2010 - 2019
From the ashes, the Roosters rose in the 2010s - what began with a surprise Grand Final appearance ended with three Premiership victories, two World Club Challenge titles, four Minor Premierships, pre-season competition and a host of memories.
With some of the game's finest players (both developed and arriving) and arguably the Club's greatest coach taking the helm, the decade proved to be the Roosters' finest since the memorable 1930s.
2010 - The Great Reversal
| Played: | 28 |
| Won: | 17 |
| Lost: | 11 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Runners Up |
Season 2010 was a thrilling rollercoaster for Roosters players, coaches, staff and supporters alike.
New mentor Brian Smith's experience proved to be pivotal in the side's rise, with a new cast featuring, veterans Phil Graham and Jason Ryles, tearaway backrowers Aidan Guerra, Daniel Conn and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, as well as the rise of young backs Kane Linnett and Joseph Leilua.
But the headline act for 2010 was troubled yet mercurial five-eighth Todd Carney, whose scintillating form propelled the Tricolours back into the finals, earning him the Dally M Medal in the process.
Fullback Anthony Minichiello enjoyed his finest season since 2005, featuring in every single match of the year and notching twelve tries in the process, while the likes of Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend, Mitchell Aubusson and Braith Anasta also had stellar years.
Finals Week One, 2020 Highlights: Roosters vs Tigers
The side began their campaign with two big wins over South Sydney (36-10) and the Wests Tigers (44-32), and while new combinations saw inconsistent results, they hit their stride in the back end of the season.
A string of five consecutive wins which included a 48-12 thumping of previous year's Grand Finalists Parramatta was met with a three-game losing streak, but they would go on another winning run as the finals loomed.
No doubt the best win of the bunch came in the first week of finals against the highly fancied Tigers in a 100-minute epic at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Down 15-2 at the break, the Roosters mounted an almighty comeback that saw Anasta pot a long-range field goal with seconds remaining to send the match into Golden Point - before Kenny-Dowall swooped on a Tigers pass to seal the result after running the best part of 70 metres.
Roosters v Titans | 2010 Preliminary Final
Buoyed from their incredible victory, the Roosters continued their giant-killing run; firstly against the second-placed Panthers, before booking their place in the Grand Final (their first since 2004) with a dominant 32-6 victory over the experienced Gold Coast Titans in Queensland.
Tasked with taking down Minor Premiers and competition heavyweights St George Illawarra, the Roosters got out to a shock 8-6 lead at halftime, courtesy of four-pointers to Anasta and Mitchell Aubusson.
But the incoming cloud cover in the second half was an ominous sign for the Red, White and Blue, as the Dragons ran in four unanswered tries to claim the Premiership - with their brave effort ending in a 8-32 defeat.
Debutants: Todd Carney, Daniel Conn, Phil Graham, Aidan Guerra, Jason Ryles, Brad Takairangi, Daniel Fepuleai, Sam Brunton, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jason Baitieri, Joey Leilua, Mose Masoe, Kane Linnett, Jonathan Ford
2011 - Back to the Pack
| Played: | 24 |
| Won: | 10 |
| Lost: | 14 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Eleventh |
Unable to rise to the lofty heights of the year prior, the men from Bondi unceremoniously finished season 2011 in 11th place, with a high injury toll and off-field issues cruelling their form.
Winning just two of their opening ten matches, the Tricolours failed to fire; long-term injuries and early retirements saw the side only secure back-to-back victories at the end of the year, stringing together five wins in their last six outings.
The highlight of the year was a 20-12 defeat of their Grand Final opponents the year prior in Wollongong nonetheless.
With a 12-10 halftime deficit, the Roosters rose to the occasion by keeping the Premiers scoreless in the second half, all the while being without the likes of Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, Todd Carney and Nate Myles in the side.
Carney and Myles headlined a departure list including fellow Grand Finalists Phil Graham and Kane Linnett were offset by the continual rise of youngsters in Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend and a debutant second rower, Boyd Cordner.
