As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2024, it’s time to check in on the Roosters as they try to get back into the upper echelon.
The Roosters have refreshed their roster on the run but it still looks to be in a state of flux heading into the new season.
Knights speedster Dominic Young and Panthers prop Spencer Leniu have arrived at the Tricolours after much fanfare, Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase is on his way next year with Joseph Suaalii replacing him in rugby’s ranks.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is entering his final season while the long-term future of off-contract five-eighth Luke Keary and second-rower Angus Crichton is yet to be sorted.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson doesn’t let excuses from off-field matters get in the way of his focus to bring a fourth premiership to the club under his watch.
If everything goes right, he has the team at his disposal to rival premiers Penrith and fellow challengers like Brisbane and South Sydney, but the Roosters in recent seasons have lacked the consistency that made them the premiership benchmark alongside the Storm before the Panthers became the kings of the NRL jungle with three straight titles.
Who’s new?
Young and Leniu are quality additions and at 22 and 23 respectively, they are a much-needed injection of youth into a veteran roster.
The Roosters looked a little off the pace when it came to speed on the edges last season but Young, one of the fastest players in the competition, will solve that issue.
They have added another Englishman with pace in 21-year-old Wakefield Trinity winger Lewis Murphy, who scored 19 tries for his club in just 22 outings in 2022 before an ACL ended his season early last year.
Veteran centre Michael Jennings has returned to the club after serving a drugs ban as a back-up out wide – he is just two games short of reaching the 300 game milestone in the NRL.
Who’s gone?
The Roosters have said goodbye to several players from last year’s squad, losing plenty of depth along the way.
Young prop Fletcher Baker’s switch to the Broncos is a body blow but when you have a star like Leniu joining the club, it’s not as significant.
Back-up hooker Jake Turpin and utility Drew Hutchison have joined the Bulldogs, winger Jaxson Paulo has joined Matt Lodge and Nathan Brown at Manly, Corey Allan is now a Dragon and Paul Momirovski has linked with Leeds in the Super League.
Key spots to unlock
There are five quality candidates fighting out the four spots in the outside backs.
Daniel Tupou is an institution at the Roosters on the left wing, Joey Manu is the best centre in the game and Young has not been lured from Newcastle to play in the NSW Cup so he’s likely to be on the right flank.
That leaves Robinson with a decision between playing Suaalii at centre where he seemed to be less effective last season or go with a specialist in the reliable Billy Smith.
Suaalii is set to get first shot unless there are injuries in the backline and Manu is needed to fill in at fullback or five-eighth.
Both second row spots are up for grabs.
Trent Robinson. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Nat Butcher is coming off a career-best season, the club has invested heavily in impressive young gun Siua Wong, Kiwi international Sitili Tupouniua is fit again after a neck injury sidelined him for much of 2023 while Angus Crichton is another proven performer.
Leniu left Penrith because he wanted a starting gig and after going toe to toe with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on the field last season, the young bull and the grizzled veteran will be butting heads on the training paddock for the right to pack down alongside Lindsay Collins.
The ex-Panther will likely get first crack at the starting role with JWH suspended in the opening round due to his seven-game ban carrying over from last season.
Round 1 predicted team
1 James Tedesco
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Joseph Manu
4 Joseph Suaalii
5 Dominic Young
6 Luke Keary
7 Sam Walker
8 Spencer Leniu
9 Brandon Smith
10 Lindsay Collins
11 Sitili Tupouniua
12 Nat Butcher
13 Victor Radley
Interchange
14 Connor Watson
15 Siua Wong
16 Angus Crichton
17 Terrell May
Other squad members: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspended), Egan Butcher, Billy Smith, Sandon Smith, Tyler Moriarty, Junior Pauga, Robert Toia, Naufahu Whyte, Zach Dockar-Clay.
