Why the Roosters deserve to win
Thu Sep 30, 4:51pm (NSW)
Written by: Stuart Hall
Hopefully on Sunday night it will be Brad Fittler living his fairytale and holding up the Telstra Premiership Trophy for what will be a victory for the good people in Rugby League.
The Roosters have been savaged during the week by the media and the tip of the iceberg was Luke Ricketson being suspended. The coverage this week just shows that the Roosters are the most hated team in the media and never get a fair go.
It's an absolute tragedy that Ricketson was suspended and denied an opportunity to play in Fittler's final match. Ricketson was sticking up for his best mate and that's the Australian way of things. Ricketson did nothing wrong to be suspended for one match let alone three.
How anyone could be hoping for a Bulldogs victory is beyond belief. They have done nothing but bring shame on our game and why the NRL have even let them compete in the Grand Final is a disgrace.
The Roosters on the other hand have been the leading and benchmark club in Rugby League. They have been brilliantly led by Nick Politis, Phil Gould, Brian Canavan and previously Bernie Gurr. Ricky Stuart has instilled passion and pride into the Roosters outfit. They are pinnacle club in the game and one that should be admired and promoted for the good they do to Rugby League.
The Roosters remained firmly loyal to the ARL in 1995 and stood tall for the game in its darkest hour. The Roosters provided a home for Brad Fittler when his former club Penrith went to Super League. Fittler would have ended up in Super League if it wasn't for the Roosters and it was important for the ARL to keep the best player in the game.
Gould is the brain of brains when it comes to Rugby League whether it is as a coach or commentator. He is one of the few commentators and reporters in the game that isn't biased and looks at everything objectively. Gould as a coach got the Roosters out of the doldrums, stopped Queensland's State of Origin dominance to the point NSW now dominate in a big way, won Penrith their 1st Premiership and got life out of a fading Bulldogs side that had run their race under Warren Ryan.
Fittler is the Don Bradman of Rugby League and deserves such a fitting send off. He has been the backbone of Rugby League since 1990 and he was there for the ARL in their darkest hour. Fittler has achieved everything in Rugby League and his association with the Roosters has been a mutually benefitting one.
The Roosters have played a major part in Fittler's development as a footballer and Fittler has repaid that with his performances on the field. He's a much better player than Andrew Johns and any of the Immortals they can throw at him including Wally Lewis.
The Roosters have brought new supporters to the game, promoted a positive image for Rugby League and have run an astute business while keeping the values of a genuine footy club. The Roosters have always played by the rules and have made more sacrifices than any other club to maintain their standards and morals of playing by the rules.
The Roosters represent everything good about Rugby League. I hope on Sunday night that the goodwill of this world prevails and the Roosters emerge as Premiers. It would be fitting for Fittler and fitting for Rugby League.
A Bulldogs victory on the other hand will set the code back 20 years and give rival sports a massive leg up.
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