Monday Buzz: Sydney Roosters lacking leadership under James Tedesco, Phil Rothfield
The Roosters are officially the NRL’s worst attacking team, but the real reason their premiership hopes have imploded is the club’s stunning lack of leadership, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
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The Roosters are now officially the worst attacking side in the competition and their premiership odds have blown out to $20.
This is the reason why …
In the last few years the Sydney Roosters have lost Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend, Mitch Aubusson, Sonny Bill Williams and Cooper Cronk. They were five outstanding leaders.
James Tedesco might be the Kangaroos and NSW Blues skipper but he doesn’t lead like the above-mentioned players. It’s just not his style.
Everyone has a view on why the team is struggling.
Why Victor Radley has been so undisciplined, why Brandon Smith has struggled and why Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is playing so poorly.
Outside of Cordner, Friend, Aubusson, SBW and Cronk, this club is also missing Craig Fitzgibbon, another great leader, on the coaching staff. It’s time for the likes of Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to step up alongside Tedesco.
CRUCIAL CONTRACT CALL ON REBORN BROOKS
The Wests Tigers’ thumping win over the Cowboys on Saturday night was the feel-good rugby league story of the year.
A record-smashing 66-18 victory, Luke Brooks’ 200th game and Leichhardt Oval rocking like the good old days when Blocker, Benny, Siro, Junior Pearce and Garry Jack were the hometown heroes.
This was the joint venture’s biggest night since the 2005 grand final victory.
However … getting too carried away is a mistake the Wests Tigers have made too often in the past.
They celebrate all-to-rare fantastic occasions like Saturday night but then fall in a heap.
Chairman Lee Hagipantelis insists it won’t be happening this time.
“This win was an unequivocal vindication that we’re on the right path,” Hagipantelis says, “but we’re not there yet. We have a five-year commitment and we will not deviate. Saturday night just gave us a glimpse of what the future can potentially look like.”
On Sunday morning, Hagipantelis laughed off a report in Nine newspapers suggesting Tim Sheens had problems relating to younger players in the squad.
That the four-time premier coach would have to finish up this year.
“There is absolutely no chance of us deviating from the path we’re on,” Hagipantelis said.
“We are putting together a very competitive team and we have a program in place with Tim and Benji to take us forward to where we need to be.
“Tim knows … I said to him after the game: ‘one swallow doesn’t make a summer.’
“I see it as an indicator of what the team is capable of achieving.
“It’s absolutely important we don’t get too carried away with one big win.
“The boys will celebrate the milestone games for Luke (Brooks) and Starford (To’a) then move on to prepare for the Raiders game.”
The Tigers now move into a position where they face a crucial call on Brooks’ future.
It was breathtaking the manner in which he carved up the Cowboys.
Extraordinary mental toughness for the NRL’s most maligned footballer.
The old Wests Tigers would react by giving him a big-money four-year extension.
The decision will be discussed between Sheens, Benji and head of recruitment Scott Fulton.
That they were still chasing Shaun Johnson as late as last week would indicate the Brooks deal is not over the line yet.
“Luke has been a phenomenal servant to the club for 10 years,” Hagipantelis said.
“He showed us again what he is capable of.
“We have a retention and list management committee that will now consider, like they do with every player, where to go with Luke. They’ll then make a recommendation to the board.”
Saturday night showed he can be up there with the competition’s best halves.
The club just needs to see him do it more consistently.
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