motivation may also just be diminished compared to last year given that they have now climbed that premiership mountain.
South Sydney look like a team whose premiership window slammed shut when Adam Reynolds missed that sideline conversion in the 76th minute of last year’s grand final, and you’d think that they’ll have difficulty bouncing back from that, particularly with the loss of coach Wayne Bennett, captain Adam Reynolds, and key players in Dane Gagai, Jaydn Su’a and Benji Marshall. I can’t see them replicating last year’s form.
Melbourne are another club that look to be in some disarray compared to recent years.
Off-season dramas involving some senior players, big Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s COVID vaccination carry-on and the loss of quality players in Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes doesn’t make for a good start to the season. To make matters worse, four more of their starting forward pack will be heading north in 2023.
Manly edged the Roosters out of the top four last year and then bounced them out of the finals, and there’s no reason that they can’t challenge for the premiership this year.
While Tom Trbojevic lives and breathes they’d have to be a chance, but they’ll need lots of luck with injuries given their shallow depth, particularly in key spine positions. I’m not sure they’ve got the troops to go all the way.
Like Manly, Parramatta can really put it together on their day, as evidenced by their two victories over Melbourne last year. Also like Manly, they rely heavily on their fullback, and if Clint Gutherson doesn’t fire the Eels can struggle and drop their heads. I can see Parramatta making the top eight again, but I can’t see them finishing ahead of the other finals contenders mentioned above.
So, there you have it – the Roosters look primed to finish at the top of the table this year, and they know how to win once they get there. I just can’t go past another Roosters premiership in 2022.
Joey Fittler
Guest
And RTS - no doubt nick wanted to keep him, he’s admitted that. But the roosters are shrewd at knowing the worth of players. Also as a passionate roosters supporter I admit that we manage cap “extras” better than the other clubs, they just need to learn to do it better rather than throwing millions at flashes in the pan.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
They're on the way down, you're kidding yourself
Bingo
Roar Rookie
Ageing pack. Fragile players. High expectations. No Morris boys. Unbelievable season last year all things considered. But cannot see them backing it up. Took way too much mentally to pick themselves up each week last year and I believe they will be cooked. I think Parramatta and Manly will have a 40th anniversary GF match up.
Poss
Roar Rookie
Spot on Westie,well said.. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Yeah, fancy anyone getting carried away with the Charity Shield! It would be about as nuts as a Rabbitohs supporter banging on about it all year, eh?
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
“The Dragons didn’t che@t BUT….” Can’t you just let a win be a win?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
The Charity Shield isn't the premiership Tony and Souths have been in 2 GFs since the Dragons last appeared in one. Not to mention Souths have finished in the top 4 for the last 4 years... just sayin'. :stoked:
Tony
Roar Guru
No way they'll finish that high :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Rabbitohs 14th??? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
And judging from their faces no one was more surprised about that than the Tigers themselves. I hear they celebrated that game like a premiership win. I can't blame them when it will be one of their few wins this season. You can't read anything into trial form though, not when key players aren't playing. The Roosters, the Panthers and Souths are much better than that at full strength. The Eels were impressive though against an under strength Panthers side.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
You are getting carried away with one Charity Shield victory Tony. Souths were missing Latrell and Murray and clearly, by Latrell's absence, JD wanted to gift the Dragons a Charity Shield for old times sake, from the days when he coached the Illawarra Cutters. No, the Rabbitohs premiership window is well and truly open but it is a relatively young side that are still developing. I don't ecpect a fast start from Souths for the season considering they are playing referee's favourites the Storm, the Roosters and the Panthers from week 2. But watch out after that.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
The Dragons didn't che@t but it has been well documented by the media that the Roosters, the Storm and the Panthers do. The Panthers were gifted a trophy in 2021. Cleary, Yeo and Martin should all have been suspended and unavailable for the GF if it were otherwise.
criag
Roar Rookie
criag
Roar Rookie
'They just do what they can get away with'.....like no other club in the NRL! Sorry, no. They wanted to keep all those players. Latrell was offered a contract and went looking for a better offer and in the meantime they spent the money (ill-advisedly IMO) on Cordner and others. Maloney got the Sharks their first premiership (sorry if that's ancient history to you). Fergo wanted a longer contract and Isaac Liu is still a great player. Momirovski two premierships....wow! No wonder he's playing at the Roosters instead of the world's best centre! Everyone's favourite to win the Dally M, no doubt! If you hate a team enough you can always put a negative spin on whatever they do or achieve. It often seems to be the NRL fans' way. There have been three teams in the NRL who have been punished severely for deliberately cheating massively on the salary cap and the Roosters aren't one of them. They don't cheat. BTW, I made no mention of your 'overspending' claim, so it's weird you get all heated about that. I was merely pointing out that the Roosters do lose players they want to keep (and that does include Connor Watson when he left for the Knights) and on occasion have had to move players on - multiple players sometimes - to make salary cap space to sign a player.
criag
Roar Rookie
It seems they had a top 7 and not a top 6 in 1997, which is what I remembered, which is kind of bizarre.
Paul
Guest
St.George looked good against South’s. Very good young players. Mostly huge players. The new penalty rule allowing teams to kick upfield from their own territory & not just a six again. Plays right into the hands of the teams with big players. As they get a rest. Have Hunt to help guide the team around. I think easily a top 8 team.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
His 80minute effort v Tigers is a worry. 1 run 12 passes (avoided being tackled all game) 8 kicks 9 tackles made
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Not very much has been highlighted about the health of Sam Walker. Remember he played Australian schoolboys 2019, and then had shoulder surgery in that offseason, (age just 17). He then played no footy at all in 2020, and his very first game of NRL in 2021, his shoulder takes a pounding, and ends up limping through the rest of the season, painkillers to get on the field every week. The surgery basically didn’t even last one game with over 12mths rehab. So where is he at now we should probably wonder? Was the thought of a second surgery by age 19 too much of a career ending risk, (even though playing on will likely end it for him anyway?) If Walker is a vital part of the Roosters spine, you would have to love skating on thin ice to be backing them for premiers ‘22.
Tony
Roar Guru
We'd all love to see your evidence rather than a series of generalisations.
EastOfDivide
Guest
It’s a lot of seasons between those few players! Why don’t you search back another decade, to search for a few more. Only reason those players were gotten rid of, was the club had used them up as they saw it. They bought better players to replace them! The only exception is Mitchell. He’s wanted to be at fullback & was trouble for them. Keary … Cheap, Manu… cheap, Tedesco …. Cheap, Suaalii… Cheap, etc. etc… Smith … They’ll say they bought him for $350,000 a season. As he had to play there , because they’re such good guys. Momirovski, two premierships… Just because you don’t like the fact that they are always overspending, doesn’t make it untrue. Their overspending isn’t illegal. They just do what they can get away with.