Roosters haven’t fielded a full-strength team since 2019 grand final

The Roosters haven’t fielded a full-strength team since the 2019 grand final, a shocking injury and suspension sequence coach Trent Robinson described as “wild”. See the numbers inside.

Spencer Leniu. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: NRL match between Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters at 4 Pines Park, on March 17, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. Picture: NRL Photos

The Sydney Roosters have been unable to field their best side for nearly five years, prompting coach Trent Robinson to describe his club’s astonishing injury and suspension sequence as “wild.”

They won’t seek reasons for not having won a grand final over the past four years but here’s a doozy of an excuse.

Fox Sports Lab has revealed the last time Sydney Roosters actually played with a full strength side was the 2019 grand final.

Over the next four seasons and four rounds, the Roosters have been without top-line players for 466 games through injury and suspension.

Roosters players celebrate victory in the 2019 NRL Grand Final, the last time the club fielded a full-strength side. Picture: Getty Images

Despite this, the Roosters have finished in week two of the finals three times and week one once during that time.

Who knows whether Penrith would have experienced such grand final dominance had the Roosters been at full tilt?

And the Roosters won’t be back to their best until at least round ten, when prop Spencer Leniu return from suspension.

Fox Sports Lab compiled the best players from each season before revealing the number of games each has missed.

No other club in the NRL has endured such a horrific long-term injury run.

Robinson was stunned when told, saying: “Look, I didn’t know that but that’s what it’s felt like at different times.

Drew Hutchison reacts after getting smashed in a tackle while a Roosters player. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s been wild at different times, the guys that have been in and out over the last few years. We have twice had two ACL’s in the one game. We’ve had punctured lungs, concussions. We’ve had suspensions.

“I have felt really proud with how the guys have adapted, a lot of the time.

“It would be nice to get a run where we get 1 to 17 week on week and we’d like to keep players on the field more.

“We want to get our team on the field and perform better than what we’ve done in the last few years. We’ve had our reasons and it felt like we could have been better.

“We think if we can get our best players on the field then we can play well this year.”

Jake Friend was forced into retirement in 2021. Picture: Getty Images

Aside from Leniu, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins has a hamstring injury and remains in doubt for a game against Canterbury this Friday night at Accor Stadium.

Robinson said injuries weren’t always about “bad luck.”

“Whether it’s been through injury or suspension, we’ve got a role to play in that,” he said.

“I don’t think they are just accidents, I don’t think all injuries are just by chance. The way that you prepare players, the way they prepare themselves, if you just say it’s not our fault then you can’t do anything about it.

“Whereas I feel you’ve got to take some responsibility and try to improve the way you’re doing things.

“We all know some things do happen and we can’t control them but if you just say you can’t control any of them then you’re not going to improve the way that you train or prepare.”

Originally published as Roosters haven’t fielded a full-strength team since 2019 grand final