Monday Buzz: How Taylor Losalu, a concreter, and Hugo Savala, a bookmaker’s clerk, helped Roosters produce great upset over Panthers
In the same week that one player signed the richest deal in rugby league history, it was a battling concreter and a bookmaker’s clerk on reserve grade wages that helped orchestrate the biggest NRL upset in years, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
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In the same week that one player signed the richest deal in rugby league history, a battling concreter and a bookmaker’s clerk helped the Sydney Roosters orchestrate the biggest NRL upset in years.
Taylor Losalu is on a $20,000 NSW Cup contract at the Roosters and Hugo Savala is on an $85,000 development deal – a far cry from Dylan Brown’s $13 million, 10-year deal with the Knights.
On Saturday morning, less than 12 hours after a stunning victory over four-time champions the Penrith Panthers, Losalu was back at work pouring concrete.
He was there at 7am laying a new driveway in Arncliffe.
What a story and a flashback to the good old days when footy players worked full-time, trained a couple of nights a week and then turned up on game day.
Savala also has a job on the side. You will often find him at Randwick races on a Saturday afternoon, holding the bag for his dad, bookmaker Scott Savala.
It’s hard to believe these two took on the might of the Penrith Panthers – Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin – and came away with the two competition points.
Both filling in for injured or suspended big-money stars Victor Radley, Lindsay Collins, Brandon Smith and Spencer Leniu.
This was the Roosters’ first win over the Panthers since 2019 – and one of their finest premiership victories of the modern era.
A win that came from coach Trent Robinson’s faith in his rookies on the back of a magnificent performance from captain James Tedesco.
Savala is a fantastic story. A rare Roosters local product, he had a cheer squad of 100 eastern suburbs mates at CommBank Stadium. The friends who later chaired him into the Robin Hood Hotel for celebration drinks.
The 22-year-old admits he loves a punt and working for his dad’s bookmaking company – while obviously avoiding any betting of his own on NRL fixtures.
“I’m not earning enough money from footy to buy a house,” he said.
“So I got my licence as a bookmaker’s clerk. I love it. I’ve worked for Dad since I was 16.”
A REMINDER THAT PREMIERSHIP ISN’T WON IN MARCH
The opening rounds of the NRL have again proven to be the worst possible form guide to your team’s premiership credentials.
Every year we fall for it and go off early.
Last week the Roosters were allegedly in crisis after being annihilated 50-14 by the Broncos.
We wanted to sack Trent Robinson despite his three premierships, bring back Jared Waerea-Hargreaves from England and suggested old Chad Townsend was past it.
We smashed them for letting Terrell May and Sitili Tupouniua go to Wests Tigers and Bulldogs.
And how their recruitment team stuffed up by letting Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Joey Manu, Luke Keary and JWH all leave at the one time.
They were a billion-to-one chance of beating four-time premiers the Penrith Panthers.
But somehow, miraculously, they did with a bunch of unheralded rookies.
As Gus Gould tweeted: “Early season NRL … WLWL …up and down …upsets everywhere … it’s a funny game rugby league.”
It sure is, Gus.
Now Manly. They belted the Cowboys 42-12 in week one.
Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander said on Fox Sports: “I can’t believe what I’m watching. We have seen some sides over the last two decades make great starts but I can’t recall a better one.”
Most of us agreed. That they looked like a team that could make the grand final.
Six days later they travelled to New Zealand, their million-dollar champions Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans broke down and they get pumped by the Warriors.
Yep, the Warriors. The team that performed so ordinarily in Las Vegas.
Where Luke Metcalf came under heavy fire. Not up to it, apparently.
They needed experience and an organiser to replace Shaun Johnson, not him. Te Maire Martin had to be wearing the No.7 jersey.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck must be moved from the wing to be closer to the action.
Coach Andrew Webster was apparently under pressure.
Those of us who tipped the Warriors to win the wooden spoon felt we were on the money. And what happened?
They crushed Manly 36-16. Metcalf played the lights out.
Again, round 1. It’s fools form.
The Broncos then travel to the national capital on Saturday night and turned up looking like they’d read too much of last week’s press.
Round-one destroyers Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan were contained magnificently by the Raiders.
Reece Walsh had a shocker with just 51 run metres and four critical errors.
He played like he was running on heavy legs – maybe the result of an army camp!
So we’re two weeks into the season. The grand final is still 202 days away.
Comps aren’t won or lost in March. Favourites will continue to flop.
That’s what’s so great about rugby league – the unpredictability.
Just remember, the real contenders will emerge much later in the season.
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