Roosters 2023 preview: Sydney juggernauts have a date with prelims

The Sydney Roosters enter another NRL season with a glittering trove of superstars across the park, from the game’s best fullback in James Tedesco to the brightest young star in the game, Joseph Sua’ali’i. Add a pinch of Cheese at hooker, and things are looking up and up for the heavyweight club.

Don’t expect the injury clouds to hold the Roosters back forever.

Much of last year was spent waiting for Luke Keary and Sam Walker to reunite in the halves, while niggles, whacks, bangs, and major injuries kept many other big names off the park in spurts. The team is stuffed to the absolute brim with State of Origin and international stars, but their stop-start combinations last year weren’t enough to get into the preliminary finals.

This is still very much the team that went back to back in 2018 and 2019, however. Most of the moving parts, minus Cooper Cronk really, are still there or there abouts.

Funnily enough, they actually followed up those two premierships with their worst finals run in years—three seasons without making the prelims after six in a row the six before. The Sporting Base is keeping a close eye on the tricolours as they rumble into juggernaut mode again heading into the 2023 season.

Last year’s finish: 6th, 15 wins and nine losses

Last ten NRL campaigns: 6th (Qualifying), 5th (Semi), 4th (Semi), 2nd (Premiers), 1st (Premiers), 2nd (Prelim), 15th, 1st (Prelim), 1st (Prelim), 1st (Premiers)

Predicted Round 1 lineup

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Joseph Suaalii
4. Joseph Manu
5. Jaxson Paulo
6. Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Matt Lodge
9. Brandon Smith
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Egan Butcher
12. Nat Butcher
13. Victor Radley
14. Drew Hutchison
15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
16. Siua Wong
17. Terrell May

Coach: Trent Robinson

Biggest losses: Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Sam Verrills Biggest gains: Brandon Smith, Matthew Lodge

How 2023 is looking for Sydney

Very good is probably the only answer. Really, look at that Roosters list right now—past years have been underperformances for this star-studded tricolours outfit, and Trent Robinson won’t have them misfiring forever.

Big news here is Luke Keary is back in the fold. He may not last the length of the season, particularly considering his near-constant concussion issues that cruelled most of his last season, but Sam Walker is another year wiser and now 20 years old and putting on bulk. Behind them too, whether Walker makes the distance or not, is one of the biggest and most dangerous backlines in the NRL: Tedesco, Sua’ali’i, Manu, Tupou. Heck, three of those four are international fullbacks, with two in the centres.

Up front too, the Roosters have scored a big signing in Brandon Smith.

Injuries have been Sydney’s biggest enemies in recent campaigns. With the Cheese now in at hooker and likely to play out the season and a veritable horde of superstars across the park, the Roosters seem primed to return to the top four fold.

There is every chance the Cowboys, Sharks, and Eels continue to build on 2022’s momentum and round out the top spots alongside the Panthers, but that’s very unlikely considering just how many weapons the Roosters boast.

Predicted 2023 finish: 2nd

First five: Dolphins (A), Warriors (H), Rabbitohs (H), Eels (H), Storm (A)

TopSport odds: Premiers $5.50, Make Top 4: $1.55, Make Final 8: $1.14, Miss The Top 8: $4.60

Pass mark: Make it to the preliminary finals. Download Our Free NRL App

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