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Roosters evolution

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
84,176
I thought it might be interesting to look at how the Roosters rebuilt after their 2002 premiership squad declined. It'll mostly just be a list of years since 2004 (their third straight grand final) with win rate and position, as well as new signings who played in the top 17 in their first year at the club. It might shed some light on what were the most significant factors in the rebuild:

2005: 11 wins (9th)
Coach: Stuart

New signings for 2006:
Anasta
Harrison

2006: 8 wins (15th)
Coach: Stuart

New signings for 2007:
Anderson (coach)
Monaghan
Myles
Nutley

2007: 10 wins (10th)
Coach: Anderson (16 games), Fittler (8 games)

New signings for 2008:
Brown
Mason
O'Meley

2008: 15 wins (4th) and 0/2 in the finals
Coach: Fittler

New signings for 2009:
None

2009: 5 wins (16th)
Coach: Fittler

New signings for 2010:
Smith (coach)
Carney, T
Conn
Graham
Kennedy
Leilua
Linnett
Ryles
Waerea-Hargreaves

2010: 14 wins (6th) and 3/4 in the finals
Coach: Smith

New signings for 2011:
Carney, J

2011: 10 wins (11th)
Coach: Smith

New signings for 2012:
None

2012: 8 wins (13th)
Coach: Smith

New signings for 2013:
Robinson (coach)
Jennings
Maloney
Moa
O'Donnell
Williams

2013: 18 wins (1st) and 3/3 in the finals
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2014:
None

2014: 16 wins (1st) and 1/3 in the finals
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2015:
Ferguson

2015: 18 wins (1st) and 1/3 in the finals
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2016:
Copley
Matterson
Nikorima

2016: 6 wins (15th)
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2017:
Gordon
Keary
Tetevano

2017: 17 wins (2nd) and 1/2 in the finals
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2018:
Cronk
Tedesco

2018: 16 wins (1st) and 3/3 in the finals
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2019:
Crichton
Morris

2019: 17 wins (2nd) and 3/3 in the finals
Coach: Robinson

New signings for 2020:
Flanagan
Morris
Williams

2020: 13 wins (3rd) as of 12 September
Coach: Robinson
 

Eelementary

Post Whore
Messages
56,108
There is a perception out there - to which I, too, have succumbed - that the Roosters don't "accept mediocrity", and are "never down for too long" after a rebuild.

Those numbers show:

* seven overall Finals campaigns missed
* one Wooden Spoon
* three consecutive years of no Finals campaigns
 

Gary Gutful

Post Whore
Messages
51,727
It also shows a similar story to us. Poorer performances when they were chopping and changing coaches compared to when they stuck with one over the long term.
 

TheParraboy

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
66,142
Obviously these are just the facts, devoid of meaning. Think of them as a blank canvas for your bullshit analysis.


What those stats/facts don't show is how professional they are away from game day. They put in a ton of money to make sure the players are surrounded with the best so they perform the best. (as well as prepare for life after football)

eg. Read at the start of this season they are the only club who hire a full time psychologist. No other NRL club has one, not full time. Just that alone will give them an edge
 

Chipmunk

Coach
Messages
16,148
It also shows that they needed to recruit some significant players in 2013 to win a comp to go with the players they had. The signing of those players in 2013 would be the equivalent of when we signed the Canterbury 4 et al during the Super League War and had 10-12 years of being relatively successful (albeit without a Premiership)

Now I don't think we need too many more, because we're not in the same position as they were in 2013, but we probably need at least a couple of changes.

The Roosters also made grand finals after changing their coach. Twice
 
Last edited:

TheParraboy

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
66,142
This is from 2015 or 2016, as outlines Holbrook is assistant coach (he went to coach st helens in 2017-19 before landing on the GC)




https://roostersnrl.weebly.com/coach--support-staff.html

Newest recruit
The newest recruit in The Roosters coaching staff is recently retired club legend, Anthony Minichiello. Minichiello's responsibility is to look after the fullbacks. Coach Robinson values the communication skills of fullbacks of vital importance, he has the them filmed and wired for sound during training. Minichiello pays close attention to this before calling the fullbacks in to explain what he looks for with them. Robinson wants Minichiello to replicate his glory days in the up and coming stars.

Organic food
Every day, an organic food van arrives at Moore Park to ensure the players are sticking to a healthy diet and to assist in maintaining their fitness. The van is catered with a kitchen where the players might cook a fresh steak or chicken and salad. Many players found this as a bit of a shock when they first arrived at the club, especially five-eighth James Maloney who rarely ate any vegetables. All players chip in a bit of money and in return are provided with three or four of these healthy meals a week.

Recruitment
High profile chairman, Nick Politis, often plays an active role to help recruit new players to the club and manager Peter O’Sullivan gets the deals over the line. “Sully’s got a great eye and he’s confident enough to know his footballers. Some people can hesitate and say ‘oh what do you think’, but he backs his opinion.” said Robinson.

Psychology and Lifestyle
Grant Brecht is a clinical psychologist and full-time consultant. Coach Robinson believes you need to get their life right before you can get their footy right. Mr Brecht makes sure that any issues within their private lives are okay as well as supporting them with sports psychology.

