Greg Alexander: Can the Sydney Roosters bounce back from elimination final pain?
The burning hot takes flew thick and fast after Canberra eliminated the back-to-back premiers on Friday night but Greg Alexander can see a path back to the top for the Roosters.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A potential positional switch for Luke Keary is just one thing the Roosters should consider as they head into an off-season with more questions than answers for the first time in two years.
After two straight premierships, the Roosters’ quest for a third consecutive title is over and Trent Robinson’s men already have their eye on 2021 and climbing their way back to glory.
Keary’s role in the team is among a handful of concerns for Robinson to ponder as he plots the Roosters’ return to the top of the pile.
Watch the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals on Kayo. Every game before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
NO MORE TITLE HANGOVERS
For the first time in a long time, the Roosters will have their eye on winning a title rather than defending one — and after the special kind of exhaustion that comes from being the best for so long, that might be just what they need.
“Their execution was off, and they became that team where all the parts weren’t working. It just wasn’t what we’ve come to expect from the Roosters,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said of Friday night’s 22-18 loss to Canberra.
“It’s been a big two years, doing what no team has done in so long and nearly pulling off the three-peat. But they ran out of juice in the end.
“There’s a few things they’ll need to sort out coming into next season. But they need a rest, they all need a big rest.”
WILL SBW PLAY ON?
Despite the loss, the 35-year-old Sonny Bill Williams had one of his best games since returning to league.
His passing helped free up the middle of the field and made the Roosters look far more dangerous and he helped create a try for James Tedesco with a flick in the dying stages.
It’s unclear if Williams will stay with the Roosters, return to Toronto Wolfpack, play for another NRL club or retire — but the dual code star still has some petrol left in the tank.
“When he got the ball he was quick over the advantage line and his passing was immaculate,” Alexander said.
“If he wanted to play again I’m sure he could.
“I thought he made an impact last night.”
Williams isn’t the only Rooster with a question mark for next year — Sio Suia Taukeiaho is set to miss the start of next season after suffering a serious knee injury against Canberra while the likes of Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves all have a lot of miles under their belts.
SHOULD KEARY SWITCH?
Kyle Flanagan is still finding his feet as a first grader and will have learned plenty from his first year in the top grade.
But the Roosters are built to win now and might not be able to wait for Flanagan to grow into the halfback role.
With teen sensation Sam Walker waiting in the wings, Flanagan will have plenty to prove in 2021.
“They’ll have to think about what they’re going to do in the halves, whether Luke Keary remains at five-eighth or moves to seven and they look at a six option,” Alexander said.
“Kyle Flanagan is only young and he might need time to develop, he spent a bit of time out of the NRL this year and it was a shame there was no Canterbury Cup for players like him.”
Putting Keary closer to the ball would give him a more dominant role in the attack — but given his success at five-eighth, Robinson might not be willing to potentially weaken one of the teams greatest strengths.
Flanagan had his moments in 2020, notching 11 try assists — but his last came in Round 18, and his running game deserted him in the finals. He recorded just one run in the two playoff matches.
REBUILDING THE BONDI WALL
Defence has been the foundation of the Roosters’ two premiership wins, but after conceding 60 points to South Sydney in the final round of the regular season, the great wall of Bondi was cracked and it couldn’t be patched up in time to save their season.
Rediscovering that defensive intensity will be crucial to their chances of righting the ship in 2021.
“The Roosters have such a talented team, it’s full of big-name players who have won comps before, and they’ve always built it on the back of defence,” said Alexander.
“That’s Trent Robinson’s thing, that’s how he likes to build his team.
“There was a big part of everyone that believed the Roosters could bounce back because they’re such a great team and we’ve seen them do it time and time again.
“But there was also the question of what the last two weeks have done to them — that premiership defence fell off a cliff against Souths and it never recovered.”
\
Originally published as Greg Alexander: Can the Sydney Roosters bounce back from elimination final pain?