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For fans of the other 15 clubs hoping the Roosters’ dynasty has finally come to an end following their 42-6 semi-final thrashing at the hands of the Sea Eagles, think again.
On the surface the Roosters are nowhere near the team that won back-to-back premierships in 2018 and 2019 after two years marred by horror injury tolls and retirements to key players.
However super coach Trent Robinson knows these are the types of years that build premierships and title winning habits.
In 2016 the Roosters finished second last after winning just six games, but 12 months later they climbed to second and a year after a preliminary final exit against the Cowboys they were premiers once again.
Granted the Roosters had Cooper Cronk and one of the strongest Roosters teams ever assembled in 2018, but the fact they came from second last only two years previous gives the current side plenty to work from.
The Roosters bowed out of the finals in straight sets in 2020 in their first season of the post-Cronk era and on the surface this season wasn’t much better, scraping past the Titans 25-24 in the elimination final, before being humbled by a ruthless Manly outfit in the semis.
However the common theme the last two seasons has been a horror injury toll that taught the young squad some tough lessons and importantly not once did Robinson ever use it as an excuse.
That holds the squad in great stead when the tide inevitably turns and the injury gods smile on the Roosters once again.
The injury toll was brutal in 2021 with the club having to endure the retirements of both captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend due to concussion issues.
Such strong leaders are not easily replaced, but in James Tedesco, Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves the club still have plenty of depth in the leadership department.
Replacing Friend’s defence and service out of dummyhalf has the potential to be a tougher assignment for Robinson, but in Sam Verrills and Ben Marschke he has two players with plenty of promise that just need time to develop their craft.
Replacing a forward of the calibre of Cordner is also a difficult task, but the career-best form of Angus Crichton and the emergence of Sitili Tupouniua still gives the Roosters plenty of punch on the edges.
The Roosters also lost Luke Keary, Lindsay Collins, Brett Morris, Joseph Suaalii, Joey Manu and Billy Smith to season ending injuries at different times in 2021, while Josh Morris retired after their finals exit.
Replacing the excellent defence, reliability and try-scoring potency of the Morris twins is a tall order, but in Suaalii and Billy Smith the Roosters have two players that can score and set up plenty of tries in the future.
They are also big bodies that can sure up the defensive line as they mature, provided Smith can finally put his horror run of injuries behind him.
With superstar Joey Manu to return from his cheekbone injury he will likely partner Smith in the centres next season.
Suaalii needs to start the year on the wing to continue his development and grow in confidence, which scoring plenty of tries on the flank can do, especially for such a young man that won’t turn 19 until next August.
Veteran forward Isaac Liu will join the Titans in 2022 and the Roosters will miss his versatility, but in the returning Collins and Siosiua Taukeiaho, who missed their finals loss to Manly, the Roosters have plenty of options to join Waerea-Hargreaves up front.
However the key to unlocking the Roosters’ potential going forward is combining the playmaking skills of returning veteran Luke Keary with the prodigious talents of rookie Sam Walker.
Walker is the heavy favourite be the 2021 NRL rookie of the year, but his effectiveness waned over the course of a long first season in the top grade after he was thrust into the team ahead of his time following Keary’s knee injury.
Walker was benched late in the year leading to theories he was playing with a busted shoulder, but he has tremendous upside given what he produced in his first season.
Once Walker grows into his body and plays alongside Keary, who will take the pressure off the young half, there is no limit to what they can achieve as a playmaking duo.
Drew Hutchison and Lachlan Lam had breakout years and can provide excellent back-up next season.
The Roosters have not been overly active in the transfer market, but the acquisition of Connor Watson from the Knights is an astute signing and he certainly offers more versatility than playing Walker on the bench.
The Roosters also have most of their key core players locked up on long-term deals in Tedesco (2024), Keary (2024), Verrills (2024), Waerea-Hargreaves (2023), Collins (2026), Radley (2023) and Walker (2023).
However there are a number of re-signings the Roosters need to make with stars coming off-contract in 2022, including Taukeiaho, Crichton, Manu, Ikuvalu, Keighran, Lam and Suaalii who has a player option in his favour for 2023 and 2024.
If the Roosters can lock up Chrichton, Manu, Taukeiaho and Suaalii in particular they can set themselves up to be contenders for premierships for years to come.
The Roosters might not be the juggernaut they were in 2018 and 2019, but with Robinson at the helm of an exciting young squad that includes Tedesco and Keary driving the ship their premiership window is far from closed.
