We’ll be ok for next year for Top 4 spot.

[roosterchook]

Going through our roster we still have a top 4 card if we can cut down on errors.

We have many proven players who are very highly rated and can win the day for us. Some players we are losing have served us well but also tied us down due to ordinary form. Keary is not a great loss. He’s done well but I’m glad he’s moving on. Manu is a loss but has not been in top form much. Suuali I miss his goal kicking but don’t feel he’s a loss.

Many of our players going into 2025 I would give them a rating between 1-10.

Tedesco - 9 and a great asset in attack
Toups 9 our highest try scorer
Young - 8 but improving in both attack and defense. Another try scorer.
Pauga 8 an excellent back up try scorer and winger
Mark N - 8-9 would make a great centre to replace Manu and knows how to catch a high ball
Walker - 9 Is very talented and can set up tries, score them, grubber in goal, kick goals and field goals.
Sandon Smith - 7 but learning
Brandon Smith - 8-9 at his best.
connor Watson - 8-9 great player
Angus Crichton - 9.5 a really awesome player
Collins - 7.5 - 8 his form has not been good since origin.
Leniu - 8 a player who loves to hit hard.
Radley 9.5 one of the best
Billy Smith - 7-8 if he keeps getting injured we need to replace him. No good to us always injured.
May, Wong , Whyte 7-8 learning the ropes
Butcher - 5 Not big enough, tries but big forwards rush him and gain 15 meters.

If I overlooked anyone just add your views.

our team next year, even with our losses I see as a 8 1/2 rated team which can easily make the top 4 injuries/suspesions aside and only our errors can really stop us. As for Riff and Storm. I don’t know except if we can cut down on errors drastically and get much more possession, our chances might improve to be able to beat them.

[Chook2]

I’m unsure could be a big rebuilding year with us falling back to 5-8 or even lower with injuries but also the rest of the comp is weak so we could hold Around 3-4 still
I’m waiting for an older hear re signing like a Ben hunt for 1 year to cover walker and smith being out - we will need to do something soon
the storm will have the same squad which is scary - the riff loosing a few but they have shown the next man up each year

for our losses jwh is the massive one! Keary was great but has been average since 2021 after his acl! Manu has moments, suaali was average until the last month or so and sitili is okay but has flaws to his game
I think once walker is back if Marky N and then smith and toia stay fit out backline will be fine
and it Whyte and Wong improve we should be okay in the forwards

we had such a strong 22 this year that even losing 5 players we still have one of the better squads next year
we had an 18-22 this year of b smith, s smith, Egan, Wong and sitili who would be in most teams 17

Let’s see I don’t have big expectations next year but there isn’t many teams under us that look that great either

[Funky Chicken]

I feel like next year could be an exciting one, we have a heap of youngsters coming through that could change the look of how we play;

Mark Nawaqanitawase
Blake Steep
Siua Wong
Nafhau Whyte
De La Salle Va'aa
Rob Toia
Billy Smith
Xavier Va'aa
Dom Young

Plus we still have a decent amount of old heads and experience

Teddy
Toops
Rads
Collins

Will we win next year? I hope so, but probably not. But I feel we are going to unearth some real gems for the future.

[BTRD]

I respect everyone's opinions. I reckon we might be around 6th to 10th. Hope not.

We need a couple of experienced players to join the squad. A real hooker is a must. Whyte to be given number 13 - and left there to make it his own.

[Steggles]

I love your optimism mate, but I think you might be looking at some of our players through red, white and blue coloured glasses.

If we said the competition’s best player in each position scores a 10, I reckon we’d be more like -

Tedesco - 9.5 our best, can push a pass that’s not on
Toups - 8 always reliable
Young - 6 major disappointment in the 2nd half of the year
Pauga - 6.5 reasonable fill in
Mark N - unknown, hasn’t even played a full NRL game.
Walker - 8, but with a high ceiling, no long kicking game, will miss half the year
Sandon Smith - 6.5 agree still learning but a fair way to go, sus defence and no long kicking game
Brandon Smith - 7.5, often injured, will miss half the year
Connor Watson - 6 as a hooker, 7 as a lock, 8.5 as a bench utility.
Angus Crichton - 8 can have bad defensive reads next to a small half (like last night) and the occasional shocker (2 of last 3)
Collins - 7 lacked impact this year, becoming a workhorse, not an alpha
Leniu - 7 bad defensive reads close to the line
Radley - 8 solid
Billy Smith - difficult to rate. I’d say 8 when playing last year, but who knows what we will get if/when he gets back. Could be anywhere between 6 and 9. Agree, he’s no good to us always injured.
May - 8 and improving, love more agro from him
Wong - 7 but needs to play more to improve
Whyte - 7 with the occasional bad defensive read, love more agro from him too given his size
N Butcher - 6 agree, works hard but just not big enough.
E Butcher - 5 average
C Townsend - 6 solid kicking game

