The Roosters got it all wrong last year – they finished 6th on the ladder but they had mis-timed their run, with their best football having been played in the first half of the season. This was not entirely their own fault with a couple of key injuries forcing younger players to be thrown into the fray at the business end of the season.
Having learned from this, Brad Fittler has been structuring their training sessions to help them maintain their skill level in pressure situations when fatigue becomes a factor. This along with the return to full fitness of Willie Mason and (hopefully) Anthony Minichello gives Roosters fans real hope that the team can crack a top four berth this year.
The Strength Is In The Pack
One look at the Sydney Roosters forwards sums up where much of the strength of this team lies. Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon, Mark O’Meley, Nate Myles, Lopini Paea and Setamaita Sa – all representative footballers with plenty of experience.
Having these players around allows for the blooding of younger players on a mores selective basis where they are not being relied upon to be the number one guy.
As long as the pack stays fit, they will provide one of the best platforms of any team in the competition. It then becomes a matter of whether or not the backs have the ability to take advantage of the opportunities.
Lack Of Attacking Options In The Backs?
While the return of Anthony Minichello will definitely be an asset to the team, it won’t mask the fact that they are possibly one creative player short of a top class backline. For the Roosters to really have a chance this season, someone is going to have to emerge as the guy to partner Anasta in the halves – although Fittler has hinted that he may be playing him more at lock-forward this year, even though he was of the stand out performers in last years competition at five-eighth.
This will give young Ben Jones the opportunity to display the talents which many people from the Roosters have been so impressed with.
Player Movements
The big loss for the Roosters over the off-season was Anthony Tupou, who has headed down south to join The Sharks. There were other losses such as Amos Roberts and David Shillington, and there doesn’t seem to have been the same number of players arriving as replacements.
This could be a problem for The Roosters come Origin.
One arrival at the club that has created some interest is a Fijian guy by the name of Sisa Waqa, a rugby union convert. Apparently he was a bit of a try scoring machine in the other code, with one of his strengths being his ability in the air – something that will work nicely with the way the Roosters structure their plays close to the tryline.
Who Holds The Key?
I think Willie Mason is the guy that will be the factor that determines how big a contender the Roosters are this year. He is such an inspirational figure when he goes on a rampage that his team mates can’t help but be lifted to better performances.
Current Odds To Win The Premiership – $16
Crooksy
The New Zealand Warriors will make it three consecutive Toyota Cup titles says online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, who’ve installed the Kiwi side as the $3.50 favourite. Their biggest threat comes from the Melbourne Storm, who’ve been priced at $6.50 with the North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters sharing the third line of betting at $9.00.
