The Heat is on....

[Duchess_of_Bondi]

hello and yes, I think one of the many things I like about the club Nick is how he brings in other top business people to mentor players and bring in contacts and be involved. And he also keeps the great former players around the club for years to come. Braith isn't everyone's cup of tea but he's said repeatedly that he took less $$ to come to the club because of the connections being a Rooster gave him and given where he is today, I'd say it was a good decision.

and yep re the Tigers. But not just them - Manly are an absolute shower. The Dragons aren't much better and many others have their moments - the Dogs for example until they brought Gus in as supreme leader

Braith still is around these parts and seems to pop up everywhere Roosters related. I went to Fitzy's farewell at the club in 2009 along with a few other members on here and Fletch said in his speech that Souths were a bunch of thieves. Sometimes we forget he actually left us to go to them as he is so closely aligned with anything to do with us. I've had cousins on boards at the Tigers, Souths & Canterbury..thank goodness I have a mind of my own and go my own way as the song says.

Here's to a successful 2026.

[bondi.boy]

I worry about our go-forward in the middle if Whyte ends up out/injured for any length of time.

Collins is a pillow these days. Shillington-esque.
Gus is getting old and is no where near as effective as in the past, and gives out as many penalties as he does tackles.
We've got a tiny second row with Rads and Watson in there.
Steep & Foketi are still largely unproven long term.
Leniu adds dynamic impact, but he doesn't lay the platform.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think our pack is bad.

But Whyte was the only Roosters guy lighting up the forwards stats sheet for the comp overall last year.

There are currently other packs much better balanced and perform the yardage stuff better.

If we have a weak point this year, that is it imo.

Amen.

[Steakface]

Good post and welcome to the forum.

Don't forget we have very smart men in Mark Bouris and ex players with real business/finance degrees in Luke Ricketson, Cooper Cronk (who is being mentored by a mutual friend's retired financial expert) and Luke Keary has been working in the field as well, doing some work at Koda Capital.

We won't end up a basket case like some clubs..yes Balmain Tigers..I do mean you...

I'm fairly sure Bouris is the heir apparent, likely with Richo as second in charge. Although happy to be proven wrong if someone has evidence to the contrary.

Mark has been on the board since the Ricky Stuart days (2003 I believe). A sharp business brain, very smart operator. And very affable and down to earth - players and fans would love him as the figurehead. We would be in good hands.

Having said that, I think Uncle Nick will be carried out of the club in a wooden box. Unless he is in some way incapacitated, he will be going nowhere.

[Duchess_of_Bondi]

I'm fairly sure Bouris is the heir apparent, likely with Richo as second in charge. Although happy to be proven wrong if someone has evidence to the contrary.

Mark has been on the board since the Ricky Stuart days (2003 I believe). A sharp business brain, very smart operator. And very affable and down to earth - players and fans would love him as the figurehead. We would be in good hands.

Having said that, I think Uncle Nick will be carried out of the club in a wooden box. Unless he is in some way incapacitated, he will be going nowhere.

Agreed. I listen to Mark Bouris' podcast now and again and he interviewed the CEO of my workplace.

Smart people will always have a succession plan in place and we know that Nick is beyond smart. The club will be in safe hands no matter what.

[SamKerrSimp]

I think he has to deliver this year .All the ingredients are there.

It's the same team as last year except for Robson and a pensioner half. The forwards got belted in almost every match that mattered against the top teams Whyte can't do it all and we waste cap/positional space on duds who need to step up in a major way for us to have a tilt at the title like Leniu

[Vasco]

Agreed. I listen to Mark Bouris' podcast now and again and he interviewed the CEO of my workplace.

Smart people will always have a succession plan in place and we know that Nick is beyond smart. The club will be in safe hands no matter what.

Bouris seems too outspoken to be a successor to Uncle Nick, who is quiet and generally stays away from the limelight.

I may be wrong, but I don't see Bouris being the man to replace Nick.

[mattyh]

Im excited for the year ahead .

Last year i was very ho hum , but we exceeded my expectations , i expect top 4 this year minimum.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I don't think it will take too long for our expectations to be dampened a bit this year. The market has us in a tight but clear top 4 with Bronx, Panthers and Storm. Then a decent gap to the next 5th ranked team. We seem unders.

