Roosters NRL post mortem 2016: why were they punished so much for their sins?

The misery has finally ended for the Roosters. It was a horrible season both on and off the field and we can now look forward to a long off-season.

Rooster Latrell Mitchell had a good season and will be a future star. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The misery has finally ended. It was a horrible season both on and off the field and we can now look forward to a long off-season. The summer of cricket has never been so keenly anticipated.

It was always headed downhill after the now infamous Australia Day event. Rightly or wrongly, the Roosters were hammered in the media for an incident that was, and let’s be honest, not worth all the time and effort spent by certain sections of the media. At the end of the day, a club’s season was destroyed by a player being tried in the media, be it television, newspaper or radio.

Mitchell Pearce had a tough start to the 2016 season. Picture: Gregg Porteous

We have seen on several occasions since then other incidents, far worse in terms of the moral high ground score, be dealt with far less severe punishments. It makes you wonder if the Roosters are punished more severely for their sins, and that includes the judiciary and bunker.

Missing some key players from the start meant a host of rookies were thrust into the top grade earlier than expected. The losses piled up and it was clear the team lost confidence. Things never really recovered from that point.

There were glimpses of what the team could do with some impressive wins over North Queensland, Brisbane and St George Illawarra. There were also some horrible defeats scattered throughout the year.

The Roosters also lost nine games by four points or less. We can safely say they were robbed in at least five of those. In 1987, the Roosters finished one week shy of the grand final, winning 8 games by four points or less. An indication of how one or two incidents in a game can change an entire season.

Jackson Hastings (right) another of the rising Rooster stars with Mitchell Pearce. Picture: Darren England

Among all of the doom and gloom there have been some big positives that will carry the tricolours for years to come. Due to the departure of quality players, and others missing big chunks of the season, the club was forced to blood several rookies.

Some of these players performed way above expectations and have put their names up for selection in the top grade in 2017. It would have been difficult for them to come into a team down on confidence and near the bottom of the ladder.

If these youngsters can develop into quality first graders we can expect some good times ahead.

Thank you to all readers of this column in what has been a difficult year to read about all things Roosters.

Easts to win.