Opinion Sydney Roosters rebuild

[James Rick]

Is it the quickest rebuild seen in NRL history? I remember the Roosters lost a lot of players in 2024 and many pundits predicted them to have a stint outside finals, but fast forward to 2025 and they scrape into 8th place largely off the back off Tedesco followed by Walker returning from an ACL. This followed by the key signings of Robson and Cherry-Evans and suddenly many pundits have the Roosters contending for a premiership again in 2026.

 

[Valheru]

@Chins the moment you've been waiting for...

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Short memory cob? Or maybe ya havent watched footy that long.

Roosters done this twice already. This isnt new for them

Same as 2015 (prelim/minor prem) into 2016 (bottom 2) and then 2017 (prelim/2nd on ladder) into back to back prems (2018 with minor prem/2019 with top 2 ladder finish)

Same as 2010 (GF/Runners Up/Top 8 in 6th) into 2011 (11th on ladder) into 2012 (13th on ladder) into 2013 (premiers/minor premiers)

 

[Chins]

Will have a very similar year to the Sharkies. They'll make the 8 pretty easily but they don't have the cattle or coaching to really fire a shot once there.

 

[Fangs]

Well you need a broken house to call it a rebuild. So we are already on shaky ground with this thread title.

You also need a lack of success to call it a rebuild. They're a competitive team who scraped into the 8 last year. Virtually the same result as 2023 followed by a top 4 finish in 2024.

So nothing has changed really. They own a decent looking house. Could use a lick of paint. No one in the property market is serious about investing in it though. Especially since they installed that ugly handrail in the front yard to help DCE reach the front door.

 

[yobbo84]

Aren't they predicted to win the comp every year? Same pundits always getting overexcited

 

[Valheru]

We are going to go a lot better this year than last year, especially the start of the season. It cannot be understated how compromised the team was to start last season. We entered season 2025 losing Keary, JWH, May, Manu, Sua'ali, and Tuponiua and didn't have Walker or Br Smith available due to long term injuries.

The result of that was a 50 point flogging in round 1 and other losses to Warriors, Titans and Souths in the first 5 games with the only win a truly bizarre one against Penrith. By the time ANZAC Day came around things started to improve and we went 11-6 the rest of the way. The emergence of guys like Toia, Marky Mark, Savala, Ioelu, Losalu and Foketi, the development of Whyte and Wong and the return of Walker transformed the team in to a top 4 calibre one by the last 6 weeks of the comp IMO. The finals performance was a dud and certainly disappointing.

In regards to this year, for me it's a top 4 squad and barring an injury crisis, not getting to the top 4 would be a failure. Everyone has eyes on DCE but IMO he won't make much difference either way, the bigger buy for me is Robson. Hooker has been a big hole for us since J Friend retired so if Robson can do a similar job there we are on to a good thing.

 

[Chins]

We are going to go a lot better this year than last year, especially the start of the season. It cannot be understated how compromised the team was to start last season. We entered season 2025 losing Keary, JWH, May, Manu, Sua'ali, and Tuponiua and didn't have Walker or Br Smith available due to long term injuries.

The result of that was a 50 point flogging in round 1 and other losses to Warriors, Titans and Souths in the first 5 games with the only win a truly bizarre one against Penrith. By the time ANZAC Day came around things started to improve and we went 11-6 the rest of the way. The emergence of guys like Toia, Marky Mark, Savala, Ioelu, Losalu and Foketi, the development of Whyte and Wong and the return of Walker transformed the team in to a top 4 calibre one by the last 6 weeks of the comp IMO. The finals performance was a dud and certainly disappointing.

In regards to this year, for me it's a top 4 squad and barring an injury crisis, not getting to the top 4 would be a failure. Everyone has eyes on DCE but IMO he won't make much difference either way, the bigger buy for me is Robson. Hooker has been a big hole for us since J Friend retired so if Robson can do a similar job there we are on to a good thing.

Whyte is a legit freak I'll give you that

 

[Bazal]

One club closer to having threads for all 17 posted by random alts

 

[Wb1234]

Smokies for the premiership if Walker can gell with Dce

Marky mark would love to go to Union winning a comp and he might

Great attacking side good to watch

 

[Munky]

Walker and DCE open up both sides for opposition attacks close to the try line.

Savala actually defended like a backrower playing in the halves (compared to someone like Schuster who was puss).

It'll be interesting to see how they adapt, it's hard to hide more than one defensive liability.

 

[Valheru]

Walker and DCE open up both sides for opposition attacks close to the try line.

Savala actually defended like a backrower playing in the halves (compared to someone like Schuster who was puss).

It'll be interesting to see how they adapt, it's hard to hide more than one defensive liability.

Has DCE historically been a defensive liability though?

I know he was real bad last year but I expect him to be a lot better this year. Clearly he wasn't mentally there last season.

 

[Chins]

Has DCE historically been a defensive liability though?

I know he was real bad last year but I expect him to be a lot better this year. Clearly he wasn't mentally there last season.

Has a long history of rushing out of the line, done it his whole career

 

[Vic Mackey]

They'll give it a red hot crack. Will be losing Marky Mark and Angus, likely DCE/Toops and Teddys 33 so all will be on board. One thing that hasnt been spoken about is losing Holbrook who Luke Keary said is the best attacking coach he's ever worked with.

I'll be surprised if theyre not up there, Prelim should be the worst result for them. You know they'll have a few games where they spaz it up but then the next week will come out and put 40 on another top 4 side.

 

[mave]

Has DCE historically been a defensive liability though?

All I'll say is good luck to the two poor unfortunates trying to defend outside him.

 

[Bazal]

Has a long history of rushing out of the line, done it his whole career

Does he though?

Or does it just look that way because his head sticks four metres out of the line

 

[Captain Apollo]

Does he though?

Or does it just look that way because his head sticks four metres out of the line

Don't you mean his neck sticks 4 metres out of the line? His head would only be about 30-50 cms

 

[Valheru]

Does he though?

Or does it just look that way because his head sticks four metres out of the line

He can be nose to nose with the hooker and still be on side

 

[yobbo84]

They'll be in the finals. Too much talent to miss out.

TBH though I think Sam Walker, not DCE, holds all the cards as to whether or not they can actually win the big finals matches. He is the one on the upward trajectory.

 

[Bazal]

They'll be in the finals. Too much talent to miss out.

TBH thought I think Sam Walker, not DCE, holds all the cards as to whether or not they can actually win the big finals matches. He is the one on the upward trajectory.

Yep absolutely right IMO.

The Sickle Cell kid is their most important player by far. DCE just need to have a cool head, take the pressure off when needed and not be as plod as Savala