If Cronk joins the Roosters, the 2018 competition is over before it starts

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Greatest side ever? Over 25 competiton rounds, they won a single game more than the team that run 8th. Yep, best team eva bro

There were so many new combinations last year, revolving around Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco, that it took time for the super roster to gel. That won't be a problem in 2019.

Also the team was hurt by suspensions to Latrell Mitchell and Dylan Napa, as well as injury to Luke Keary at crucial moments of the competition. That is another reason why they were under-performing at times.

 

[footy75]

He's called it.

 

[AJB1102]

James Tedesco is a rich man's Nathan Gardner.

 

[Mr Spock!]

Cronk didn't need to be fit......

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Cronk didn't need to be fit......

That was a freakish event which will never be repeated.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

If Marty Tapau joins the Roosters in 2019 we will see the Roosters make cricket scores against several clubs.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Right now there are questions of Shaun Johnson's future and Marty Taupau's future that are preocccupying Uncle Nick and Supercoach Trent Robinson. Until we can get some final clarity on the cost of signing each, and whether either or both are possible, we won't know the road to the 2019 and 2020 Grand Finals.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Right now there are questions of Shaun Johnson's future and Marty Taupau's future that are preoccupying Uncle Nick and Supercoach Trent Robinson. Until we can get some final clarity on the cost of signing each, and whether either or both are possible, we won't know the road to the 2019 and 2020 Grand Finals.

Well now we know Shaun Johnson's future is at Cronulla. So the next ball is in Marty Taupau's court.

 

[Zadar]

Well now we know Shaun Johnson's future is at Cronulla. So the next ball is in Marty Taupau's court.

Will not be leaving the northern beaches next year.

 

[wittyfan]

The Sydney Roosters obviously have the best team in the NRL competition. They are one of the greatest rugby league club sides ever to play the game. Only the great St George teams of the 1960s --- when there was no salary cap and St George could scoop up all the talent -- and the Eastern Suburbs team of 1974-75, can be compared to the 2018-2019 Sydney Roosters team. Melbourne have just lost their super star Billy Slater and will decline somewhat because of that. On the other hand Cronulla will be strong again, as will South Sydney, with their three English penises on display.

However long term injuries can scuttle a team's finals prospects. In 2018 a long term injury to Greg Inglis which kept him on the sidelines, and an ongoing set of injuries to Sam Burgess which hampered his form, diminished South Sydney's chances of even making the Grand Final in 2018. That is why it is imperative that a team retain a fit core of star players fit for most of their games, in order to perform to its maximum.

Therefore I will predict that if the Sydney Roosters can retain its core stars without long term injuries, it will be the first team in the history of the NRL (1998-2019) to win NRL Grand Finals back to back.

Who is on the list of core stars?

James Tedesco
Latrell Mitchell
Joseph Manu
Luke Keary
Cooper Cronk
Victor Radley
Jake Friend
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Those are the 8 who must not suffer long term injuries. If that happens then the Sydney Roosters, under the coaching of the brilliant Trent Robinson, will win the 2019 Grand Final.

The 1974-75 team shits all over this current lot. No way they could ever match 19 straight wins.

 

[TheDalek079]

in head to head, the current era wins 8-5

Fullback: Fairfax v Tedesco
Wing: Mullins v Toops
Centre: Harris v Latrell
Centre Brass v Manu
Wing: Porter/Pickett v Fergo/Morris

5/8: Bomber v Keary
halfback: Monkey v Cronk

Lock: Stumpy v Radley
2nd Row: Coote v Aubbo
2nd Row Hedger v Cordner
Prop: Artie v SST
Hooker: Walters v Friend
Prop: Jones/McKay v JWH

 

[Valheru]

The 1974-75 team shits all over this current lot. No way they could ever match 19 straight wins.

I'm not sure any team could win 19 in a row in the modern era.

The closest was bulldogs 2002 and we know how that ended.

 

[Captain Apollo]

in head to head, the current era wins 8-5

Fullback: Fairfax v Tedesco
Wing: Mullins v Toops
Centre: Harris v Latrell
Centre Brass v Manu
Wing: Porter/Pickett v Fergo/Morris

5/8: Bomber v Keary
halfback: Monkey v Cronk

Lock: Stumpy v Radley
2nd Row: Coote v Aubbo
2nd Row Hedger v Cordner
Prop: Artie v SST
Hooker: Walters v Friend
Prop: Jones/McKay v JWH

You need to get your facts right as you have people all over the place in wrong positions, or in a couple of cases not even listed.

Russell Fairfax only played in the 1974 Grand Final. He missed the GF, and a chunk of the 1975 GF after breaking his leg in the Amco Cup. Ian Schubert played the 1975 Grand final at fullback.

Mark Harris only played the 1974 GF. He didn't play in 1975 due to a broken jaw. John Rheinberger played the GF.

Kevin "Stumpy" Stevens only played in the 1975 Grand Final. In 1974, Ron Coote played lock instead (in 1975 he was in the second row).

In 1974, Barry "Bunny" Reilly (The Axe) played in the second row. In 1975, due to injury, he was on the reserves bench which is what saw Kevin Stevens brought into the side.

In the 1974 and 1975 Grand Finals, Arthur Beetson played second row and not prop forward.

Ian Mackay played in both the 1974 and 1975 Grand Finals at prop.

Ken Jones played prop in only the 1974 Grand Final. In 1975, Grant Hedger was the other prop lining up alongside Ian Mackay.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

You need to get your facts right as you have people all over the place in wrong positions, or in a couple of cases not even listed.

Russell Fairfax only played in the 1974 Grand Final. He missed the GF, and a chunk of the 1975 GF after breaking his leg in the Amco Cup. Ian Schubert played the 1975 Grand final at fullback.

Mark Harris only played the 1974 GF. He didn't play in 1975 due to a broken jaw. John Rheinberger played the GF.

Kevin "Stumpy" Stevens only played in the 1975 Grand Final. In 1974, Ron Coote played lock instead (in 1975 he was in the second row).

In 1974, Barry "Bunny" Reilly (The Axe) played in the second row. In 1975, due to injury, he was on the reserves bench which is what saw Kevin Stevens brought into the side.

In the 1974 and 1975 Grand Finals, Arthur Beetson played second row and not prop forward.

Ian Mackay played in both the 1974 and 1975 Grand Finals at prop.

Ken Jones played prop in only the 1974 Grand Final. In 1975, Grant Hedger was the other prop lining up alongside Ian Mackay.

Incredible information.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

Incredible information.

More importantly where any of them French?

 

[Annyong]

More importantly where any of them French?

Why isn’t Remi Casty there?

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

More importantly where any of them French?

"where any of them French?" That makes no sense in English. You must have been spending too much time in Yongland.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

"where any of them French?" That makes no sense in English. You must have been spending too much time in Yongland.

My phone dictionary speaks ungood england

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

My phone dictionary speaks ungood england

Keep away from Ms Yong.

Remember that Cooper Cronk, who played an entire Grand Final with a broken shoulder, is the bravest player ever to play in the NRL.

Remember also that the Sydney Roosters defeated Melbourne Storm in the 2018 Grand Final with only 12 fit players. It was a memorable and epic victory.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

In most of the end of year 2018 highlight summaries the nation's top rugby league journalists have pointed to Cooper Cronk's Grand Final heroics as the event of the season.

What a player! What a hero! What a team!