Sydney Roosters 2015 Preview

"Back To Back". Three words that were a mission and a curse for the Roosters in season 2014. The idea that they had the best chance of a team successfully retaining their premiership since 1993 had been first ventured long before they even won the 2013 premiership.

It was going to be a difficult slog, and challenges lied ahead. Nineteen of their players were contributing for the World Cup in England, leaving a chunk of the pre-season fairly scattered. On the plus side, the annual World Club Challenge was hosted in Australia for the first time since Wigan defeated Brisbane 20-14 at ANZ Stadium in 1994. Despite winning the clash 36-14 over English champions Wigan Warriors, many fans felt it was already a step back from last season. But with it just being the pre-season, it can be an easier result to ignore.

The season began strangely similar to 2013, leading the side to cop more comparisons. A 28-8 loss to arch rivals South Sydney, followed by a fifty-plus point belting of Parramatta were results similar to the start of the last campaign. But losses began to creep in as the usual attacking flair was not to be seen. Three straight losses to Manly, Canterbury and Parramatta resulted in the Roosters scoring a poultry twenty-two points in that period. Form did return after that with the club winning seven of their next eight games. The next month would prove to be a difficult one, with a close loss to Manly before one of the worst results in recent history for the club. Leading 24-0 close to half-time against stragglers Cronulla, who were going through a period of hell, the Roosters clicked into a stage where they have been guilty all season. Instead of traditional hard work, talent alone was used to win games. The Roosters blew the lead, going down 30-28. 

Another embarrassing loss to the Knights followed, and the side were looking downwards once again. As quick as the side lost their mojo, they regained it, winning the next six games. This included wins against Melbourne and South Sydney, handing the Roosters a second straight Minor Premiership.

The finals were forgettable. A last gasp loss to Penrith put the Roosters in a do-or-die clash against Johnathon Thurston and the North Queensland Cowboys. Leading 30-0 part way through the first half, they were home and hosed. But the lack of hard work crept in, and before you knew it the game was locked up at 30-all. A late field goal clinched the game for the locals before being put through their paces against the big rivals. Sadly, it wasn't the night for the red, white and blue. The worst case scenario occurred, the rivals clinched the premiership, and the bragging rights.

A brief look back at the season there. Even though the club won a Minor Premiership and qualified for the Preliminary Finals, they didn't often hit the level that saw them clinch a premiership the year before. Now the pressure of going back to back will fall on the rivals.

Up to the present, the club will be going through a new phase so to speak. Whilst they didn't have the most memorable season in their illustrious careers, the losses of inspirational club captain Anthony Minichiello and dual international Sonny-Bill Williams will no doubt leave a huge hole that needs to be replaced immediately. Minichiello had many forgettable moments during the season, with uncharacteristic errors coming at the worst possible times for the club. Despite this, moments of brilliance reminded us of the man from the past, who once claimed the Golden Boot in 2005, recognising him as the best player in the world that year. Williams was extremely quiet in comparison to his glorious return to the game the year before. Those trademark offloads and passes were rarely seen.

Frank-Paul Nuuauasala is another loss to the club, making his way to join former Roosters coach Ricky Stuart at the Canberra Raiders. Nuuauasala played eight seasons for the Roosters after joining the club from the lower grades of the Warriors. Frenchman Remi Casty re-joins the Catalans Dragons after a disappointing stint down under, veteran Heath L'Estrange plays for his third club in three years joining the St George Illawarra Dragons and reserve grader Saulala Houma joins the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

On the plus side, joining the club will be former Origin player Blake Ferguson, who returns to the NRL after a season out, following a sacking from the Canberra Raiders for various alcohol-related incidents. Ferguson joined the Roosters officially in May, working for the club in a community based role. It wasn't until December that his playing contract was officially registered, completing the hopeful path to redemption. 

Martin Kennedy returns to the club following a forgettable season at the Brisbane Broncos. Joining the men in maroon up north, Kennedy was touted as a key signing for the club with an Origin spot in mind. But that wasn't to be, and he returns to the club hopefully better for the unfortunate experience.

The other key signing for the club will be former Canberra Raiders hooker Matt McIlwrick. With club co-captain Jake Friend potentially missing the first half of the season, McIlwrick has joined the club as a potential option for the vacant jersey. Impressing in the first trial for the Wyong Roos earlier in the month, it could be a player to watch.