My thoughts are bottom half of Top 8 (at best), can't see us getting past Week 2 of the finals.

It gets back to a lack of speed and zip. We are probably the slowest team in the comp. The game today is all about speed. Yes we have nice power and some smarts, some promising young bucks and the legend at the back. These will win us games along the way and we will have our moments no doubt. I see young guys with real speed and quick feet emerge each year from other clubs, but rarely ours. Maybe its not a priority for us, or maybe they are still being cooked up.

I have long admired DCE. Love the story of the older guy besting the young'uns and he has done it expertly and consistently into his 30s. Just wish we got him a few years earlier. Recall how even Cooper Cronk took a while to meld his style and was getting bashed up by some of our own, before cats eventually fell for him. I fear for DCE with our fickle mob.

Hope I've tabbed it wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. Should still be fun.

[caz]

maybe i'm out of tune with the zeitgeist but i don't see the lack of speed as crucial. our attack last year was potent and with a full season of sammy this year it should be better. no guarantee that dce will deliver but no guarantee that he won't either.
maybe marky and rob aren't the toeyist but marky's very creative and rob is always hard to tackle.
maybe i'm glass half full but i think it is injuries that have robbed sammy of delivering us a premiership so far. if we can get a full season out of him we'll go alright

[David Sutherland]

I notice that Cameron Smith doesn't rate the Roosters chances saying they will be battling the Dolphins for 8th place- probably hasn't gotten over the 2018 Grand Final still.

Smiths Top 8 - Storm, Broncos, Raiders, Bulldogs, Warriors, Panthers, Sea Eagles, and either the Roosters or Dolphins to make the finals.

mmm now that he is on the Broncos Coaching Staff he won't be able to talk up the Storm chances too much in 2026.

[Bates]

I notice that Cameron Smith doesn't rate the Roosters chances saying they will be battling the Dolphins for 8th place- probably hasn't gotten over the 2018 Grand Final still.

Smiths Top 8 - Storm, Broncos, Raiders, Bulldogs, Warriors, Panthers, Sea Eagles, and either the Roosters or Dolphins to make the finals.

mmm now that he is on the Broncos Coaching Staff he won't be able to talk up the Storm chances too much in 2026.

That's because the GOAT read my "Top 8 contenders according to Sportsbet etc etc" thread

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I notice that Cameron Smith doesn't rate the Roosters chances saying they will be battling the Dolphins for 8th place- probably hasn't gotten over the 2018 Grand Final still.

Smiths Top 8 - Storm, Broncos, Raiders, Bulldogs, Warriors, Panthers, Sea Eagles, and either the Roosters or Dolphins to make the finals.

mmm now that he is on the Broncos Coaching Staff he won't be able to talk up the Storm chances too much in 2026.

Sounds about right Davo.

[QWERTY]

I notice that Cameron Smith doesn't rate the Roosters chances saying they will be battling the Dolphins for 8th place- probably hasn't gotten over the 2018 Grand Final still.

Smiths Top 8 - Storm, Broncos, Raiders, Bulldogs, Warriors, Panthers, Sea Eagles, and either the Roosters or Dolphins to make the finals.

mmm now that he is on the Broncos Coaching Staff he won't be able to talk up the Storm chances too much in 2026.

Having Manly above us, let alone in the top 8, is all you need to know about the quality of the cheater’s analysis

[mattyh]

Manly will be closer to the spoon in 2026 then the top 8, they should have jist enough to avoid it ...dragons , knights, titans, manly bottom 4 .

Panthers, storm , roosters , and broncs top 4 , although i can see bris coming apart after hass signing saga, so they could possibly drop to bottom of the 8 , with dogs , sharks or rabbits taking their spot .

I dont have melb in the gf this year either.

[MKCS]

The Roosters will win the comp this year. Melbourne are significantly weaker this year with Papenhuyzen and Katoa unavailable, the Panthers will go strong but not as good as the fourpeat. I think our biggest competition will be the Broncos but even then I think we can beat them.

The Roosters in 2026 will have the best spine, a top 3 backline and for mine a top 4 forward pack. Also might have the best bench in the comp and our depth is probably top 4 now as well.