2016 NRL Preview - Sydney Roosters

The Sydney Roosters enter 2016 just having experienced an absolute nightmare of an off season. Off the back of their 3rd Minor Premiership in a row, the Roosters lost from their impressive 2015 roster arguably their three best attacking players in Dally M fullback of the year Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, five-eighth and goal kicker James Maloney, as well as NSW centre Michael Jennings.

If that wasn't hard enough, the Mitchell Pearce incident on Australia Day cost them their key playmaker and co-captain, and then off the back of that we find out that their two best forwards in Jared Waerea-Hargraves and Boyd Cordner will miss the early part of 2016 through injury. Surely it can't get any worse for the Tricolours!

2015 will go down as a tremendous season from the Chooks, taking home the J.J Giltinan Shield yet again, but ultimately their season ended in heartbreak as they couldn't get past the Preliminary Final for the second year in a row, going down to the Brisbane Broncos in convincing fashion 31-12.

There is a sense of a new era in Bondi for 2016, and with a cloud hanging over the depth of their squad, generation next put up their hands with strong performances in the World Club Challenge against St Helens. Rookies Jackson Hastings, Jayden Nikorima and Latrell Mitchell showed that the Roosters do have a few genuine stars coming through the grades. The question remains though, can they perform week in week out at a high standard in the NRL?

WHY THEY'LL WIN IT

Coach Trent Robinson is aiming for his 4th Minor Premiership in a row and despite losing their two best forwards in Jared Waerea-Hargraves and Boyd Cordner for potentially the first quarter of the season, the Roosters still possess one of the best up and coming forward packs in the competition. Once they return, they join the likes of Dylan Napa and Kane Evans, who made their presence felt in some big matches last season and will only improve. Likewise, hard running backrowers Isaac Liu and Siosuia Taukeiaho who will consolidate their spots in the starting 17 after impressive debut seasons. Skipper Jake Friend continues to control the ruck without any fanfare and will look to really step up with the loss of some experienced personnel.

Blake Ferguson moves into the #1 jersey at the Roosters to replace the irreplaceable Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who was without doubt their best player in 2015. While Ferguson will play a completely different style of fullback for the Roosters from RTS, once he finds his feet in his new position he could potentially provide the same X-factor that could help carry the Roosters deep into September.

WHY THEY WON'T

If you took Tuivasa-Sheck, Maloney, Jennings out of the 2015 side would they even make the Top 8? Potentially they could also lose Mitchell Pearce for a long part of the season and suddenly the Roosters go into the year with a rookie halves combination of Jackson Hastings and Jayden Nikorima. This is a HUGE ask for a combination with a combined 19 appearances (Hastings has 19) in the top grade.

Further compounding those losses, the Roosters will also be without Jared Waerea-Hargraves and Boyd Cordner for the first quarter of the season and on paper they look like falling off the pace early and may not have the strike power in 2016 to propel their way back if they do fall behind.

KEY PLAYERS

Mitchell Pearce
With the loss of key playmaker James Maloney a lot of responsibility rests/rested on the shoulders of NSW half Pearce. However a cloud now remains over his future and there is the possibility that he may not be allowed or may not be ready to return in 2016 after his much publicised incident on Australia Day.

Jared Waerea-Hargraves
The Kiwi enforcer has always been a talented footballer but in 2015 he had his best season and was one of the best front rowers in the game before going down injured late in the season in a cruel blow to the Roosters premiership chances. Now the leader of what is potentially one of the most dynamic young packs in the NRL, expect him to go to that level again and perhaps even beyond once he returns in 2016.

ROOKIES TO WATCH

Jayden Nikorima
Nikorima made the bold move from the Broncos in the off season due to the log jam of potential halves up north and was happy to bide his time. Unexpectedly the younger of the Nikorima brothers was thrown in the deep end against St Helens in the World Club Challenge and was outstanding.

Latrell Mitchell
Dubbed as the next big thing, 18 year old Latrell Mitchell very nearly made his debut last season being named 18th man by Trent Robinson on a couple of occasions. After debuting in the World Club Challenge on the weekend, the media have been quick to dub him the next Greg Inglis. At 104 kilos and 193cm, the Taree junior has potential superstar written all over him and may prove hard to leave out of the 17 come Round 1.

PLAYER MOVEMENT IN
Joe Burgess (ESL - Wigan)
Dale Copley, Jayden Nikorima (Broncos)
Mitchell Frei (ISC - Wynnum Manly)
Ian Henderson (ESL - Catalans)
Ryan Matterson (Eels)
Paki Afu (Mormon mission)

PLAYER MOVEMENT OUT
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
James Maloney, Matt McIlwrick (Sharks)
Michael Jennings (Eels)
Nene Macdonald (Titans)
Nathan Stapleton (ESL - London)
Scott Drinkwater (Storm)
Taane Milne (Dragons)
Suaia Matagi (Panthers)

BEST 17
1. Blake Ferguson
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Dale Copley
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5. Joe Burgess
6. Mitchell Pearce
7. Jackson Hastings
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Jake Friend (c)
10. Dylan Napa
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Aidan Guerra
13. Siosiua Taukeiaho

14. Isaac Liu
15. Sam Moa
16. Kane Evans
17. Mitchell Aubusson