If they sign Hunt as a dummy half, Cobbo or Staggs for their centres and pick up a surprise signing like Leo Thompson, their 2025 campaign suddenly grows wings. Sandon Smith, Townsend, Hunt and Walker (probably back for June25) will give them pretty good halves. Their pack is probably best in the NRL, big, fast, strong backline. And Manu rumoured to be returning mid seasonRoosters won't be going anywhere near a comp next year, it's looking like they're tanking it like they did in 2016. The Walker and Smith injuries that keep them out for half a season have probably made them think they may as well use next year as an opportunity to clean house. All the high quality players for 2026 will be going to the roosters and they'll pretty quickly be right up near the top again. For next year though, they may very well miss the finals
1. Tedesco
2. Tupou
3. Cobbo or Staggs
4. Billy Smith
5. Dom Young/ Mark Nagarwase(sp)
6. Sandon Smith
7. Chad Townsend/ Ben Hunt
8. Leo Thompson
9. Ben Hunt/Connor Watson/(Cheese from June25)
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Nafue Whyte
12. Angus Chrichton
13. Victor Radley
14. Spencer Leniu
15. Sia Wong
16. Nat Butcher
17. Docker-Clay
Looks pretty strong to me