Following their second straight failure to turn a minor premiership into a grand final appearance, some have referred to Trent Robinson’s men as “chokers”.

At first I kind of laughed it off, but the more I looked into it, is one grand final win over the three seasons really that great considering the squad at their disposal?

It must be said that their one premiership in the past three seasons is one more than the Sharks, Cowboys, Titans and Warriors have in their combined history.

That being said, I don’t remember either of those four sides ever having a side as chock full of talent as this current Roosters crop.

Heading into the 2015 season the Roosters were deserved favourites to capture the NRL title.

They had no real weakness.

If nit-picking you could say there was a question mark over Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s move into the fullback position, following the retirement of Anthony Minichello.

Any fears were done away with within the opening month of the competition, as RTS showed he has everything needed to become a superstar in the number one. He will surely edge the likes of Tedesco and Dugan at tonight’s Dally M medal awards night for fullback of the year.

Joining RTS in the back three were two genuine stars on the wing in Daniel Tupou and Shaun Kenny-Dowall.

Add an all NSW-representative centre pairing of Blake Ferguson and Michael Jennings, as well as premiership winning, and NSW rep halves James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce, and the Roosters had the best back seven in the competition.

Up front were front row monsters in JWH and Sam Moa, and one of the best back rows in the game, an extremely talented hooker and a bench full of stars who would have made the majority of run on sides across the competition.

Throw in a premiership winning coach and you have the perfect recipe for premiership success.

So what went wrong?

Injuries certainly played their part, with JWH missing more than the last month of competition, while Mitchell Pearce missed two games of finals footy, but compared to most other sides, the Roosters were extremely healthy.

All their big name players were firing, while youngsters Jackson Hastings and Siosiua Taukeiaho were playing well above expectation.

The side was good enough to capture its third straight minor premiership, finishing a game clear of the Broncos, after suffering just the six losses in the season.

They earned a home final against the traveling Storm, yet despite playing fair to well, were unable to turn home advantage into victory.

A big win over the Bulldogs in the second week of the finals paved over any cracks that may have surfaced in their week one loss to the Storm, but they were then played off the park by the Broncos with a Grand Final appearance on the line.

They certainly had the talent. They had the motivation. They had an almost fully fit and firing squad. They had a coach who knows how to win the big games.

In my opinion they ran into a Storm side who knew how to blunt their major weapons. The Roosters were beaten twice this season by the Sharks in a similar fashion.

The blueprint on how to beat the Roosters has been drawn up, but being good enough to execute is another question entirely.

The Storm were simply good enough on the night.

As for the Broncos loss? Honestly I couldn’t see anyone beating the inform Broncos, in front of a massive crowd, with a Grand Final spot on the line. Not even the minor premiers.

I’m not sold they “choked” but I’m not entirely sure this squad completely lived up to its promise either.

Sure, they captured three minor premierships, but nobody remembers who won the minor premiership.

The Sharks cop grief for never winning a Grand Final, yet they have two minor premierships (and an AMCO Cup). Neither mean as much as that elusive premiership.

With RTS and James Maloney leaving the club, as good as their potential replacements are, the Roosters will enter 2016 with a slightly weaker squad than the past three seasons.

Chokers? No. Under achievers? Possibly.

I don’t know too many sides who would consider a title and three straight minor premierships as a disappointment, but if there is a side, it’s this Roosters line up.

Cowboys to skip Dally M medal night

I can’t believe the reaction to news that the Cowboys won’t be attending the Dally M medal presentation.

To be honest I couldn’t believe they were ever expected to turn up (should they make the Grand Final as they have done) given the amount of travel involved.

Before anyone jumps in and points out that Brisbane have to travel too, it is FAR easier, and quicker, to travel from Brisbane to Sydney. Flights leave every fifteen minutes, and the trip takes 90 minutes.

For the Cowboys to fly to Sydney, the flight is almost three hours long, and flights are nowhere near as regular.

For Thurston and co the travel to Sydney, would disrupt their preparation, and quite frankly is a distraction they do not need.

Interstate teams contesting the AFL Grand Final do not travel to the Brownlow medal night and it never takes away from the occasion.

Thurston has a grand-final to ready himself for, and a groin injury to overcome, he does not need another six hours of flying time and time away from his side.

I applaud the Cowboys common sense decision.