Roosters player rankings 2022: Joey Manu question holding Chooks back; James Tedesco still top
He sealed his spot at number two under James Tedesco but are the Sydney Roosters a better team without Joey Manu in the centres? We rate every player.
There’s no doubt about who the Sydney Roosters’ best player was this season as James Tedesco continued his outstanding form at fullback.
But there are plenty questions being asked about the club’s use of superstar centre Joseph Manu and whether it’s time for him to make a permanent move into the halves.
Manu had another strong season but are the Roosters a better team when he’s closer to the action?
Fatima Kdouh and Paul Crawley have ranked each Rooster following a season of under-achievement for the powerhouse club.
1. James Tedesco
Fullback
Games: 24. Wins: 15.
Key stat: 184m per game.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
Another outstanding season for the Roosters superstar skipper who once again showed why he remains the NRL’s benchmark fullback. Could not have done more to inspire his team and it was absolutely shattering to see him taken out by an illegal high shot in the finals loss to the Rabbitohs.
2. Joseph Manu
Centre
Games: 23. Wins: 14
Key stat: 151 tackle busts.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
Best centre in the game but has created a legitimate argument as to whether he could be even more valuable playing five-eighth. It was a crushing blow to the Roosters’ finals hopes when Manu went down with a calf injury in the round 25 grudge match against the Bunnies. Had he played the following week, things could have been dramatically different.
3. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Prop
Games: 20. Wins: 14.
Key stat: 112m per game.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
Just when you thought big JWH was getting a bit long in the tooth, the old warrior showed once again why he remains the game’s most intimidating presence. His aggression and leadership were huge factors in the Roosters’ late season surge. Unfortunately he took it a bit too far in the final loss to Souths.
4. Luke Keary
Five-eighth
Games: 22. Wins: 14.
Key Stat: 25 try assists.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
Bravely fought back from another worrying concussion to play his best football towards the back end of the season when he’d returned to his right position wearing the No 6 jumper. Showed why he remains one of the NRL’s elite five-eighths when fully fit.
5. Daniel Tupou
Winger
Games: 22. Wins: 14.
Key Stat: 16 tries.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
Was considered somewhat of a controversial selection for NSW this year, but will never have his worth questioned by anyone at the Roosters. Averaged 15.8 runs a game for 148m and was the club’s top try scorer. But it’s his runs to start the sets that makes him so valuable.
5. Joseph Suaalii
Winger
Games: 19 Wins: 11.
Key stat: 13 linebreaks.
Contract status: Option in his favour for the 2024 season.
Physical, fearless and skillful, Suaalii played with maturity – and courage – beyond his years. Willing to go after the ball, take the big run out of the back field and absorb the collision, it’s only a matter of time before Trent Robinson finds the winger a place closer to the action. A Rugby Australia target, Suaalii has eye on James Tedesco’s No.1 jumper but has a way to go before he can usurp the game’s best fullback.
7. Angus Crichton
Second-row
Games: 25 Wins: 15.
Key Stat: 60 tackle busts.
Signed until the end of 2022.
Didn’t set the world on fire to start the season but ended up playing every game, and really powered home to prove why he remains one of the competition’s best backrowers. He is off contract but expected to sign for another two years to keep him at Bondi until at least the end of 2024.
8. Sam Walker
Halfback
Games: 25 Wins: 15
Key stat: 17 linebreak assists.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
After some teething issues alongside Luke Keary, a jersey swap into the No.7 helped ignite the rising playmaker’s season. Walker was able to avoid the dreaded second year syndrome and finish the season with 17 linebreaks assists and 16 try assists. There were clear improvements in his kicking game and defence this season.
9. Victor Radley
Lock
Games: 19 Wins: 13
Key stat: 9 runs PG.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
Invaluable but volatile, Radley took another step towards his full potential this season. He has worked hard at staying out of trouble off the field, but on it he regressed in the most important game of the season, where he was binned twice. He’s got to temper that aggression, and re-examine a tackling technique that can leave him either suspended or concussed.
10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Prop
Games: 18. Wins: 8.
Key Stat: 130m per game.
Contract status: Signed with Super League’s Catalans Dragons from 2023.
Has had an outstanding career at the Roosters and it was a credit to him the way he finished with some blockbusting performances. Was still averaging the most metres of any of the Roosters’ middles and will be missed when he heads to the Super League.
11. Matt Lodge
Prop
Games: 17. Wins: 12.
Key Stat: 41 tackle busts.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2022.
A controversial late season signing but was absolutely enormous in all nine games for the Roosters. In that period put his name up among the buys of the season. While there were initially a lot of questions whether Lodge would fit the Roosters’ culture, he thrived playing alongside big JWH.
12. Nat Butcher
Second-row
Games: 25. Wins: 15.
Key Stat: 11 tries.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
The unassuming Roosters Mr Fix-It looks to have finally found his home on the right edge, highlighted with his four-try haul in the round 23 annihilation of Wests Tigers. One of the genuine unsung heroes of the Roosters’ late season surge and another who played every game.