Other signings include veteran Tongan forward Willie Manu, who joins from Super League champions St Helens, Warriors young gun Abraham Papalii and Canberra Raiders veteran Lagi Setu.

Another note for the club is the disbanding of the partnership with fellow foundation club, Newtown Jets. The Roosters and Jets have partnered in the lower grades since 2007. The partnership proved to be successful in the eight year period, qualifying for two grand finals. The biggest moment came in 2012 when the seventh placed Jets defeated the eighth placed Balmain Tigers 22-18 to win their first title since 1974. The Jets will align with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2015.

The Roosters on the other hand have partnered with the only stand-alone club in the competition in the Wyong Roos. The Roos entered the 2013 NSW Cup, making the finals in 2014. The partnership began recently with the first game being staged on the seventh of February at Morry Breen Oval. First graders Martin Kennedy, Matt McIlwrick and Blake Ferguson made stunning debuts for the club with the latter scoring two tries. Rookies Paul Momirovski, Tyler Cornish, Jack Siejka and Vince Leuluai also made contributing factors. With the partnership in place containing players that were involved in the finals last season, there will be many eyes on the new feeder club.

The other pre-season news for the club came overseas as the Roosters surprised many by taking a strong squad to the Auckland Nines. They didn't disappoint, being knocked out in the semi-finals.

WHY THEY'LL WIN IT
They have the talent. They have the coach. Looking at the roster this year, replacing one superstar with another, they have rightly earned the respect as one of the heavy favourites to take out the title. The Bondi Brick Wall remains, giving the Roosters the defensive platform that helped them achieve two straight Minor Premierships. The fatigue factor shouldn't be an issue this year with just six players involved in the end-of-season Four Nations (two playing just the one game) in comparison to nineteen playing the World Cup overseas the season before.

Trent Robinson will be challenged in his third year as coach to make sure the wheels don't fall off, particularly with a new looking backline.

WHY THEY WON'T
The lack of leadership could cost the side. Whilst fans can praise the decision to announce Mitchell Pearce and Jake Friend as co-captains, the pressure on the pair will be known throughout the season. Speaking of Friend, the dynamic hooker will potentially miss the first half of the season as mentioned before. The Roosters lost their structure without Friend late in 2014. With Jackson Hastings, the aforementioned Matt McIlwrick and Wyong local Mitch Williams fighting for the vacant position alongside utility Mitchell Aubusson, it could prove a factor in the back end of the season if the club needs to win games to qualify for the finals.

Another note must be the penalty count. Once again the Roosters cost themselves in this area of the game. The defensive platform dropped from the season before, but it will be a factor going into the new season.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Blake Ferguson
Who else? The story behind Ferguson is no different from the last two redemption cases at the Roosters in Todd Carney and Sonny-Bill Williams. They came in as an unpopular addition for fans, but on-field came results. Carney lead the side to the doomed 2010 Grand Final, whilst Williams was a key factor in winning the 2013 Premiership. Whether Ferguson reaches these heights will be key. The media will be on his back every step of the way as they were for the aforementioned other two.

ROOKIE TO WATCH
Jackson Hastings
The son of club legend Kevin Hastings was thrown into the deep end, making his debut in the Round 26 clash against arch rivals South Sydney which, unbeknownst to the players at the time, decided the Minor Premiership. Hastings handled himself with class in his two first grade appearances, and continued this with strong performances in the Auckland Nines this year.

Hastings joined the club last year after previously playing for the St George Illawarra Dragons Holden Cup team. With a reputation and a namesake hanging over his shoulders (there is another half in the club who could talk to him about that), Hastings could prove to be a useful utility player, able to play anywhere in the spine. As mentioned before, he is one of the potential options to play at hooker for the first half of the season due to the injury to club co-captain Jake Friend.

BEST ROUND 1 LINEUP
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
3. Blake Ferguson
4. Michael Jennings
5. Daniel Tupou
6. James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce (c)
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Matt McIlwrick
10. Sam Moa
11. Mitchell Aubusson
12. Boyd Cordner
13. Aidan Guerra
Interchange: 14. Jackson Hastings 15. Dylan Napa 16. Isaac Liu 17. Kane Evans