On the surface the Roosters are nowhere near the team that won back-to-back premierships in 2018 and 2019 after two years marred by horror injury tolls and retirements to key players.
However super coach Trent Robinson knows these are the types of years that build premierships and title winning habits.
In 2016 the Roosters finished second last after winning just six games, but 12 months later they climbed to second and a year after a preliminary final exit against the Cowboys they were premiers once again.
Granted the Roosters had Cooper Cronk and one of the strongest Roosters teams ever assembled in 2018, but the fact they came from second last only two years previous gives the current side plenty to work from.
The Roosters bowed out of the finals in straight sets in 2020 in their first season of the post-Cronk era and on the surface this season wasn’t much better, scraping past the Titans 25-24 in the elimination final, before being humbled by a ruthless Manly outfit in the semis.
However the common theme the last two seasons has been a horror injury toll that taught the young squad some tough lessons and importantly not once did Robinson ever use it as an excuse.
That holds the squad in great stead when the tide inevitably turns and the injury gods smile on the Roosters once again.
The injury toll was brutal in 2021 with the club having to endure the retirements of both captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend due to concussion issues.
Such strong leaders are not easily replaced, but in James Tedesco, Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves the club still have plenty of depth in the leadership department.
Replacing Friend’s defence and service out of dummyhalf has the potential to be a tougher assignment for Robinson, but in Sam Verrills and Ben Marschke he has two players with plenty of promise that just need time to develop their craft.
Replacing a forward of the calibre of Cordner is also a difficult task, but the career-best form of Angus Crichton and the emergence of Sitili Tupouniua still gives the Roosters plenty of punch on the edges.
The Roosters also lost Luke Keary, Lindsay Collins, Brett Morris, Joseph Suaalii, Joey Manu and Billy Smith to season ending injuries at different times in 2021, while Josh Morris retired after their finals exit.
Replacing the excellent defence, reliability and try-scoring potency of the Morris twins is a tall order, but in Suaalii and Billy Smith the Roosters have two players that can score and set up plenty of tries in the future.
They are also big bodies that can sure up the defensive line as they mature, provided Smith can finally put his horror run of injuries behind him.
With superstar Joey Manu to return from his cheekbone injury he will likely partner Smith in the centres next season.
Suaalii needs to start the year on the wing to continue his development and grow in confidence, which scoring plenty of tries on the flank can do, especially for such a young man that won’t turn 19 until next August.
Veteran forward Isaac Liu will join the Titans in 2022 and the Roosters will miss his versatility, but in the returning Collins and Siosiua Taukeiaho, who missed their finals loss to Manly, the Roosters have plenty of options to join Waerea-Hargreaves up front.
However the key to unlocking the Roosters’ potential going forward is combining the playmaking skills of returning veteran Luke Keary with the prodigious talents of rookie Sam Walker.
Walker is the heavy favourite be the 2021 NRL rookie of the year, but his effectiveness waned over the course of a long first season in the top grade after he was thrust into the team ahead of his time following Keary’s knee injury.
Walker was benched late in the year leading to theories he was playing with a busted shoulder, but he has tremendous upside given what he produced in his first season.
Once Walker grows into his body and plays alongside Keary, who will take the pressure off the young half, there is no limit to what they can achieve as a playmaking duo.
Drew Hutchison and Lachlan Lam had breakout years and can provide excellent back-up next season.
The Roosters have not been overly active in the transfer market, but the acquisition of Connor Watson from the Knights is an astute signing and he certainly offers more versatility than playing Walker on the bench.
The Roosters also have most of their key core players locked up on long-term deals in Tedesco (2024), Keary (2024), Verrills (2024), Waerea-Hargreaves (2023), Collins (2026), Radley (2023) and Walker (2023).
However there are a number of re-signings the Roosters need to make with stars coming off-contract in 2022, including Taukeiaho, Crichton, Manu, Ikuvalu, Keighran, Lam and Suaalii who has a player option in his favour for 2023 and 2024.
If the Roosters can lock up Chrichton, Manu, Taukeiaho and Suaalii in particular they can set themselves up to be contenders for premierships for years to come.
The Roosters might not be the juggernaut they were in 2018 and 2019, but with Robinson at the helm of an exciting young squad that includes Tedesco and Keary driving the ship their premiership window is far from closed.
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