Sydney Roosters 2016 season in review

It was the decline that few saw coming.

Despite the heavy losses of James Maloney, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Michael Jennings, many still expected the classy Sydney Roosters squad to still have something within them that was built in the time they won three consecutive Minor Premierships. To go from such highs to such lows however has seen the club take a much needed step back to rethink the culture. Even Mitchell Pearce mentioned the club had plenty of issues during the successful period that were easy to sweep under the floor thanks to the amazing success they had on the season. The attitude, the culture and the jersey suffered more as the season went on.

Pearce should know about the issues, he was the culprit early on after a drunken Australia Day was caught on camera and distributed to the media. Pearce was fined heavily and suspended for eight matches. That wasn't the only bit of bad news as vice captains Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner were ruled out for up to half of the season. The bad thoughts went away prematurily after the Roosters wiped the floor with St Helens 38-12 in a dominant display during the World Club Series in England, but when they returned reality struck.

The season began with five consecutive losses, including conceeding two forty point scorelines (they club had conceeded forty once during coach Trent Robinson's first three seasons as coach). It didn't help that the side had extremely little experience on the park, and what experience they did have wasn't working hard to get the results.

Round six saw the side claim their first win of the season over arch rivals South Sydney (who had convincingly beaten the Roosters 42-10 just five weeks earlier). The return of the aforementioned Pearce, Waerea-Hargreaves and Cordner saw the Roosters become much more competitive, but the victories remained minimal.

The biggest success of the season came at the end, winning three of their last six games and showing some of their former self. But it was beyond too little too late, and what us as Roosters fans had become used to was only a thing of the past.

What Worked

Finishing second last it's extremely difficult to pinpoint what actually worked during the season. Plenty of times they looked incredibly strong on paper before cracking to yet another ordinary performance. The attack seemed to gel when they had the players to do it, finishing high amongst the teams in tackle breaks and offloads. If anything from this season is going to have successfully worked, the results will show in the years to come.

What Didn't Work

Despite winning the Minor Premierships during the last two seasons, something within the club was completely different from the side that won the premiership in 2013. When the cards were down the players relied on natural ability rather than hard work. The defensive capabilities matched the showings in 2013, but have not done so since. The Bondi Brick Wall took a beating during the season. During the three glory years the club conceeded 1,186 points in 81 games (@ 14.64 points per game). This year they conceeded 576 points in 24 games (@ 23.91 points per game). The attack suffered soon due to the clogs missing, but with the main part of the Brick Wall still in play during the season, it took a massive toll on many games.

When the players needed to roll up their sleeves and work hard for their victories, they eventually came up with schoolboy errors instead. The club can take this season as a lesson harshly learned. Due to the massive inexperience in the opening part of the season the club claimed just two wins from the first eleven games, effectively ruling them out of finals contention before the State Of Origin series even begun. The stats read poorly too. During the three glory years the club had an incredible 25-11 away record. This year they recorded a well below standard 1-11 record. The club also finished with the worst rate of errors (their closest five competitors all played finals football, hence had much more time to make those errors). On the bright side of statistics, the plague of the club disappeared. The club conceeded the third least amount of penalties of all teams. Somehow.

Best Players

You know that saying, "you never know how good you have it until it's gone". For once I'm not talking about the departing players. Just before the season began the club was hit with three high profile omissions. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves struggled to return from the knee injury that saw him ruled out for the finals last year. Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce only played twelve games a piece due to various injuries and suspension. It doesn't matter how many games you play, it matters what you do in them. As soon as Cordner and Pearce returned to the side the club began to look like it's old self again. With plenty of experience missing from the side, it clearly showed during early losses to the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles. 

Disappointing Players

Without the three departing stars, the injured Jared Waerea-Hargraves and Boyd Cordner, and the suspended Mitchell Pearce, the club that had so much recent success looked completely bare. The experienced players needed to step up and they really didn't. Captain Jake Friend didn't have a terrible year but the burden of the captaincy took the toll as his usual high level was barely seen throughout the season. He could still hold his head high, however the same cannot be said for Aidan Guerra and Jackson Hastings. Despite playing representative football, Guerra never looked like the player that saw him contend for higher honours in the first place. Hastings however looked like nothing compared to the promise he showed during the finals last season. It's impossible to forget the man he replaced in that position. If you forgot I will give you a hint, he just lifted a premiership trophy. He just played Origin and he is about to represent his country.

Rookies

The Sydney Roosters played 31 players during the season. A staggering 13 of them played their first game of NRL during the year. On that note, here we go.

The side blooded plenty of youth during the season. Latrell Mitchell was a nomination for Rookie of the Year, his offensive efforts rewarded after a tough initiation into the top grade. Mitchell managed to play every match in the season, scoring a team high 14 tries. Despite losing his preferred fullback jersey, many fans still see him as the long term option for the club.

Connor Watson was also a standout, so much so that even a recent premiership winner will have to battle him for the starting five-eighth position. Ryan Matterson also made instant impact and was rewarded with a City Origin jersey. Vincent Leuluai looked another standout but is set to move to Melbourne next season. Jayden Nikorima endured a tough time and may not remain with the club either, despite the efforts the Roosters made to sign him. The club will however attempt to hold onto Holden Cup superstars Nat Butcher, Joseph Manu and Grant Garvey, who also made their respective debuts.

