Roosters 2025 preview: Exit rush leaves Bondi facing barren year

The Sydney Roosters are facing what can only be described as a full-blown exodus, though it’s only because players have taken up other opportunities elsewhere — including outside the sport.

Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, and Terell May are all among the biggest names who headed out the door (or were asked to leave, apparently). So too Sitili Tupouniua, Michael Jennings, and perhaps most importantly veteran five-eighth Luke Keary.

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The whole 2024-to-2025 preseason has left Trent Robinson staring down the barrel of gaping holes in the squad.

Expect, of course, it’s the Roosters, and so they’ve plugged in rising star power everywhere.

This includes Mark Nawaqanitawase (from rugby) as well as young guns Robert Toia, Sandon Smith, and Kiwi representative Naufahu Whyte, who has been biding his time in the tricolours.

There’s also James Tedesco, Connor Watson, Angus Crichton, and Victor Radley still lurking throughout the matchday XIII and spine.

All that said, The Sporting Base can see the Roosters falling outside the eight this season off the back of an aging Tedesco and one of the worst halves pairings coming in to 2025: Smith, who’s still learning the ropes, and Chad Townsend, who maybe has already used up his time in the NRL.

The sixs and sevens here are far-flung versions of the scrumbase combos from years past in Bondi — though it is worth mentioning Sam Walker (injured) will be back eventually — and that’s going to hurt Sydney more than anything through 2025. Should Smith prove up to the task, things may change, but this Base reporter just isn’t so convinced.

Round 1 side: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Nat Butcher Bench: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi

Coach: Trent Robinson (13th year)

Biggest losses: Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Terell May Biggest gain: Chad Townsend

First five: Broncos (H), Panthers (A), Warriors (A), Titans (H), Rabbitohs (A)

Last year’s finish: 3rd

Predicted 2025 finish: 9th

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TopSport odds: Premiers: $20, Top 4: $5, Final 8: $2, Most Losses: $15