If we look at what we are losing this year in terms of 2024 performance, maybe it won’t hurt that much. My view on 2024 ratings would be-

Keary - 5 poor defence, no long kicking game, lacked pace and creativity, no organisation skill.
Manu - 6 added little during the year, sometimes poor defence, lacked impact, a bit lazy.
JWH - 6.5 overall given the suspensions/sin bins, 8 when actually playing.
Sitili - 6.5 improved as the year progressed but still has flippers for hands
Suaalii - 8 based on his final month.

For 2025, we will have a middle of the road forward pack, no clarity around centre, our best half and hooker missing for half the year and a winger that is rocks and diamonds. Missing Walker and Smith will impact our ladder position the most; I think we’ll end up around 6th to 8th. I hope we can see some new blood make its way into first grade and those like Whyte and Wong accelerate their development. Anyway, that’s my opinion for what it’s worth.

[ChookMaster]

Nah, don’t think we can land top 4 next year. We will go better than people expect but I think we will finish 6-8th.

Sandon and Chad starting the year off doesn’t excite me at all… our backline sure we have some youngsters ready to be bled but errors is always a sure thing with the young ones.


2025 is going to be a weird one I think.

[Chook2]

I love your optimism mate, but I think you might be looking at some of our players through red, white and blue coloured glasses.

If we said the competition’s best player in each position scores a 10, I reckon we’d be more like -

Tedesco - 9.5 our best, can push a pass that’s not on
Toups - 8 always reliable
Young - 6 major disappointment in the 2nd half of the year
Pauga - 6.5 reasonable fill in
Mark N - unknown, hasn’t even played a full NRL game.
Walker - 8, but with a high ceiling, no long kicking game, will miss half the year
Sandon Smith - 6.5 agree still learning but a fair way to go, sus defence and no long kicking game
Brandon Smith - 7.5, often injured, will miss half the year
Connor Watson - 6 as a hooker, 7 as a lock, 8.5 as a bench utility.
Angus Crichton - 8 can have bad defensive reads next to a small half (like last night) and the occasional shocker (2 of last 3)
Collins - 7 lacked impact this year, becoming a workhorse, not an alpha
Leniu - 7 bad defensive reads close to the line
Radley - 8 solid
Billy Smith - difficult to rate. I’d say 8 when playing last year, but who knows what we will get if/when he gets back. Could be anywhere between 6 and 9. Agree, he’s no good to us always injured.
May - 8 and improving, love more agro from him
Wong - 7 but needs to play more to improve
Whyte - 7 with the occasional bad defensive read, love more agro from him too given his size
N Butcher - 6 agree, works hard but just not big enough.
E Butcher - 5 average
C Townsend - 6 solid kicking game

If we look at what we are losing this year in terms of 2024 performance, maybe it won’t hurt that much. My view on 2024 ratings would be-

Keary - 5 poor defence, no long kicking game, lacked pace and creativity, no organisation skill.
Manu - 6 added little during the year, sometimes poor defence, lacked impact, a bit lazy.
JWH - 6.5 overall given the suspensions/sin bins, 8 when actually playing.
Sitili - 6.5 improved as the year progressed but still has flippers for hands
Suaalii - 8 based on his final month.

For 2025, we will have a middle of the road forward pack, no clarity around centre, our best half and hooker missing for half the year and a winger that is rocks and diamonds. Missing Walker and Smith will impact our ladder position the most; I think we’ll end up around 6th to 8th. I hope we can see some new blood make its way into first grade and those like Whyte and Wong accelerate their development. Anyway, that’s my opinion for what it’s worth.