Rayzor
Roar Rookie
Just say it the Roosters are shit
langparker
Roar Rookie
One problem looms there Matth, Smith’s passing from dummy half is, and always has been, atrocious. As a runner, he’s first class but his timing and the arc of his passes do nothing for their runners. I’d speculate that the Storm chose Grant over him specifically because of that reason.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
In short, no.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
It’s not a proper Season if JWH doesn’t have strife with Officialdom and spend time in the Stands.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Good squad on paper. But pretty much the same squad as last year. They still don't have a long kicking game. They still have the same players who have had discipline problems that are not going to magically go away. The best fullback they have is playing in the centres (Manu), and the best 5/8 they have is playing in the centres (Manu) Keary would appear to be in decline. On the plus side, Teddy (while he wasn't terrible), probably can't go worse. Smith has had a year with Walker and Keary. Walker still has potential Wong looks promising Billy Smith finished well A little more depth, though Hutchinson was pretty valuable. Unless he has a big pre season, I don't think Tupouniua is in the starting side. Probably a bench spot.
mushi
Roar Guru
We'll we've got Watson and Moriarty
Insideflickpass
Roar Rookie
Overated, a team full of players with at least one or two errors in them and terrible discipline, they will need to overcome themselves to make the top 4. Coach Robinson needs to drop players that can't pull there heads in. Suaalii was woeful in the centre's last year, Billy Smith for mine deserves first shot.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Team looks good, bench looks good, squad looks good with recruitment that provides injury cover for every position. Keary, Walker and the entire spine are having an injury free, uninterrupted pre-season… the evergreen issue for 2024 is keeping JWH and Radley away from the judiciary. As a StG supporter, my question: apart from Hunt is there any player in the StG squad that would crack the top 17 at Easts in 2024?
Dutski
Roar Guru
Absolutely matth. I’m expecting Brandon Smith to form more of a combo and letting Walker run the team and Keary play off that will be critical.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I thought Billy Smith looked fabulous in the centres towards the end of the year - seemed to be a specialist in the position and I’d start him there. I don’t think it will be long before JWH is on the bench with Spencer starting.
matth
Roar Guru
It's a top class roster on paper. for the last two seasons this team has been less than the sum of it's parts, mainly due to a lack of cohesion between their spine players. Hopefully for the Roosters, Robinson has put a lot of time into Smith, Walker, Keary and Teddy to get them playing in a fashion that compliments each other and the team.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Sherlock? Cause the other one is locked up.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Interesting to hear in a Terrell May interview that Robbo banned full contact training drills last year due to fights breaking out amongst the contacted. How they train is how they play, no quarter. The middle has to be the hard, fast and skilled Collins, Spencer Victor and May to have any chance of getting on top of Fish and Leota. They're certainly good enough.
Bill
Roar Rookie
Thats how I saw it BG but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It’s as an impressive list as any but “fragile” is the keyword in more ways than one. I feel like it’s a heads or tails whether they repeat the last two seasons or are up there with Penrith on their day but i can’t see them being consistent enough to really challenge. Top 4 on paper. On another note, if Teddy recaptures his form and Sua’ali’i does improve with all the Rugby news behind him, my gosh its an impressive back 5.
Nat
Roar Guru
Certainly a strong team on paper and probably the strongest bench I have read so far. They will be looking for a big season from Walker after the spectacular backfire in dropping him last year. I would be dropping Suaali’i for Smith. Yes, mostly because he is leaving but I don’t think he adds any more than Smith does anyway. Egan Butcher looks like he has been usurped. IMO he is too good to be in the reserves. He would be ideal for a prop heavy team like Saints, Broncos or Eels.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Appears to be an all or nothing crack at 2024. With JWH, Crichton, Keary, Tupou, Suaalii, and possibly Manu not there next year ? Mabey turning over 1/3 squad for season 2025.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
criag, "I couldn’t fully understand the signing of Dominic Young" I suppose he was available now not next year. If he signed somewhere else for 3 years he's off the market.
Nat
Roar Guru
Smith came on very well last season. I don’t think Suaali’i is worth investing another $1 in to. He made his choice and the team is no weaker without him.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
He'll also get their penalty count up :happy:
Easy target
Roar Rookie
I thought tyrell may was excellent for the roosters last year, I'll back him to be on the bench and one of the 4 backrowers to miss out. Not sure which one at this stage, I'd say Wong or Tupouniua