5. Prediction
5th
For those waiting for the Roosters to suffer a free fall, I'm afraid you'll be very disappointed this season. Although I see four better sides than them across the regular season, they'll still be there come the business end of the season.
In Tedesco and Keary the Roosters have two of the game's elite, while I'd argue Angus Crichton is a top two second rower with the gap to Kikau closing. Boyd Cordner's long-term future is in doubt but in Sitili Tupouniua the tri-colours have a ready make replacement.
Joseph Manu has a monster season ahead with teams able to talk to him as of November 1st. On his day he's the game's most destructive centre but has far too many quiet games for a player of his stature.
The Roosters pack looks well suited to the new rules with SST and Liu big but mobile. JWH seemed to be more than fine last season. Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher help to form a fearsome bench. They'll also have Victor Radley back in the early rounds, which will be HUGE.
As mentioned above, a lot will come down to who partners Luke Keary and how they perform. We saw the pressure young Flanagan found himself under through very little fault of his own.
With Keary moving to seven though, this now officially becomes his team. With the likes of the Morris twins, Tupou, Tedesco and Manu in his artillery I think he'll be more than fine.
