The Roosters have gone from the worst attack in the NRL early last season to premiership contenders again after their revamped game style upset title heavyweights the Broncos in Round 1.
The Roosters attempted to modernise their attack in the off-season and the early signs were promising in their 20-10 win over last year’s grand finalists to kick off their 2024 campaign.
“The Roosters dominated the first 40 minutes and probably should have been leading by more than what they did,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
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“Reece Walsh kept the Broncos in the game, but the Roosters just seemed like they were in control.”
Paul Kent believes the spine issues that plagued the Roosters last year were a thing of the past against Brisbane, which bodes well for the season ahead.
“I really liked the look of the Roosters,” Kent said.
“I thought they were sharp. I thought they were very physical. We spoke about the problems they have had around their spine, but they looked really good there tonight. They combined really well.
“Tedesco was magnificent. For all the questions about Tedesco and what is happening with him he was superb.”
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Anasta believes the Roosters’ key players stepped up to lead from the front and send an ominous warning to the rest of the NRL that they may be back to their best.
“We spoke about the spine and how they needed to improve and that was kind of their Achilles heel last year and Smith had to give good service and run when it was the right time, which he did,” Anasta said.
“Walker was great. Keary was great and that then brought Tedesco into the game.
“So everything we were concerned about and so was Robbo I know that in the pre-season and on our show and they delivered it in the first game against one of the premiership heavyweights.”
Phil Rothfield noted the increase in size of halfback Walker, who is no longer a liability in defence with a few extra kilograms on board.
“I was impressed with the physique of Sam Walker,” Rothfield said.
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“If you lined him up to what he looked like three years ago and the weight he is now carrying. He is bigger. He is stronger. He is wiser.
“I thought he had a real strong game. He is much bigger than previous years.”
James Hooper noted the importance of Victor Radley as the link between the forwards and the backs after his impressive display.
“He would have had to run around to get wet in the shower a couple of years ago, but you can see he is starting to fill out a little bit more,” Hooper said of Walker.
“But I thought the link man who brought it all together and was also awesome defensively was Victor Radley.
“He was heavily involved in the contest. He was looking to put big shots on early and when Victor is at his best and he is playing that link through the middle of the field role for the Chooks, that’s when they can be at their most dangerous.”
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A player the Roosters will struggle to replace when he reportedly joins French rugby union next year is Joey Manu, who was arguably the best player on the field.
“Joey Manu was exceptional again with his footwork and the flick pass for the try,” Anasta said.
“They are going to lose Joey at some point which is going to be a big loss, but he was spectacular again tonight.”
“He is just a freak,” Kent added.
“He has just got gifts that even good players just don’t have. He has just got these gifts that we saw out there tonight.
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“Physically he is gifted. Skill-wise he is gifted. He is tough. He just does it all and he has just got that ability to create tries and I don’t know how you replace him.”
“They are going to miss him big time,” Rothfield said.
“Him and Joseph Suaalii to miss two heavyweight outside backs of their calibre.”
Braith Anasta believes Manu’s pending departure means the Roosters’ title window may be over after this season.
“What it highlights is the window is this year,” Anasta said.
“I’ll tell you what I reckon the Roosters are right back in the hunt after tonight,” Kent interjected.
“I do too,” Anasta agreed.
“They were horrible last year,” Rothfield interjected.
“But Trent Robinson spoke about they had to modernise their style,” Kent said.
“They were playing an old-fashioned style, so they spent the off-season working on that.
“I didn’t see a stark difference in how they play, but from what you did see they just looked better. They were sharper and they clicked better and they were a threat most times they tried to do something.
“With that in tail the Roosters are back in the premiership race.”
Source Agencies
