2018 Sydney Roosters preview: Can Cronk, Tedesco bring glory back to Bondi?
IT’S hard to remember a team going into a new season with more pressure on them than the Sydney Roosters this year. Paul Crawley previews the highly anticipated Tricolours season.
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IT’S hard to remember a team going into a new season with more pressure on them than the Sydney Roosters this year.
They finished the regular season in second spot in 2017 and have added Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco to a star-studded roster.
It was a huge call bringing in Cronk for Mitchell Pearce and time will tell if it was the right one. Cronk is a professional and a champion playmaker.
But Pearce was loved by his teammates and it remains to be seen if there will be any lasting resentment towards club bosses and coach Trent Robinson if this backfires.
FORWARDS
Don’t worry, there were plenty of internal questions being asked of the entire front-row of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend and Dylan Napa after last year’s finals loss to the Cowboys. While Pearce wore the brunt of external criticism, these three weren’t excused from finger pointing within. Fair or unfair, it’s a fact.
The Roosters will field pretty much the same pack in 2018 and even with the omission of Aidan Guerra (Newcastle) and Kane Evans (Parramatta), it is still one of the best in the comp.
BACKS
The Roosters don’t lack strikepower. Just go through the likely line-up from one to seven: Tedesco, Tupou, Mitchell, Ferguson, Manu, Keary and Cronk. And they insist they still have about $750,000 to spend in their 2018 salary cap.
For all the pre-season hype surrounding Cronk and Tedesco’s arrival, there is also huge expectation on Latrell Mitchell to see how far the 20-year-old can take his career this year. Think back to that match-winning try in the finals win over Brisbane when Mitchell toyed with James Roberts. That had State of Origin written all over it.
SPINE
You get the feeling Cronk and Tedesco will fit like a glove, but how Cronk combines with Friend at dummy half will be just as crucial.
In Melbourne we called them the Big Three for a reason. As wonderful as Slater, Cronk and Smith are individually, it was the way they worked together that made them even greater, also carrying the players around them along for the ride.
INS AND OUTS
INS: James Tedesco (Wests Tigers), Cooper Cronk (Storm), Reece Robinson (NSW Waratahs).
OUTS: Kane Evans (Eels), Aidan Guerra (Knights), Connor Watson (Knights), Liam Knight (Raiders), Paul Carter (released), Mitchell Pearce (Knights).
BEST 17
PREDICTED: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 9. Jake Friend (C) 10. Dylan Napa 11. Boyd Cordner (C) 12. Mitch Aubusson 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Zane Tetevano 17. Victor Radley. Coach: Trent Robinson
FORM GUIDE
2017 Finals (2nd), 2016 15th, 2015 Finals (1st), 2014 Finals (1st), 2013 Premiers (1st).
PRE-SEASON STANDOUT
Cooper Cronk was brought in not just to win a premiership but to change the Roosters’ culture.
Given his professionalism in all aspects of his game, there’s good reason to assume he has already made an impact.
CASUALTY WARD
Luke Keary (jaw; due back, rd 1).
THEY’LL BE LEANING ON...
Cooper Cronk
For the first time in a long time, Cronk is under serious pressure. Outside the Craig Bellamy nest, can he do what he was brought here to do and steer the Roosters to a title?