NRL great Cooper Cronk believes the Roosters have all the “ingredients to be lifting that premiership” in 2024, but says they will have to change their approach in the first half of this season after a slow getaway last year.
Beginning the season as premiership favourites in 2023, the Roosters’ campaign was off to a shaky start with an upset loss to the Dolphins in Round 1.
While their defence was solid, their attack never really got out of gear for much of the season, with good performances few and far between for the first 20 rounds of the competition.
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At that mark, the Tricolours had won seven and lost 10 – a disappointing record for a team loaded with talent all across the park.
Their season was on the thinnest layer of ice possible.
Most pundits had written them off or labelled it a lost year, before a five-game winning streak to end the regular season catapulted the Roosters into the top eight.
When their backs were against the wall, they played a brand of football they were always capable of and put together a string of performances that Robinson always believed throughout the season would come.
While they would fall short in a semi-final against the Storm (despite a decimated backline), to end up two wins away from a grand final after being 14th on the ladder at the end of Round 20, was some sort of effort.
Cronk, who won a premiership in 2019 with the club, says his former side just need to do the basics right much earlier in the season and “build” momentum.
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“I think they are genuine premiership threat,” Cronk told foxsports.com.au.
“I think for me, last year they were playing too much like what September and October looked like but to start the season you really need to put one foot in front of the next and build your season.
“The years that Trent Robinson has been successful, he has built his season throughout the year.
“Last year they left it way too late, didn’t build and were chasing their tale
“They found some form at the back end of the season but probably ran out of steam and energy to win that game against the Storm.”
The Roosters added two excellent players in the off-season in winger Dom Young and rampaging forward Spencer Leniu.
Cronk says they’ve “recruited well”, noting that Leniu will add plenty to an already decent forward pack.
However, the three-time premiership winning half says how well Roosters spine work together will be especially key, considering the team’s struggles in attack last year.
“They lacked points last year so if that combination of Luke Keary, James Tedesco and Sam Walker can really get that strike power in the backline going and the back rowers can be in sync then I think absolutely they can (win the comp).
“It comes down to individual accountability and delivery on game day because everything else is there for the Roosters to do what they need to do and want to do.
“The Roosters have every ingredient it says you need to win the premiership, but the difference between winning it and not, is how much you want it.”
Here foxsports.com.au breaks down all the key factors for the Roosters heading into the 2024 season.
STRENGTH
Outside backs.
The Roosters will be boosted by the addition of winger Dom Young, who was outstanding for the Knights last season.
Young joins a talented group of outside backs that already boast Joseph Suaalii on one flank and the centre pairing of Joey Manu and Billy Smith.
Suaalii was one of the team’s best in the second half of the season, proving why Rugby Australia were keen to throw the cheque book at him.
He really helped the Roosters get on the front foot at the start of sets with strong, tough carries, especially when his team were backed up inside their own side of the field.
Entering his final season before switching codes, he’ll be keen to build on last year. Manu is a class act who makes opposition defences freeze whenever he gets the ball. He too could be heading to rugby next season so will want to finish on a high.
Smith was one of the stories of the year for the Roosters in 2023. He’s had a wretched run with injuries since debuting in 2019, but easily played the most games of his career last season (15). He’s a bruising runner who is a handful near the line.
IT’S A BIG SEASON FOR
Spencer Leniu.
The former Panther will get his time to shine out of the shadows of Penrith’s dominating prop duo of Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris.
Used off the bench for his previous club, he’ll likely get a chance to start for the Roosters in the absence of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, pairing with Maroons star Lindsay Collins to form a very formidable starting front row duo.
Cooper Cronk says being the starter will present a new challenge for Leniu that he should relish.
“Leniu is a terrific buy. In terms of a front rower. His effort areas in the game are terrific,” Cronk said.
“He’s aggressive, he’s a front rower who can have an impact and change momentum.
“I think from the success he’s had at the Panthers and now to come over and potentially find himself in a position to start for the Roosters is a carrot for him to try and get better”
WHO’S UNDER MOST PRESSURE
Brandon Smith.
2023 was a mixed year for Smith, who took some time to look comfortable in the starting hooker role.
He himself even admitted he struggled adjusting with the move from the Melbourne Storm.
His service out of dummy-half left a lot to be desired and before a thumb injury midway through the season, he hadn’t been playing all that well.
He was very good over the final few weeks of the season after returning as the Roosters strung together win after win to keep their season alive.
Another pre-season with the club will help but Smith’s on big money and this Roosters team will need him to fire consistently if they want to make a deep run in 2024.
UNLUCKIEST PLAYER
Daniel Tupou.
There’s plenty to play out, but if the Roosters were to field their best side in Round 1, Tupou would likely be on the outside looking in.
The 32-year-old has had a brilliant career to date, scoring 143 tries from 241 appearances, and will go down as one of the greatest ever wingers to don the Tricolours, but is going to be competing against Young and Suaalii.
Tupou is in the last year of his contract and it’s unclear whether he’ll be a Rooster beyond 2024, but conventional wisdom says he probably won’t.
Robinson has coached Tupou in all but one of the winger’s 12 seasons in the NRL, and would probably like to give him a chance of a swan song this season, but barring injury or poor form, Tupou will likely be behind Suaalii and Young on the depth chart.
PREDICTION –
BEST 17
1. James Tedesco
2. Joseph Suaalii
3. Billy Smith
4. Joey Manu
5. Dom Young
6. Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Brandon Smith
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Siua Wong
12. Nat Butcher
13. Victor Radley
14. Sandon Smith
15. Spencer Leniu
16. Terrell May
17. Sitili Tupouniua
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2024 squad: Angus Crichton (2024), Billy Smith (2027), Brandon Smith (2024, PO 2025), Connor Watson (2025), Daniel Tupou (2024), Dominic Young (2027), Egan Butcher (2025), James Tedesco (2025), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2024), Joseph Manu (2024), Joseph Suaali’i (2024), Junior Pauga (2025), Lindsay Collins (2026), Luke Keary (2024), Nat Butcher (2027), Naufau Whyte (2026), Robert Toia (2025), Sam Walker (2025), Sandon Smith (2026), Sitili Tupouniua (2027), Siua Wong (2026), Spencer Leniu (2025), Terrell May (2024), Tyler Moriarty (2024), Victor Radley (2027), Zach Dockar-Clay (2024)
Development players: Alex Young (2024), Blake Steep (2024), Ethan Roberts (2024), Lewis Murphy (2024), Xavier Va’a (2026)
2024 gains: Dominic Young (Knights), Spencer Leniu (Panthers)
2024 losses: Fletcher Baker (Broncos), Jaxson Paulo (Sea Eagles), Matt Lodge (Sea Eagles), Paul Momirovski (Leeds Rhinos), Drew Hutchison (Bulldogs), Jake Turpin (Bulldogs), Corey Allan (Dragons), Nathan Brown (unsigned), Paul Momirovski (unsigned), Ben Thomas (unsigned)
2025 gains: Mark Nawaqanitawase (2026)
Coach: Trent Robinson (2028)
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