Stop calling once-mighty Roosters heavyweights - they're now featherweights

Trent Robinson has been the coach of the Sydney Roosters since 2013, celebrating a decade at the helm of one of the most successful contemporary NRL teams.

Across that period, the Chooks have won three premierships, appeared in a further three preliminary finals and two semi-finals, and were annexed from the finals on just one occasion in 2016.

That disastrous campaign was something of an anomaly and with an average finish of between third and fourth on the ladder across a full decade, it is easy to see why the boys from Bondi have developed a reputation as a consistent NRL heavyweight.

That record no doubt informed much of the Tricolours’ predicted chances heading into the current season, with many assuming that they would continue to be the force that has achieved so much in recent times.

While the odd rogue commentator might have looked for potential improvers in the form of teams like the Dragons and Broncos (both in my top eight at the start of the season), the low-hanging fruit was to hitch one’s wagon with the historically successful Roosters and lock them in for another appearance in the finals.

I did it, just like everybody else.

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Thankfully, there is more to rugby league that a simple emulation of the past and the current reality appears to be that the Roosters are gripping desperately to a perch from which they have stumbled somewhat, despite much of the rugby league media appearing to still believe in a team that looks to be a shadow of its former self.

When the embattled Bulldogs scrapped and clawed their way to a 16-12 victory at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening, any doubts around the Roosters’ fall from heavyweight status had been confirmed.

Frankly, the Dogs were far from impressive: gutsy, but limited.

However, the Roosters were simply dysfunctional against a team that had lost six matches on the trot, were without their captain and had offered absolutely zero in attack across the first seven rounds of the competition.

Most stunning was the Cooper Cronk-coached halves pairing of the Roosters being able to offer little to threaten a Canterbury defence that had allowed 102 points in the three weeks prior.

(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Luke Keary and Sam Walker might well be touted and proven players at NRL level, yet against the Bulldogs they were far from instrumental in providing the polish to the end of Roosters’ attacking sets and at times looked nothing but ordinary.

The performance continued a pattern that had been clearly evident in 2022. Wins over the Sea Eagles, Broncos and Warriors were nothing to write home about and losses to the Knights, Rabbitohs, Dragons and now Bulldogs created something of an embarrassing profile as the competition heads into its ninth week.

The Titans, Eels, Panthers and Sharks await over the coming month and two wins across that period might be the best the Roosters can hope for, especially considering the form they are currently displaying and the growing reality that Robinson’s men appear well off the pace for the first time in six years.

Yet all the while, much of the rugby league community continue to refer to the Tricolours as an NRL heavyweight, in spite of the fact that they may well be grappling to make the top eight come September.

It appears to be such a shock to the collective consciousness that it may take some time before the reality sets in and seemingly opposition players also remain brainwashed into believing an historical fact that is far from a reality in 2022.

(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Jai Arrow appeared on the rather awkwardly titled Fox League program Benji on Monday night, applauding the efforts of Canterbury, up against what he referred to as one of the competition heavyweights, the Sydney Roosters.

Methinks Arrow might have merely been using clichéd language and ideas drummed into his psyche, all based on the Roosters’ efforts prior to 2022 and not the inept form currently being displayed.

Like many in a media landscape that continues to present the Roosters as an ever-present threat based on years gone by, poor Jai has also fallen victim to the historically favourable journalistic treatment afforded to the Chooks.

At least six NRL teams appear to be streets ahead of them at this stage of the season and losses to the seriously bereft Bulldogs and Knights add weight to the view that the Roosters will be making up the numbers this season.

Unfortunately, it may take a few more weeks before some begin to call a spade a spade and admit that the Roosters are not a serious threat to the heavy hitters in 2022.

Perhaps that just hurts a little too much for some to admit.

For others, it will be music to their ears.

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