Debutants: Mark Riddell, Tinirau Arona, Justin Carney, Lama Tasi, Steve Naughton, Willie Mataka, Boyd Cordner, Rhys Pritchard, Francis Vaiotu, Anthony Mitchell, Mark Kheirallah
2012 - Inconsistencies Plague Chooks
| Played: | 24 |
| Won: | 8 |
| Lost: | 15 |
| Drawn: | 1 |
| Final Position: | Thirteenth |
A squad full of exciting youth but little experience saw the Roosters billed as an entertaining yet inconsistent side in 2012 - ultimately leading to another bottom eight placing.
Starting the season in promising form, Easts won four of their opening six matches, but backed that up with just two from their following ten matches; leading the competition in errors and penalties conceded.
Mid-season veteran winger Sam Perrett transferred to eventual Minor Premiers and Grand Finalists Canterbury-Bankstown, while Captain Braith Anasta departed the Club at season's end after 147 games for the Club from 2006.
Brian Smith completed his final season as Head Coach, with former defensive coach in 2010 and up-and-comer Trent Robinson assigned with the task of leading the Club in 2013.
SBW Full Press Conference
On the transfer end, inclusions for the upcoming season included mercurial five-eighth James Maloney, untapped centre Michael Jennings, front rower Sam Moa and veteran back rower Luke O'Donnell.
The prized signing, however, would come in the form of dual international second rower Sonny Bill Williams - whose presence and professionalism would have a profound effect on the squad in the coming seasons.
Debutants: Daniel Mortimer, Jack Bosden, Peni Tagive, Tautau Moga, Adam Henry, Nafe Seluini, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Daniel Tupou
2013 - Rookie Robinson Builds Bondi Wall
| Played: | 27 |
| Won: | 21 |
| Lost: | 6 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Premiers |
After finishing the previous two seasons in the bottom eight, the Roosters looked to former assistant coach Trent Robinson to take the reigns in 2013, along with a recruitment drive that included superstar Sonny Bill Williams, mercurial five-eighth James Maloney, representative centre Michael Jennings as well as journeyman front rower Sam Moa and veteran forward Luke O'Donnell.
Robinson's Roosters reinvented themselves as a defensive powerhouse of the competition - going on to become the first team in history to shut out six opponents through the season - with the 'Bondi Wall' moniker highlighting the side's resolve on their own try-line.
2013 Grand Final Highlights
After a steady start that included three wins in the first five rounds, the Red, White and Blue - led by new Captain Anthony Minichiello - grew throughout the season, holding a place in the top four from Round 6 onwards.
A dip in form during the State of Origin period - an expected result with multiple players on representative duty - turned into an eight-game winning streak heading into the final three weeks.
Despite back-to-back losses at the end of the season, the Roosters took home the Minor Premiership for the first time since 2004 with a comprehensive 24-12 win over arch-rivals South Sydney in the final round in front of a ground record 59,708 crowd at ANZ Stadium.
One of the grittiest, hard-fought victories which typified the season occurred in the first week of the playoffs against eventual Grand Final opponents Manly, with a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck try in the 9th minute providing the only points as the Roosters clawed their way to the Preliminary Final with a 4-nil victory.
A dominant 40-14 Preliminary Final win over Newcastle set up a rematch with the Sea Eagles in the Grand Final - the first between the two clubs since the 1972 decider - with the Roosters erasing the pain of that loss with a famous come-from-behind 26-18 win to claim the Club's 13th Premiership.
Debutants: Michael Jennings, James Maloney, Sam Moa, Sonny Bill Williams, Luke O'Donnell, Isaac Liu, Michael Oldfield, Dylan Napa, Samisoni Langi
2014 - Growing Pains
| Played: | 27 |
| Won: | 17 |
| Lost: | 10 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position | Third |
Trent Robinson's men continued their winning run to start 2014 by claiming the Club's third World Club Challenge title, and their stunning form would continue throughout the season.
