BY CURTIS WOODWARD

Sydney Roosters
Coach: Trent Robinson
Pre-season: Auckland Nines February 4th and 5th, v Cowboys February 11th

 
What they’ll get right: I love their forward pack and most will agree they have one of the most formidable front row rotations in the competition to go with Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Aidan Guerra. They need to keep their big men healthy, if they do that, they could be a top four side. But something is troubling me about the Roosters and I can’t put my finger on it. As I said, they could be a top four team but a lot of sides have surpassed them and things won’t come as easy as it has in the past.

What they’ll get wrong: Is Luke Keary as good a player as Trent Robinson thinks? The club pushed James Maloney out the door for Jackson Hastings who has now left too. There’s so much pressure on Mitchell Pearce because Keary simply isn’t Maloney – something Pearce and the Roosters quickly realised after Maloney left for the Sharks. Have a really talented group of starting outside backs but lack depth.

It’s a big year for: We’ve touched on Pearce but 2017 could be anything for Latrell Mitchell. The dynamic custodian had a huge 2016 and now has the guidance of veteran Michael Gordon to help with his development. Mitchell could find himself in a Kangaroos jersey in a World Cup if he keeps improving.

Congratulations to Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell named in the Indigenous All Stars team 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Cb6hEb2rPB

— Sydney Roosters 🐓 (@sydneyroosters) December 13, 2016

Most improved: Connor Watson
MVP: Mitchell Pearce
Most consistent: Shaun Kenny-Dowall

Prediction – 10th

Will push all the way for a finals birth but I just don’t see how Pearce can carry them creatively week-to-week and not burn out.

 
Possible team:
1 Latrell Mitchell
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
4 Blake Ferguson
5 Michael Gordon
6 Luke Keary
7 Mitchell Pearce
8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg2FfjH1cLo

9 Jake Friend

10 Dylan Napa
11 Aidan Guerra
12 Boyd Cordner
13 Sio Siua Taukeiaho

14 Mitch Aubusson
15 Kane Evans
16 Isaac Liu
17 Connor Watson

@woodward_curtis