Meet the unlikely Roosters who toppled a giant… and why $850k Smith exit will trigger pay day

A concreter, a bookmaker’s clerk and a handful of rising stars.

Apparently that’s all it takes to beat the all-conquering Panthers, with the Roosters locking in what is already the upset of the season with their 38-32 Round 2 victory over the reigning four-time premiers.

Trent Robinson’s side hadn’t beaten Penrith for six years until Friday night, emerging triumphant as $11 outsiders who were given a 23.5 start with bookies.

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What’s more, the Tricolours had let in 50 points to the Broncos in Round 1 and lost troops after that clash, with Victor Radley and Lindsay Collins sidelined.

No one gave them a chance — but now, the five unheralded stars who got a chance to shine on the biggest stage could be in line for big pay days, depending on the future of out-of-favour hooker Brandon Smith.

The 28-year-old’s marquee switch to the Roosters bore no fruit, with an ACL injury sidelining him until Round 15 and a move to the Rabbitohs looming to link up with Wayne Bennett.

Smith is earning around $850,000 this season and Tricolours powerbrokers are reportedly keen for him to make a mid-season transfer to the Roosters’ bitter rivals.

That move could free up a significant amount of cap space, which according to veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield will be spent on upgrading five rising stars.

“They’d want Brandon’s money to put those guys on better deals,” Rothfield said on NRL360.

“Reward the young kids who helped bring down four-time premiers Penrith so well.”

So who are the unheralded stars who could be set for upgraded contracts?

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The first to play a starring role was Taylor Losalu, who was called into the run-on side at prop alongside Naufahu Whyte.

The 22-year-old had made his NRL debut a week earlier, and according to NRL.com he was of the belief that his cameo was only a one-off.

So much so, Losalu didn’t turn up to Roosters training on the Monday that followed, instead going to work as a concreter.

He then fielded a call from Robinson question where he was, saying: “I was just grateful for one game, getting two games I’m just so grateful. It was an unreal feeling to start.”

The day after his first NRL victory, the all-time Penrith boilover, Losalu was back on the tools: pouring concrete in what is his main income alongside his $20,000 NSW Cup deal, according to CODE Sports.

“Taylor will be on the tools at 7am tomorrow morning concreting. That shows insight into how he goes about his game and his training and his life,” Robinson said post-match after beating the Panthers.

“There’s future there but we’re not sitting around waiting for it. Those guys got given an opportunity and they can play like that.

“We’ll just keep coaching, keep believing and keep getting better.”

Losalu himself said that concreting had “taught me hard work… It taught me you have to pull your sleeves up and get to work.

“You can’t complain when you see that side of life, that working life. When you come play rugby league, you can see there’s a better life there and it just pushes you to work hard for it.”

The next rising star is 22-year-old Hugo Savala, who plays in the halves, though his 194cm frame could easily slot into any NRL forward pack unnoticed.

He made his first grade debut in the famous victory, and the Roosters academy product had arguably the best support of any player we’ve ever seen.

“Hugo Savalalalalala, Hugo Savalalalalala,” a gaggle of over 100 friends and family chanted before, during and after the game, travelling to CommBank Stadium in a party bus.

During the game, the group could we seen swinging their shirts and after it chaired their debutant into the Robin Hood Hotel in Randwick for celebratory drinks.

Savala is currently signed on a $85,000 development deal, but also works as a bookmaker’s clerk for his Dad, Scott Savala.

“I’m not earning enough money from footy to buy a house. So I got my licence as a bookmaker’s clerk. I love it. I’ve worked for Dad since I was 16,” he told News Corp.

Savala is predominantly a halfback, but has featured at hooker in NSW Cup and at lock in trials. He was even dropped late last season before getting 11 crucial minutes against the Panthers.

Next was Blake Steep, who Roosters fans know is a future star of Robinson’s forward pack, having foregone a NSW Under 19s appearance to make his debut in Round 13 last year.

The 19-year-old was the Tricolours’ Player of the Year in the SG Ball competition and also captained that side to a semi-finals appearance.

Steep suffered an ACL injury in 2023 but has enjoyed a stellar rise, now having five NRL appearances under his belt with only 13 NSW Cup games as an apprenticeship.

However, such are the wraps on Steep that he played 37 and 46 minutes in his first two games this year, and he’s likely to remain in the side all season.

He’s currently signed on a top 30 contract which ends following the 2026 season, but he could be in line for a healthy upgrade.

Salesi Foketi is another player that has emerged in this talented crop, having come through the club’s ranks before his Round 1 debut.

He was traditionally a five-eighth but transitioned into a back-rower last year in NSW Cup, which suits his powerful game to a tee.

The 2024 pre-season marked his first with the NRL squad, and the 19-year-old started at lock against the Panthers, having earned an upgraded contract.

Foketi is now signed until the end of the 2027 season, joining the top 30 roster alongside Beniah Ioelu and Jake Elliott.

The fifth and final rising star to take the field against the Panthers was Robert Toia, whose rise to the NRL has been well documented.

The 20-year-old centre had battled with ACL injuries in both knees and a fractured jaw in recent years, but the Roosters had huge wraps on the young gun coming into this season.

So much so that he was backed to fill the void left by departing guns Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu, with his crowning moment coming in Round 1 against the Broncos.

He burned past his opposite man and set-up a Dominic Young try in the opening stages, proving he has what it takes to succeed in the NRL.

Toia is also signed until the end of 2027 but after what is looming as a breakout season, the Roosters could look to hand him an upgrade.

Overall, what the Tricolours’ shock victory over the Panthers proved is that the club’s shift to focus on developing players could be the right move.

That is despite widespread criticism of their ability to compete following their Round 1 flogging.

“Is Nick Politis concerned? Look, Nick Politis is on a certain course with his academy of emerging players,” Rothfield said on NRL 360.

“He believes they are in a rebuilding phase and that they have got a lot of work ahead of them this year until their million-dollar halfback Sam Walker gets back this year from injury.

“I think he is concerned, but he’s backing Trent Robinson.”

Even gun forward Connor Watson admitted their Round 1 defeat was “disappointing” but their victory against Penrith was their way to “send a message” to rivals.

“It was really important that we bounced back in Round 2,” he said to Newswire.

“Not many people gave us a chance, but we had that belief all pre-season with the way that we trained (that we could do it).

“It was really disappointing to play against the Knights (in the trials) like we did and then to do the same thing against the Broncos.

“But the thing about the Broncos … I know you don’t want to have 50 points put on you, but there was a lot of really good stuff to take out of it.”