Team + players to look out for in 2014 (yes, i know it's a long time away)

[The Pelican]

First of all i need to say what a ****ing fantastic week it has been since last Sunday. To witness my first GF victory actually live at the ground was absolutely phenomenal, and was one of, if not the best moment of my life.

Secondly, on the back of the news of GOD himself re-signing for next year i thought (despite it being only a week after winning the comp) it was a good time to look forward to next year to see what everyone else's top 17 would be for next year and the players you are tipping for breakthrough seasons/looking forward to seeing develop etc now that our squad is pretty much finalised.

1. Mini/RTS
2. Tupou
3. Jenko
4. SKD
5. RTS/Mini
6. Jimmy
7. Pearce
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. Moa
11. Guerra
12. SBW
13. Cords

14. Morts
15. Aubs
16. FPN
17. Casti

18. LOD ????
19. Napa
20. Evans
21. Liu
22. Arona
23. Langi
24. Moga
25. Oldfield
26. Hastings
27. Reuban (sp?)
28. Mcdonald

I'm sure i've probably forgotten about a few players, but still the depth there is absolutely amazing. With everyone having the benefit of a second off season with Robbo, and with the emergence of the likes of Evans, Reuban, Hastings and more game time for the likes of Langi, Napa (and hopefully Moga) etc i can only see us getting better and better.

I'm going to savour every last moment that we are reigning premiers, but i can't wait for next year to come so we can defend our title which i am very confident about doing.


Roosters for life.

[stephenj]

noone knows the heights this team can reach in their second season together? im sure the attack will improve out of sight with defence being improved to strengthen further the great wall of bondi?

[Guest]

You know your team is good when you don't even have LOD or Napa on the bench

[Guest]

If LOD stays he is in the 17 every week. He is the only prop we have that can play long minutes and he has that mongrel too. He often plays the first 50min of a match which is massive with the limited interchange

[Guest]

I think I am most excited about watching Kane Evans come through next year. This year napa made a huge impact and Liu also showed he will play a lot of first grade. I can see Evans making a similar impact next year. It would've been hard for him to watch others come through ahead of him. He will put in the big ones next year.

[stephenj]

whenyou consider the quality of our young gun props coming through it now makes sense why marty was released?sad but business!

[Guest]

The grand final team remains our best team. Everyone except Minichiello, SBW and LOD are contracted beyond next season. Give Liu and Napa a few more games, and have Casty replace Kennedy. Evans will come along well too.

[Yak]

We do have a lot of good young props coming through. Not sure what the contract situation of Tago is but he's disappointed that he hasn't come on since his trial in first grade against the Bulldogs in 2012 where he really impressed. I know he's battled some major injuries though. Will be interesting if he is kept on at the club. He'd be a good pick up for most NRL clubs imo. We've got Shaquille Blair who played some great footy at the back end. Louis Meehan and Dokonikivalu were solid all year and will likely get runs in NSW Cup this year or next in JD's case. And Braeden Uele with a bit of work on his fitness is really the one to look out for. He hits like a train in D and ran over the top of plenty of blokes late in the year when SG Ball finished. And it wasn't his size cos to me he doesn't look massive, just mean. In defence he reminds me of when I first saw Napa play in NYC, which reminded me a hell of a lot of JWH. Massive competition for spots next year with Casty joining us. I personally don't think we'll be able to fit O'Donnell in even though he'd be in my top 17. Would love him to get a gig as a forwards coach though. Running messages like Fitzy did this year. From all accounts he gives massive confidence to those around him so if he's not in a jersey that would be the next best thing for mine.

I expect 2014 to be break out years for both Evans and Moga. Evans will have a proper pre season under his belt where he can work on his fitness which is paramount in this team, and Keegan Smith will make sure he has the frame to match it with the big boys next year. Don't be surprised to see him weigh in somewhere above the 120kg mark. Running off SBW in the middle like Napa was late in the year will see Evans terrorise many teams and I can't wait to see him sprint around an NRL fullback and announce himself as a future superstar.

Moga will have to show his attitude is right to get back his first grade spot now that Tupou has well and truly overtaken him. Obviously there will be injuries at stages but the question is where do you play him. With Mini and Tupou as the likely wingers by mid season you'd have to think centres which works for me. Get a full pre season of defensive training from Robbo into him and I think we'll see a very different defensive player than we did in 2012. It happened with SKD. In my opinion, while SKD has been playing injured, Moga will offer a lot more in attack running off Pearce's service and SBW's ball playing at the line. Fingers crossed his knee holds up which it should if it's given plenty of time to rehab, and that will be a luxury that we can afford this time around.

Another question I have is when will Cordner get his shoulder surgery? As soon as the World Cup is over and simply miss the first few rounds? Personally I hope he gets the surgery even if it means missing the first part of 2014. Aubusson/Guerra can slot in easily on the left. It might also see Samisoni Langi get a shot (be it probably off the bench) as I'd imagine he'll be training as an edge forward in the pre season. And of course will have got plenty of confidence out of playing against many NRL players at 6 for Tonga in the world cup. He's a very direct attacker and would play the role of left edge second row nicely once he's learnt the ropes defensively.

As mentioned previously our depth is immense across the park. If you looked at each position we're very well covered.
Fullback: RTS, Mini, Wells who got reserve grade fullback of the year and has bulked up significantly, even Capewell looks like a prospect
Wings: Tupou, Mini, RTS, Moga, Reuben, MacDonald, Oldfield
Centres: Jennings, SKD, Moga, Aubusson, Guerra (who will probably play there for Italy), Rhyse Martin, Taane Milne (obviously young and probably 2 years off but still an option if things go bad)
Five-eighth: Maloney, Mortimer, Langi, SBW
Halfback: Pearce, Mortimer, Hastings, Jacks (not first grade standard but his game improved a lot last year for the Jets to the point that he almost debuted against the Dogs)
Props: JWH, Moa, Casty, LOD (if he stays), Evans, Liu, Napa, FPN, Blair, Tago, Houma
Hookers: Friend, Mortimer, Seluini, Alex Thomas (NYC players player)
Second rowers: Cordner, SBW, Aubusson, Guerra, Napa, Langi, Taukeiaho (signing from Warriors), Willis Meehan, Martin
Locks: FPN, Casty, Cordner, SBW, Guerra, Liu, Napa, Langi, John Asiata (NYC Lock of the year)

That's the beauty of the way Robinson got the squad familiar with playing in different positions. It increases your depth and coverage for injury three-fold.

[Guest]

Moga seems to have become the latest in a long line of whipping boys on here. I don't think his defense and attitude was nearly as bad as some would suggest. An offseason under the new coaching staff should be enough to turn it around significantly (see skd).
But the fact remains, with the ball in his hands he's a freak. Second leading try scorer at the club last year having only played half the season. Hopefully he can get his defense right and be a mainstay in the team for 2014.

[sydroosters]

I would like to see a few young ones get a chance in the NRL, I love seeing young roosters players debuting for us

[Sydney_Roosters_4_Life]

I pray that Evans finally can debut next year, so excited to see him play!

Don't know about Casty, will have to see him perform for France but i'd have Napa/Liu ahead of him on the bench

[Thirteen]

I don't think Casty was signed to play for The Jets.
He may surprise us like Moa did.

[Thirteen]

No one with any sort of credibility has suggested that Mini will pay anywhere else but fullback.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

Casty is the man to watch.

[Guest]

No one with any sort of credibility has suggested that Mini will pay anywhere else but fullback.

And so he shouldn't 13 I thought Mini played some of his best footy this year not sure if RTS is ready for the permanent fullback spot.