Roosters Set To Join The
"Elite"

Luke Ricketson believes the Sydney Roosters can go from being remembered as a very good team to one of the greats with victory in this year's National Rugby League grand final.

The defending premiers have already been credited with changing the way the game has been played after surging to premiership glory last season.

But Ricketson believes they can take their place among the pantheon of great sides with this year title.

Over the past 20 years, only Parramatta (1981-82-83), Canterbury (1984-85), Canberra (1989-90) and Brisbane (1992-93) have won back-to-back titles.

Those sides are regarded among the greatest and Ricketson believes the Roosters have the potential to join them.

"That's something we approached about the season," Ricketson said.

"We have a coach (Ricky Stuart) who's done it with Canberra.

"He was able to win a few grand finals and be in a pretty good era of football players and football teams.

"We obviously spoke about good teams winning but great teams do it back to back or within the next couple of years.

"It's a bit of history to do something like that."

Stuart was a member of the Canberra side which won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.

That side also included Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley, legends of the game.

Roosters captain Brad Fittler was in the Penrith side that ended the Raiders' dream of three straight premierships and believes his side has the potential to join them in the history books.

"I've thought about it," Fittler said.

"We don't talk about going into folklore, but sides like Parramatta and Canterbury did it in the `90s and Brisbane as well.

"There's definitely something to get at the end of the year, a nice prize."

However, Fittler admits the Roosters aren't in as good a position as last season, despite entering the finals in second place.

Last year they came from fourth to win their first title since 1975.

"Last year we were probably playing better football as a team," Fittler said.

"I think we still have that ahead of us.

"I think our side has done a great job to get where it is.

"I think the way the side has matured has been excellent.

"We have really grown together and we'll be better for that in the semis."

Stuart also predicted today his side would get better in the finals, but played down comparisons to last year's outfit.

"You have a look at our team and there's not 17 players in our team that played in the grand final last year," Stuart said.

"You have other players coming into the team that didn't play in the grand final in Chad (Robinson) and Toddy Byrne.

"We're not the team that took the field last year at this time of year."