2002 vs 2013

[Danish]

Yeah I agree with Danish, 2004 was the better performing side and probably the best year of the year. Imagine if we had Hodges focused like Jennings and no Walker or Finch? Gavin Lestervshoukd have played firsts over Walker IMO

I disagree about the competiton though. Dogs, Panthers and Brisbane on the top 4 and StGeorge Illawarra were building to their mid 2000's form.

I read we've used our fewest amount of players in a season for 35 years or something, if we had that in 2002 we would have been minor premiers IMO. 2002 was a great team that rarely got on the park together. 2003-04 saw what they could so.

How blessed are we though? Even our mid to late 90's was quality.

That's true about injuries. If the 2002 team had stayed on the pitch they could well have been the greatest ever. Just some of the players in that side didn't go on to the heights they probably could have so it makes them seem a bit less invincible when reading the team list now (hodges and hegarty for example are forever tainted by their 2004 seasons)

2004 really is the season that could have been. We won absolutely everything that year, from the bloody Harold Matthews right through to reserve grade and even the club championship (back when it was impossible to win and parra won it almost every year). That grand final was ours, right up to Freddy laying on 3 tries in the first half.... Only trouble was cross and hegarty dropped their tries when Freddy got them outside with 2 bullet-like cutout passes. Still cuts me up thinking about it :lol:

 

[H.H]

That's true about injuries. If the 2002 team had stayed on the pitch they could well have been the greatest ever. Just some of the players in that side didn't go on to the heights they probably could have so it makes them seem a bit less invincible when reading the team list now (hodges and hegarty for example are forever tainted by their 2004 seasons)

2004 really is the season that could have been. We won absolutely everything that year, from the bloody Harold Matthews right through to reserve grade and even the club championship (back when it was impossible to win and parra won it almost every year). That grand final was ours, right up to Freddy laying on 3 tries in the first half.... Only trouble was cross and hegarty dropped their tries when Freddy got them outside with 2 bullet-like cutout passes. Still cuts me up thinking about it :lol:

Yeah we royally f**ked that one didn't we? I don't think I've seen a worse GF performance than that 2nd 40.

Cut me deep at the time and I still think about it a bit.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

He never played in the Finals that year. Thankfully his last game was Rd 26.

James Aubusson got injured a week out from the GF though

 

[adamkungl]

I thought Smith dropped him for Lopini Paea :lol:

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

This discussion willl soon become meaningless because in 2014 the club moves up to a new level of aggression with the arrival of Remi Casty.

Once Sonny Bill Williams announces that he is going back to union the bookies will lengthen Roosters odds of winning the Grand Final again. It will probably be 5-1. That will be the time to put $1000 on the Roosters to win again.

The Roosters with JW-H, Friend, Moa, Casty and Cordner in the forwards, and Pearce, Maloney, Jenko, RT-S, Toupou and Mini in the backs, will waltz into another Grand Final.

Then we will have to ask: which team was the best 2013 or 2014?

 

[Valheru]

The 2004 team lost 5 games, 6 including the GF so that is on par with 2013. The 2004 team scored more points but the 2013 team conceded lest. 2004 had the best overall differential so it is very close. I guess you have to give the edge to 2013 given they didn’t choke in the GF. It will be interesting to see if this current mob can build a dynasty like 2000-2004, hopefully one day we are comparing that against 2013-2017 in a positive light.

 

[Cliffhanger]

This discussion willl soon become meaningless because in 2014 the club moves up to a new level of aggression with the arrival of Remi Casty.

Once Sonny Bill Williams announces that he is going back to union the bookies will lengthen Roosters odds of winning the Grand Final again. It will probably be 5-1. That will be the time to put $1000 on the Roosters to win again.

The Roosters with JW-H, Friend, Moa, Casty and Cordner in the forwards, and Pearce, Maloney, Jenko, RT-S, Toupou and Mini in the backs, will waltz into another Grand Final.

Then we will have to ask: which team was the best 2013 or 2014?

Sonny is staying

 

[TheDalek079]

Willie Brown?

 

[madunit]

2002 side for mine.

I think the forwards are fairly evenly matched as are the backs, but the 2013 side didn't have the brilliance, genuis, guile and creativity of the 2002 side.

It's no surprise that the 2002 side made it to the next 2 years grand finals.

 

[Captain Apollo]

It's no surprise that the 2002 side made it to the next 2 years grand finals.

They did not. Whilst there were quite a few players who layed in all 3 Grand Finals, the following players from 2002 did not:

Luke Phillips;
Brett Mullins;
Bryan Fletcher; and
Simon Bonnetti.

3 players from the starting side gone and 1 key player who started off the bench in Fletcher gone.

Also add in that Peter Cusack didn't play the 2003 Grand Final at all and Ned Catic started, sorry you lost me there. Further, I don't reacll Ryan Cross nor Todd Byrne playing in the 2002 Grand Final, nor Chris Walker for that matter.

 

[God-King Dean]

The best part of 2002 was Fitzgibbon winning a premiership.

Absolute champion. In my top 5 all time favourite players. It hurts me he did not stay at Dragons.

 

[madunit]

They did not. Whilst there were quite a few players who layed in all 3 Grand Finals, the following players from 2002 did not:

Luke Phillips;
Brett Mullins;
Bryan Fletcher; and
Simon Bonnetti.

3 players from the starting side gone and 1 key player who started off the bench in Fletcher gone.

Also add in that Peter Cusack didn't play the 2003 Grand Final at all and Ned Catic started, sorry you lost me there. Further, I don't reacll Ryan Cross nor Todd Byrne playing in the 2002 Grand Final, nor Chris Walker for that matter.

apologies I meant that it was no surprise that the Roosters made the following 2 years grand finals.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Ryan Cross was injured throughout 2002 he was still part of the team though smh who cares if he didn't play in the grand final in 2002 he was part of the full strength team. Justin Hodges didn't play in the 2003 grand final either.

About 12 of the 17 played in both. It was the same team.

 

[Rooster Cogburn.]

Soliola has to be in the worst side, he was utter rubbish.

 

[Rooster Cogburn.]

The 2013 side is the best Roosters team since 1975.

 

[Chook]

The 2002 side went on to make 3 Grand Finals in a row before running out of steam. That's a massive achievement in the modern era.

Whilst the 2013 was the best in defence and attack, I'd like to see if they can replicate the longevity of the 2002 side over multiple seasons before making a comparison.

If we're to compare them on one season 2002 V 2013, than the 2013 side wins imo.

That said, can't wait for 2014.

Chook.

 

[Rooster Cogburn.]

All things being equall I can definitely see us winning the comp in 2014. The team we have now are only going to get better so anything less than a premiership in 2014 will be a disappointment.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

All things being equall I can definitely see us winning the comp in 2014. The team we have now are only going to get better so anything less than a premiership in 2014 will be a disappointment.

My feelings exactly Mr Cogburn

 

[Horrie Is God]

The return of Coggy..

Love it..

If we win the comp next year, then i'll admit this side is better than Freddy's..

 

[Amadaca]

I'm late to the table but I'm gonna suggest Freddy is the difference here, pulling the 02 crew back from 18-10 down at half-time to edge out 13's 13 with a scoreline of 26-24. Craig Wing might also have a big say late in the game. It would be worth a ticket just to see the battle between Waerea-Hargreaves & Cayless alone IMO.

Would be an almighty tussle & I will concede the stats do favour 2013 for achievements, even allowing for a much steeper injury toll the 2002 team had to overcome.