Roosters 2025 Season Lineup

[Bansai Pipeline]

God only knows how they’re going to get Ponga to break his contract.

He’s our man for sure.

[FlamingRooster]

I think there is a few things to note on the line-up for next year.

Firstly, i dont think we are a club that has rebuilding years - they say they play for premierships, and i think the club will move heaven and earth to secure some players, even on short term deals to give us a chance. You can see that in the past with the signings of Cronk, SBW, and to a lesser extent the Morris boys, even Luke O'Donnell. They are not adverse to signing some older guys on short deals if they are going to do a job the clubs needs.

I also think its obvious they dont want Watson as a starting hooker - he is the 13 or 14 (personally id go 14 with Whyte 13) - so a hooker is a target

I think a centre is the next target - i think Marky M will be trialed as 1, but then Pauga and B.Smith - but really - thats 3 risky people for 2 positions, so you can see them going for a tried and tested centre.

Then half - Townsend was signed as a back-up (with Walker) - im not certain the club will go for another half - i think hooker / centre are priority, but wouldn't surprise me if they have a crack at someone on a 1-2 year deal

the other thing i think we will target - probably the most important (and possibly most difficult to find) a goal kicker - we have lost both this year, and i think this is a necessity for next season (we all know how great Teddy is - but when he had to goal kick.........)

2 players realistically that maybe on the radar (apologies i dont know their individual situation.....) what is the latest with the other 2 May brothers? could they be targets?

Toia will probably be opening day centre with Mark. Tyrone is and has always been ESL quality and Taylor has most likely played his last game in the Nrl for the foreseeable future

[weplayforprems]

I have a mate who is a Cowboys tragic and apparently most Cowboys supporters are so happy to see the back of Townsend. He didn’t do a good job there, so I’m not sure I share your enthusiasm for the bloke.

The plan would have been to have him play maybe 6 or 7 first grade games to cover injuries or give Sandon a break in his first full season here and there.

He’s a washed reserve grader.

We should still be seriously looking to pry someone like Ben Hunt away from Saints for a year.

The season is effectively a writeoff anyway (in terms of being a serious comp threat) so maybe the club just can’t be arsed.

[King Salvo]

The plan would have been to have him play maybe 6 or 7 first grade games to cover injuries or give Sandon a break in his first full season here and there.

He’s a washed reserve grader.

We should still be seriously looking to pry someone like Ben Hunt away from Saints for a year.

The season is effectively a writeoff anyway (in terms of being a serious comp threat) so maybe the club just can’t be arsed.

Rather premature to write off a season before it even starts

As for players leaving - main 5

JWH: Would be pushing it to get another year from him—more game time for May/Whyte/Leniu, and you have the Va'a Brothers ready to rumble. Wong was used as a prop in the NSW Cup, so not sure if they see him as this and not solely a back rower.

Keary: A number on here say he played on for too long as it is—Sandon Smith will, I assume, take over the 5/8 role. - "Pete" Townsend will bring experience to the role that Coach Robinson will ask him to play.

Suaaliit, Sitili, and Manu—the opinion here is that Suaalii is too slow for centre and was not playing according to the hype and salary. Sitili misses too many tackles and has not kicked on as expected, and Manu plays when he wants to and can be very lazy at times and is a poor defender.

Billy Smith/Toia/Young and Nawaqanitawase in the mix for centre, one assumes—Wong and Blake Steep in the mix for a backrow spot.

[MKCS]

No Brandon Smith?

Yeah, he would of course take the number 9 when available but we're looking at a mid season return for him like with Walker. I'm moreso talking Round 1.

The plan would have been to have him play maybe 6 or 7 first grade games to cover injuries or give Sandon a break in his first full season here and there.

He’s a washed reserve grader.

We should still be seriously looking to pry someone like Ben Hunt away from Saints for a year.

The season is effectively a writeoff anyway (in terms of being a serious comp threat) so maybe the club just can’t be arsed.

It looks like a pretty genius signing now with Walker going down that we do have a genuine halfback who has won a competition with 250+ games of NRL experience to help guide our rookie half with under 30 games around and help him be the best he can be for at least the first half of the season.

Ben Hunt isn't coming here for a year, maybe if he was offered 2-3 seasons on big money at the end of next year but no way do Dragons let him go and no way does he accept just a one year.

