Sydney Roosters 2009 NRL winner
March 12th 2009 22:14
The Manly Sea Eagles were deserved NRL premiers in Australian Rugby League’s Centenary year, thrashing the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final to register their seventh Premiership.
Judging from Manly’s performance in last year’s NRL decider, the norm in season 2009 would be to see the Sea Eagles once again contest the Grand Final come early October.
Although no one doubts that the Sea Eagles should be at the top end of the 2009 NRL ladder, whether they can defend their premiership title this season remains to be seen.
Given the off field dilemma the Sea Eagles find themselves in, the club has literally had its financial feathers plucked, sending up a cloud of doubt over Manly’s future in the NRL.
Indeed, the sexual assault charge now surrounding key player Brett Stewart ensures the Sea Eagles will start 2009 on the wrong note.
As Manly battle these off field misdemenours, let alone defend a premiership, one other feathered side could take the Sea Eagles place as NRL premiers.
Although their finish to last season was well below par, the Sydney Roosters, under coach Brad Fittler, improved out of sight last year to finish in the NRL top four, whilst also return to the finals for the first time since Fittler’s retirement in 2004.
Fittler installed a belief at the Roosters that was sorely lacking under previous coach Chris Anderson, and it saw the Bondi Junction club return to the finals in fourth position.
The Roosters, however, stumbled after the conclusion of the Origin series, losing most of their matches in the lead-up to the finals.
In that period, the Roosters experienced some shocking defeats, most notably against an under strength Titans outfit at the SFS to signal the start of their collapse.
Although there was one awesome performance against the Sea Eagles during that lean stage, the Roosters never remained consistent and were ultimately bundled out of the 2008 premiership race after two consecutive losses to the Broncos and the Warriors.
Despite running out of gas late in 2008, the Roosters showed enough last season to suggest they will go a lot further in 2009.
Halves Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce both had outstanding seasons in their first full year together at the Roosters. They ran the side with distinction on occasions last year, with their kicking games, at times, unmatched by their rivals.
Indeed, the influence of Fittler as coach allowed Anasta and Pearce to play their football with belief and confidence, which was evident in the results achieved early on.
What helped Anasta and Pearce at the start of last season was the powerful performance of the Roosters forward pack, which counted with new acquisitions Mark O’Meley and Willie Mason.
At times last season, the Roosters pack was unstoppable, gathering metres and momentum with every hit-up and quick play the ball.
Heading into 2009, the Tri-Colours still boost tremendous depth in their forward pack that, at its best, is probably the most damaging in the competition.
Names such as Mason, O’Meley, Nate Myles, Lopini Paea, Setaimata Sa and captain Craig Fitzgibbon, are all experienced enough to lead the Roosters to their first premiership since 2002.
No doubt if the forwards fire for the Roosters early on, the Tri-Colours have enough potency in the backline, headed by test stars Anthony Minichiello, Iosia Soliola, Sam Perrett and Shaun Kenny Dowall, to make opposition pay.
The nature of the NRL competition has proved that no team are certainties for a Premiership. But one feels a side like the Roosters will have learned from their comatose finish last season, which should see it lift the Telstra Premiership in 2009.
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