Experienced players also made their debuts, lead by Wigan Warriors signing Joe Burgess. Burgess lasted just four games in the top grade with many thanks to injuries before shifting to the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Returning home next year, Burgess endured a tough time in Australia. The side also handed experienced lower graders Mitchell Frei, Abraham Papalii, Chris Smith and Eloni Vunakece debuts with varying success.

Lower Grades Round-Up

Holden Cup Under 20's

The Sydney Roosters completed a sweep of recent premierships this year by claiming their first Holden Cup competition. The club has now won in each of the three top grades in the last five years. The side went into the finals at fifth position but was always in the mix for a top four position throughout the year. The side claimed plenty of momentum with a 48-0 crushing of the Canberra Raiders in the opening weekend. The Cronulla Sharks got the wind over the Roosters just four weeks earlier but the Roosters kept strong following a fantastic start to claim a 28-18 victory to move into a preliminary showdown with the in-form St George Illawarra Dragons.

The Dragons were on a hot streak with a winning streak that included a close triumph of the Roosters and they looked like continuing it with a powerful first half where the Roosters were starved of any chance. Down 14-0 at the break the Roosters needed a miracle and they certainly got what they needed, scoring three late tries in seven dying minutes to claim a 26-20 win. But that miracle had nothing on what was about to come.

The Penrith Panthers are arguably the most consistant team in the history of the Holden Cup competition. The reigning champions had two safe wins over the Roosters during the season and looked to repeat all kinds of history, taking a nearly unbeatable 28-6 lead into the half. The next forty minutes was indescribable as the Roosters tore apart the record books along with the Penrith Panthers to score four consecutive converted tries to claim the premiership decoder 30-28. The side is littered with potential future stars such as captain Nat Butcher, Grant Garvey and Joseph Manu, all three making their first grade debuts during the season.

Intrust Super Premiership NSW

As for the Wyong Roos, there was plenty of promise heading into the season after making the Grand Final in 2015. They didn't quite manage to top that performance with inconsistancy throughout the season. The side finished in sixth position, enough to qualify for the finals. They were able to hold off a late Canterbury Bulldogs side 19-18 in the first week before being overpowered 26-16 by the high flying Wests Tigers. There were some stand out performers, Fijian international Eloni Vunakece went from a garbage man to a first grader during the season. Alongside first grade bound Zane Tetevano, Vunakece qualified for the ISP Team of the Year.

2017 Chances

The club is clearly in a rebuilding phase due to the quick heavy losses they have suffered. If rumours become reality, it could prove to strip the club back yet again. Until the death of the season I could've looked into next season as an upcoming pill forced to be swallowed, but the promise is there. The experience that the young players have gained in the tough season will only do them good.

Two keys positions in fullback and five-eighth will now have plenty of battles just to fill the jersey. Latrell Mitchell showed plenty of promise in his debut season, but his defensive lapses have Roosters fans still nervous about his development. He lost his jersey late in the season to Blake Ferguson, who himself had a mixed time in the number one. The two will have to face off with Parramatta Eels custodian Michael Gordon. Gordon boasts two massive qualities for the club, not only a steady option at fullback but also a handy option at goalkicker. Jackson Hastings kicked well this season but looks more than likely to be moved on before the start of the new season, whilst Sio Siua Taukeiaho has shown promise in the department. 

Speaking of the aforementioned Hastings, his season will be remembered for nothing but disappointed. Kept at the club at the expense of eventual premiership winning five-eighth James Maloney, Hastings wasn't able to hit the highs from 2015 in the season that was supposed to see him develop as a starting half. It didn't help that then-club captain Mitchell Pearce copped his eight game suspension which forced Hastings to partner the talented but underprepared Jayden Nikorima. The pair failed to win a single game as a halves pairing, bar the easy win against an understrength St Helens during the World Club Series.

The five-eighth spot has three potential takers. First up is Connor Watson. Watson had a solid beginning to his career despite winning three of the eight matches he started in the number six. During the successful end to the season, Watson began to really gel with Pearce as a potential long term halves partner. The experts predict that Watson will be behind 2014 premiership winning five-eighth in former South Sydney Rabbitoh Luke Keary. Ryan Matterson had a decent start to his career as well but is tipped to move into the back row.

As mentioned before, the Sydney Roosters took out the Holden Cup. There are various players in that side including Joseph Manu, Nat Butcher, Grant Garvey and Victor Radley who will be looking to make their claim to the first grade side.

Overall the Roosters will be looking to make a major improvement, and they are the sort of club that could do it quickly. Trent Robinson's side look strong enough on paper to make another run for the finals, but it's going to take a big pre season to get rid of the bad cracks in the side.

2017 Best Line-up

1. Michael Gordon
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Blake Ferguson
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5. Latrell Mitchell
6. Luke Keary
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Jake Friend (c)
10. Dylan Napa
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Aidan Guerra
13. Sio Siua Taukeiaho

14. Mitchell Aubusson
15. Kane Evans
16. Isaac Liu
17. Connor Watson