The Post-SWB Era: How to avoid a Fitter-style hangover

[Tommy Smith]

If Sonny-Bill is only going to be here for one or maybe two seasons if we're lucky, it's not too early to plan for his departure. I don't want to see another 8 year depression because we dont adequately prepare for, and replace, an era-defining player.

Gus was talking on air yesterday about the all-encompassing impact SBW has had on the club. It's not just his skills on the field. It's his professionalism and leadership off the field as well. He also has an aura about him and sets an example that others want to follow. Just as Fittler did.

So what do you reckon the plan is? If he leaves at seasons end, and we havent won the comp, then i do fear how we'll cope without him. I reckon we're just a top 6 side in his absnce, but a Premiership force with him in the line-up.

It's great fun watching us go around atm. And we should all be soaking it up. But it'd also be irresponsible if we didn't look ahead.

[Guest]

As good as he is, SBW's effect on this team pales in comparison to Fittler's on his respective team. The current team would be hard to stop even without Sonny - on form, Maloney, Jennings, Pearce, JWH, etc are up there with the best in their positions.

[Guest]

I'm sure Nick has it all covered. He knows that SBW will be leaving next year or the year after. It wouldn't catch us by surprise.

[Tommy Smith]

Freddy will always be more influential by virtue of being the chief playmaker. But i still think that SBW has an enormous impact on this team and without him we'd only be pretenders.

I have great hopes for Samisoni Langi; but SBW is a different beast altogether.

[Tommy Smith]

I'm sure Nick has it all covered. He knows that SBW will be leaving next year or the year after. It wouldn't catch us by surprise.

I hope you're right!

But we all know how the last plan worked out. Replacing Fittler with Anasta

[Guest]

I hope you're right!

But we all know how the last plan worked out. Replacing Fittler with Anasta

Haha yeah, don't think that will happen again. I think our club has learned a lot, don't forget we basically have different management now and they seem to be making all the right decisions.

[Hawkeye]

I'm sure he'll leave some DNA samples around the club...perhaps investing in a cloning lab ?

[Guest]

Samisoni Langi!

Also we have enough talent in the squad which im sure Robbo will work around and set a game plan to suit..

[Spanner in the works]

It's really about making sure our current players continue to do their job with or without him. We can't afford to have him become our main attacking weapon, nor can we have the perception creep in that we are a one man team. Tough ask but we can't let this side become 'The SBW Roosters'.

Should he leave, my only signing to replace him would be Wighton who I would play at lock.

[top_joe]

I'm sure he'll leave some DNA samples around the club...perhaps investing in a cloning lab ?

^^^^this, we need a strategic 20 plan. Leave nothing to chance.

[Spirit of 66]

I'm being optimistic: Sonny we see out his playing days here and will be with us at least until 2019. By that stage he'll be earning $2.5m a year, including a new marquee player allowance that Todd Greenburg will approve. He will salute the crowd as he is chaired off the field in his last Grand Final, having won 7 consecutive premierships.

[Tommy Smith]

Id give my right ****in leg for all of that to come true, 66!

[Guest]

I hope you're right!

But we all know how the last plan worked out. Replacing Fittler with Anasta

We replaced Freddy with Brett Firman! Ricky gave up on him after four games.

[Guest]

I'm being optimistic: Sonny we see out his playing days here and will be with us at least until 2019. By that stage he'll be earning $2.5m a year, including a new marquee player allowance that Todd Greenburg will approve. He will salute the crowd as he is chaired off the field in his last Grand Final, having won 7 consecutive premierships.

[davos]

A lot of people have fallen into the trap of thinking that the success we are seeing now is all because of sony bill. It's not that simple. This is a side that has been building for a while and is still building.

When you think of the names we have coming through, the future seems more exciting as well. Napa, Evans, Tago, Moga, Martin, Langi, Brendan Elliott, Nene Mcdonald, Taane Milne all have the opportunity to be stars of the future.

With the right structure in the coaching ranks with Robbo JT and fitzy at the helm, discipline and set plays have become an integral part of our team, things I never thought I'd see.

Even when SBW does leave, I think that our team will not capitulate like in the post-freddy era, especially when you consider how fast young Boyd is traveling.