[Rooster90]

"Pete" Townsend will do a good job - Sandon Smith I assume will be first choice goal kicker and "Pete" Townsend can kick as well - so can Tyler Moriarty

Possible Round 1 Team 2025

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

Interchange

14. Moriarty
15. Leniu
16. Nat Butcher
17. Wong

Reserves

18. Toia
19. Egan Butcher
20. Pauga
21. Xavier Va'a
22. De La Salle Va'a

Dom Young in the centres will give me nightmares defensively - i have no idea why a guy that big is afraid to tackle

[Easts75]

Dom Young in the centres will give me nightmares defensively - i have no idea why a guy that big is afraid to tackle

Coming from behind when you're fast is the easiest tackle in the books and he even farked that when the Storm went the length the other night

[gragra]

Coming from behind when you're fast is the easiest tackle in the books and he even farked that when the Storm went the length the other night

He seems to shy away from the front on tackle, often runs across field...I think he feels and fears contact for pain...his only asset is finishing for tries, which is great but the other defensive shortcomings is a concern.

[Inflictor]

He seems to shy away from the front on tackle, often runs across field...I think he feels and fears contact for pain...his only asset is finishing for tries, which is great but the other defensive shortcomings is a concern.

Something Marky seems to love. Hits hard too.

[Billy Gunn]

We will start the 2025 with the weakest spine in the competition in our current lineup. Defense must be our priority until Walker and Smith get back. Most people have Marky Mark in the centers, but I believe that position is up for grabs by several players.

We have a number of spots in our top 30 and our top priority should be a quality hooker, and Jayden Brailey has been told he can leave. That way Watson can play 13. Sandon and Chad in the halves for half a season scares me. I think I would prefer Hutch as a running 6 than those 2.

The only change to the forwards if Watson is at 9, I would have Wong or Egan on the edge. If Spencer wants to start, he needs to be much fitter.

[Chook2]

Think young needs to stay wing for his pace and try scoring with Marky N inside him
with walker and b smith Ben hunt is a massive priority for 1 season or 2
better 9 then smith, and would allow Watson to play 13 or 14 and when smith and young come back could even fill in at 6 if sandon wasn’t quite there yet
covers 4 positions and with our injuries this would be a must
other then that maybe a centre - but also maybe Manu comes back
if not we should front load contracts for 2025 and allow us to be well over in 2026 as guys are paid early

let’s hope king, tait, sandon, moriarty, Vaa bros, steep and Roberts step up along with Elliot and Rodwell, foley
we have plenty of juniors who should progress and become stays in 2026 and 27
also Hoping Whyte and Wong lock down their rolls - think Whyte as bench front row rotation Next year with Leniu and Wong either on the bench or Would like to see him at 13 or 12 depending on rads as another big edge forward like critchon would be good

[weplayforprems]

Yeah, he would of course take the number 9 when available but we're looking at a mid season return for him like with Walker. I'm moreso talking Round 1.



It looks like a pretty genius signing now with Walker going down that we do have a genuine halfback who has won a competition with 250+ games of NRL experience to help guide our rookie half with under 30 games around and help him be the best he can be for at least the first half of the season.

Ben Hunt isn't coming here for a year, maybe if he was offered 2-3 seasons on big money at the end of next year but no way do Dragons let him go and no way does he accept just a one year.

I agree re Hunt on one year. Probably not gonna happen.

Theres a reason Townsend finished in reserve grade for a team that was even further off the pace than us. He’s shit. Would love him to wind back the clock but hard to see it happening

[HDTONE]

NO can't see the queen's letting Hunt go anywhere. Dylan Brown would be good if he's. got an escape clause.

Chad is just not going to be be the big cure folks might be wanting. Time will tell.

[Steakface]

From the moment Townsend signed, it was clear Hunt wasnt going to be an option.

Hunt won't be coming.

We have:

1. Walker - the most talented young half in the game
2. Smith - a zippy young bloke, who has great poise on field. Should see years of first grade. Give him time.
3. Townsend - is an average half yes, but 'shit' is not accurate at all. Has intellect (more than most in the NRL) and experience, something much needed in our squad - and why he was signed.

We've still got better stocks in the halves than a lot of clubs.

We've been blessed with the likes of Cronk, Maloney, Keary, Pearce in the halves for years. We have been spoilt.

But you can't have superstars forever.

Let's really get behind our 2 main young blokes and watch them bloom.

[ism22]

God only knows how they’re going to get Ponga to break his contract.

He’s our man for sure.

I think it's bull. However there are clearly positions open in the halves and backline that have been left by experienced players.

He gels with Watson too, who is now in-line for a significant upgrade rather than a retirement trip to France.

Sigh. Is he REALLY the only marquee player we'd consider signing to replace JWH, Manu, Sua'ali'i and Keary? Theory aside, I just dunno if he's THE solution.