13. Lindsay Collins
Prop
Games: 16. Wins: 8.
Key Stat: 29.3 tackles per game.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2026.
Another year that didn’t end well for the tough Queenslander after Collins copped a four-game ban for a hip drop on Melbourne’s Tom Eisenhuth just when the Roosters were really starting to look like a genuine premiership threat. Also had to deal with a couple of nasty head knocks.
14. Sam Verrills
Hooker
Games: 15. Wins: 10.
Key stat: 35 tackles PG
Contract status: Signed to Gold Coast Titans
A class No.9 forced out of Bondi by the impending arrival of Brandon Smith. Again, he was forced to the sidelines as he battled through thumb and collarbone injuries, which saw him miss 10 games.
15. Connor Watson
Utility
Games: 21. Wins: 13.
Key stat: 44 tackle busts.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
Did a commendable job is his role as a Mr Fix-It. After starting at hooker for Sam Verrills in round one, Watson moved into a bench role where he was mostly used as ball-playing lock.
16. Egan Butcher
Second row
Games: 12. Wins: 7.
Key stat: 68 metres PG.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
A hardworking rising forward starting to live up the hype. Showcased his strength as he barrelled through three Rabbitohs defenders including Latrell Mitchell score in round 25. Butcher’s powerful runs and strong defence evoke memories of a young Boyd Corder. Would be hard done by if he misses a spot in the 17 next season.
17. Drew Hutchison
Utility
Games: 25. Wins: 15.
Key Stat: 33.2 possessions per game.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
While he’s not one of the Roosters’ flashiest players, Hutchison really fills a key role in a star-studded roster. That was highlighted by the fact he was one of only four Roosters to play all 25 games.
18. Sitili Tupouniua
Second row
Games: 16. Wins: 8
Key stat: 8 linebreaks.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
An ACL injury suffered in July will mean the backrower could have a fight on his hands to win back a spot in the 17 with the Butcher brothers making their mark. Tupouniua has great footwork and can find a linebreak but is also error prone and defensively can get caught out. Tupouniua misses 2.8 tackles a game, only Sam Walker misses more.
19. Paul Momirovski
Centre
Games: 19. Wins: 12.
Key Stat: 6 tries.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
Had a solid season after joining the Roosters from the Panthers where he played a part in the 2021 premiership team. Finished with 19 games and was given the job of replacing the injured Joey Manu in that finals loss to Souths.
20. Fletcher Baker
Prop
Games: 14. Wins: 6.
Key stat: 54 metres PG.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023
Couldn’t keep his bench spot at the back end of the season but at just 22, the young prop is a work in progress. Baker is a big body but hasn’t tapped into the mongrel needed to be a genuine enforcer.
21. Terrell May
Prop
Games: 9. Wins: 6.
Key stat: 62 metres.
Contract status: PG Singed until the end of 2023.
Elevated to the top 17 to add some starch and size to the forward pack. But was limited to around 21 minutes per game from the bench. With Taukeiaho moving on and Waerea-Hargreaves edging closer to the end of his career, May is set for a bigger contribution in the middle next season.
22. Billy Smith
Centre
Games: 7. Wins: 2.
Key stat: 14 tackle busts.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2023.
Dropped after three games at the start of the season. His return in round 13 only lasted four games before the luckless outside back suffered a third ACL injury in July. Smith also endured a shoulder and then a lisfranc injury last season. Smith has conceded retirement, at just 22, has crossed his mind.
23. Kevin Naiqama
Winger
Games: 7. Wins: 4.
Key Stat: 110m per game.
Contract status: Signed until the end of 2024.
Returned to the NRL after winning three straight titles with Super League powerhouse St Helens. Struggled to cement a spot in a star-studded backline, playing seven games all up.
24. Freddy Lussick
Hooker
Games: 11. Wins: 2.
Key stat: 2 runs per game.
Contract status: Mid-season release to Warriors.
The young hooker struggled to crack a place in Trent Robinson’s side this season and was let go to join the Warriors, where he played 11 games in 2022. Lussick found himself behind the likes of Sam Verrills and Connor Watson in the pecking order.
25. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
Prop
Games: 12. Wins: 7.
Key stat: 19 minutes PG.
Contract status: Mid-season release to South Sydney.
Was once being groomed for life post Jared Wearae-Hargreaves and while he showed plenty of promise, it’s fair to say he was underwhelming in the 12 games he played before being let go mid-season to rivals South Sydney. Limited minutes of just 19 per game, all of the bench, told the tale of his stunted progression at the club.
26. Oliver Gildart
Centre
Games: 10. Wins: 3.
Key Stat: 89m per game.
Contract status: Returns to Wests Tigers.
Finished with two games in Roosters’ colours after his late season switch. But at least Gildart goes back to the Tigers with bragging rights after getting his Roosters’ NRL debut in that 72-6 round 23 belting.
OTHERS:
Ben Thomas
Prop
Games: 1 Wins: 1
Contract status: Free agent
Adam Keighran
Centre/utility
Games: 2 Wins: 1
Contract status: Free agent
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