Penrith Panthers General Manager and former Sydney Roosters coach Phil Gould says the Bondi club will be a serious premiership contender in 2017.

“I’m declaring this team a serious contender for the title” Gould wrote in The Sun-Herald.

“They were disappointing last year, but this club has a history of bouncing back quickly.”

Gould brought legendary five-eigth Brad Fittler to the club in the mid 1990’s and believes the addition of Luke Keary can help forget a nightmare 2016.

“I think Luke Keary will prove to be one of the buys of the season and I believe he will perfectly compliment halfback Mitchell Pearce.”

The Roosters play Gold Coast in round one next Saturday night.