Home Ground: Allianz Stadium

Coach: Trent Robinson

TAB odds: Premiers: $19



The SYDNEY ROOSTERS had a successful 2024 season, achieving a top-four finish and showcasing one of the league's best attacks on their way to the preliminary finals. Despite their impressive achievements and strong stats, Trent Robinson's team showed some weaknesses in their performances when up against the big guns of Penrith and Melbourne. The Storm eliminated the Chooks in the preliminary rounds, and now Robinson faces the challenge of rebuilding the team with several key players leaving Bondi.

The club are in desperate need of grunt up front having lost experienced big men Terrell May (Wests Tigers), Dylan Napa (retired), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Hull Kingston Rovers) over the summer.

Trent Robinson has his work cut out for him in 2025 after a stack of big-name defections. Rugby convert and the man with the toughest name in footy to pronounce, MARK NAWAQUANITAWASE will be part of a new centre pairing, while young forwards De La SALLE VA'A and SIUA WONG should become NRL mainstays. Several key backs, including Joey Manu, Joseph Suaalii and Luke Keary all finished at the club, creating significant gaps in the roster that will need to be filled. Robinson has started his front-row reboot by signing two giant youngsters from the Bulldogs. NSW under 19 prop FANAFOU SEVE and his 17-year-old brother ITULA are poised to join the Roosters on long-term deals. Both tip the scales at around 115 kilos and are regarded as future first grader

With both SAM WALKER and BRANDON SMITH sidelined for the first half of the season, CHAD TOWNSEND and SANDON SMITH will partner in the halves, while CONNOR WATSON should slot in at hooker for the Tricolours. There has been talk that the ROOSTERS may have reached out to the EELS playmaker DYLAN BROWN, with Brown reportedly wanting in excess of $1.1 million dollars per season. However PARRAMATTA believe this is premature and believe it is merely agent hype. Regardless, the duo of SANDON SMITH and WALKER are likely the Roosters' future halves combination and with other talent coming to the club a distraction. This season presents a significant challenge for the club, as the team's composition differs considerably from last season. We shall soon see how competitive they are, but the difficult task should make for an exciting season for their supporters.

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

Last year's finish: 3rd

Predicted 2025 finish: 13th

PREDICTED STARTING SIDE

1. JAMES TEDESCO

2. DANIEL TUPOU

3. BILLY SMITH

4. MARK NAWAQANITAWASE

5. DOMINIC YOUNG

6. SANDON SMITH

7. CHAD TOWNSEND

8. SPENCER LENIU

9. CONNOR WATSON

10. LINDSAY COLLINS

11. ANGUS CRICHTON

12. NATHAN BUTCHER

13. VICTOR RADLEY

14. Naufahu WHYTE

15. Siua WONG

16. Terrell MAY

17. Egan BUTCHER

PRE SEASON: Sun 16 Feb

Dragons v Roosters at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 7:30pm

Sun 23 Feb

Roosters v Knights at Industree Group Stadium 4:00pm