Wrestling coach
The Roosters hired Larry Popadoplos who is a former wrestling champion to improve players tackling skills. Popadoplos has worked with Storm, GWS Giants and now the Roosters. He trains with the team twice a week but only during the off-season and these sessions are supervised by assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon. Robinson believes that hiring a wrestling coach is just like having a specialist tackling coach, it is about good tackling methods and body awareness.

Skills
Robinson has employed former Swans star Tadgh Kennelly, whose sole responsibility is to ensure the Roosters wingers can take high balls.
Braith Anasta also recently returned to the Roosters as a skills coach. Coach Robinson and his assistants Steve McNamara, Craig Fitzgibbon and Justin Holbrook share the rest of the workload on skills. Robinson mainly looks after the back-rowers, halves and outside backs.

Four physios
The Roosters have four physiotherapists on site full-time. “They’re here to reduce the risk of injuries, not just treat them,” Robinson explains. When a player walks in the morning, the physio puts them through tests before they do anything else. If they're tight, they start working on them." says Robinson in his interview. Roosters pride themselves on looking after their players.

Strength and conditioning
The Roosters recently signed Scott Campbell (strength and power) from St George Illawarra and Hayden Knowles (speed and agility) from the Eels. They both report to Travis Touma, who is head of performance. Then there’s young sports science expert Pierre Austury, who specialises on GPS.
 
Last edited:

Tooooks

Bench
Messages
3,116
It shows Robinson has never had less than a star-packed team to work with, and despite being low on 3rd party deals they can fit far more rep players under their cap than anyone else. Did I miss anything?
 

hindy111

Post Whore
Messages
58,526
its also plausible they evolved from a chicken bone.

The bigger question is however what cum first. The chicken or the egg?
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
84,176
It also shows that they needed to recruit some significant players in 2013 to win a comp to go with the players they had. The signing of those players in 2013 would be the equivalent of when we signed the Canterbury 4 at al during the Super League War and had 10-12 years of being relatively successful (albeit without a Premiership)

Now I don't think we need too many more, because we're not in the same position as they were in 2013, but we probably need at least a couple of changes.

The Roosters also made grand finals after changing their coach. Twice
Thrice if you go back to 2002, with two premiership debutants.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
84,176
This is from 2015 or 2016, as outlines Holbrook is assistant coach (he went to coach st helens in 2017-19 before landing on the GC)




https://roostersnrl.weebly.com/coach--support-staff.html

Newest recruit
The newest recruit in The Roosters coaching staff is recently retired club legend, Anthony Minichiello. Minichiello's responsibility is to look after the fullbacks. Coach Robinson values the communication skills of fullbacks of vital importance, he has the them filmed and wired for sound during training. Minichiello pays close attention to this before calling the fullbacks in to explain what he looks for with them. Robinson wants Minichiello to replicate his glory days in the up and coming stars.

Organic food
Every day, an organic food van arrives at Moore Park to ensure the players are sticking to a healthy diet and to assist in maintaining their fitness. The van is catered with a kitchen where the players might cook a fresh steak or chicken and salad. Many players found this as a bit of a shock when they first arrived at the club, especially five-eighth James Maloney who rarely ate any vegetables. All players chip in a bit of money and in return are provided with three or four of these healthy meals a week.

Recruitment
High profile chairman, Nick Politis, often plays an active role to help recruit new players to the club and manager Peter O’Sullivan gets the deals over the line. “Sully’s got a great eye and he’s confident enough to know his footballers. Some people can hesitate and say ‘oh what do you think’, but he backs his opinion.” said Robinson.

Psychology and Lifestyle
Grant Brecht is a clinical psychologist and full-time consultant. Coach Robinson believes you need to get their life right before you can get their footy right. Mr Brecht makes sure that any issues within their private lives are okay as well as supporting them with sports psychology.

Wrestling coach
The Roosters hired Larry Popadoplos who is a former wrestling champion to improve players tackling skills. Popadoplos has worked with Storm, GWS Giants and now the Roosters. He trains with the team twice a week but only during the off-season and these sessions are supervised by assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon. Robinson believes that hiring a wrestling coach is just like having a specialist tackling coach, it is about good tackling methods and body awareness.

Skills
Robinson has employed former Swans star Tadgh Kennelly, whose sole responsibility is to ensure the Roosters wingers can take high balls.
Braith Anasta also recently returned to the Roosters as a skills coach. Coach Robinson and his assistants Steve McNamara, Craig Fitzgibbon and Justin Holbrook share the rest of the workload on skills. Robinson mainly looks after the back-rowers, halves and outside backs.

Four physios
The Roosters have four physiotherapists on site full-time. “They’re here to reduce the risk of injuries, not just treat them,” Robinson explains. When a player walks in the morning, the physio puts them through tests before they do anything else. If they're tight, they start working on them." says Robinson in his interview. Roosters pride themselves on looking after their players.

Strength and conditioning
The Roosters recently signed Scott Campbell (strength and power) from St George Illawarra and Hayden Knowles (speed and agility) from the Eels. They both report to Travis Touma, who is head of performance. Then there’s young sports science expert Pierre Austury, who specialises on GPS.
Shows how much 'coaching skill' you can buy with enough money. No wonder the NRL wanted to put a cap on football department expenditure.
 

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