Tbh suaali would have only been a 5-6 over the last year or two as well so on form not current peak form leaving
manu more an interest and involvement more then being past his best so although plenty leaving maybe not as bad as we think
we may come back to the pack a little but also not Many other teams below us scream top 4 either

[King Salvo]

Roosters Squad - 2025 - 22 Confirmed so up to 8 spots available for the Top 30 Squad

BACKS

Fullbacks

• Tedesco
• * King

Three Quarters

• Toops
• Young
• Nawaqanitawase
• Billy Smith
• Toia
• Pauga

Halves

• Sandon Smith
• "Pete" Townsend
• Walker - will miss around 1/2 the season
• * Elliot

FORWARDS

Props

• Collins
• May
• Leniu
• Whyte - Can also play lock/2nd Row
• * De La Salle Va'a
• * Xavier Va'a

2nd Rowers

• Crichton
• Radley - can also play lock
• Nat Butcher - Can also play lock
• Wong
• Egan Butcher - may miss early rounds - ACL Rehab
• * Steep - Can also play lock

Lock

Watson - can also play dummy half/halves and centre and fullback if required

Dummy Halves

• Brandon Smith - will miss half the season
• Moriarty
• * Loelu

* To be confirmed if in top 30 squad - most will be I assume

Others in Contention for top 30 and development /extended bench contracts

• McCathie - 2nd Row
• Foketi - 2nd Row
• Roberts - 2nd Row
• ZDC - dummy half/lock/halves - not signed for 2025
• Holton- Dummy Half
• Rodwell - Halves
• Savala - Yet to be confirmed if he signed with the Titans - halves
• Foley - halves
• Tait - wing
• Steinwede - 2nd Row
• Taylor - Prop
• Flaherty - Fullback

[HDTONE]

Going through our roster we still have a top 4 card if we can cut down on errors.

True May and Whyte still learning but think solid 8 for both.
Angus might be a 9....but not lately.

Mark N has real potential and hope he gets more game time.

[King Salvo]

Thus a 1st Round team in 2025 could look like this

1. Tedesco
2. Toops
3. Billy Smith
4. Nawaqanitawase
5. Young
6. Sandon Smith
7. "Pete" Townsend
8. Collins
9. Moriarty
10. May
11. Crichton
12. Nat Butcher
13. Radley

Interchange

14. Watson
15. Leniu
16. Whyte
17. Wong

Reserves

18. Toia
19. Steep

[Thirteen]

Thus a 1st Round team in 2025 could look like this

1. Tedesco
2. Toops
3. Billy Smith
4. Nawaqanitawase
5. Young
6. Sandon Smith
7. "Pete" Townsend
8. Collins
9. Moriarty
10. May
11. Crichton
12. Nat Butcher
13. Radley

Interchange

14. Watson
15. Leniu
16. Whyte
17. Wong

Reserves

18. Toia
19. Steep

Mate have you watched much of Morairtu? He’s pretty average.

[Thirteen]

If Pauga is one of our first choice centres we really are in trouble. He’s back up at best.

[King Salvo]

Mate have you watched much of Morairtu? He’s pretty average.

Tyler Moriarty - watched plenty of his games from his time with the Central Coast in the Regional Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups to Central Coast /Sydney Roosters Junior Reps sides and onto grade - Not many rated Sandon Smith ether who came through the same pathways and onto NRL

Going to need a dummy half for half or more of the 2025 season with Brandon Smith in Rehab with the ACL injury and possibly beyond 2025 if Brandon Smith is not re-signed.

Important Pre-season coming up to fill the positions of players who have left and are on the injured list and in the 30 player squad -22 confirmed for 2025 so up to 8 spots to fill

Other Central Coast players making their way through the pathways to NRL include

• Blake Steep - 1 NRL game as a replacement
• Ethan King - 1 NRL game as a replacement
• Robert Toia
• Benaiah Ioelu
• Jake Elliot

[Carlos Parra]

People still getting moist for Billy Smith?

The bloke will be lucky to play 10 games next year.

Easts will fight it out for the bottom 4 spots in the top 8.

The pre-requisite for off season training is discipline, ball handling and game awareness.

[roosterchook]

I feel like next year could be an exciting one, we have a heap of youngsters coming through that could change the look of how we play;

Mark Nawaqanitawase
Blake Steep
Siua Wong
Nafhau Whyte
De La Salle Va'aa
Rob Toia
Billy Smith
Xavier Va'aa
Dom Young

Plus we still have a decent amount of old heads and experience

Teddy
Toops
Rads
Collins

Will we win next year? I hope so, but probably not. But I feel we are going to unearth some real gems for the future.

The Vaa brothers look awesome and very promising. Our team next year might be better off with the players we lost.