It has been the practice of the Roosters for at least 15 years to back-load and front-load player contracts in such a fashion as to gain a salary cap advantage without actually breaking the rules. What this means is that every five or so years they have to have a player cleanout. So they have three good seasons followed by one dismal season and a middling season, then the cycle restarts. If you look at their table positions since 2000 you'll see what I mean. I think this season was supposed to be a middling one but they didn't expect to lose Pearce for the first 8 games.
They are not the only club back and front loading contracts but they are the only one manipulating it to this extent, and they are certainly the only one that goes from grand finals, to spoon, and then grand finals again in a few years.