With sixteen members of the squad in the previous year's World Cup, life defending the title began to a slow start, winning just two of their opening six matches.
But with more game-time, the squad - which featured very little change in the arrivals and departures column - continued to grow throughout, culminating in a second consecutive Minor Premiership.
The Tricolours were blind-sighted in the opening round of the finals, going down by a single point to a rejuvenated Penrith side, before reversing the result one week later in a thrilling 31-30 victory over North Queensland to go one game away from a second consecutive decider.
In a personal milestone, Captain Anthony Minichiello broke fellow Premiership-winning teammate Luke Ricketson's record of 301 games for the Club when he takes the field for the 302nd time in the preliminary final.
Ultimately it would be the dynamic fullback's final game for the Club, alongside Sonny Bill Williams announcing his return to rugby union as the Tricolours were pipped 32-22 by eventual Premiers, South Sydney.
Still, in what was another learning curve for Robinson and his young squad, there promised to be more success on the horizon.
Debutants: Kane Evans, Rémi Casty, Nene Macdonald, Willis Meehan, Brendan Elliot, Jackson Hastings
2015 - Consistency Without Success
| Played: | 27 |
| Won: | 19 |
| Lost: | 8 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Third |
With champion veteran Anthony Minichiello finally hanging up the boots, the fullback position was vacant - and youngster Roger Tuivasa-Sheck took the chance with both hands.
Tuivasa-Sheck had a season to remember in the custodian role, leading the competition for most runs, metres - nearly 2000 more than his nearest rival - at an average of 240 per match.
Off the back of their new fullback, the Roosters overcame a four-match losing streak from Rounds 5-8 to streak to an incredible twelve-match winning run ahead of the finals.
The high point of the year came in the final round of the regular season, thrashing defending Premiers Souths 30-nil at the Sydney Football Stadium, and booking the Tricolours their third-consecutive Minor Premiership, the first side to do so since 1971-73.
But injuries to key members in Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL) and halfback Mitchell Pearce (hamstring), the run of luck was running on empty, pipped by the Melbourne Storm in the first week of finals 18-20, before bouncing back with a big win over previous Grand Finalists Canterbury-Bankstown, 38-12.
Unfortunately, the season ended in bitter disappointment with a 12-31 defeat to the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in the Preliminary Final as the Roosters were unable to recover from an opening try to the home side via intercept in the opening minute.
Debutants: Blake Ferguson, Matt McIlwrick, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Willie Manu, Lagi Setu, Suaia Matagi
2016 - The Short, Fast Fall
| Played: | 24 |
| Won: | 6 |
| Lost: | 19 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Fifteenth |
With a departure list including Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney and Michael Jennings as well as long-term injuries to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner, the Roosters' plummet was fast and hard in 2016.
Unable to gain consistency throughout the season, the Tricolours were only able to muster up six victories, with an opening-round 42-10 loss to South Sydney setting the tone for the year, losing their next four matches.
RoostersTV-JosephManu
In a promising sign of the future, the National Youth Competition side (Under 20s) took out the Premiership in emphatic fashion, mounting an incredible comeback from a 6-28 halftime deficit to storm home and claim the Cup, 30-28 against the highly-favoured Penrith Panthers.
Coupled with the youngsters on debut including Latrell Mitchell, Connor Watson, Ryan Matterson, Joseph Manu and Nat Butcher, the Tricolours' faithful had plenty of optimism for the future.
Debutants: Joe Burgess, Dale Copley, Vincent Leuluai, Latrell Mitchell, Jayden Nikorima, Mitchell Frei, Eloni Vunakece, Abraham Papalii, Connor Watson, Ryan Matterson, Joseph Manu, Chris Smith, Grant Garvey, Nat Butcher
2017 - Youth on the Rise
| Played: | 26 |
| Won: | 18 |
| Lost: | 8 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Third |
The development of youth through 2016 proved to be fruitful beyond comprehension in 2017, as the Red, White and Blue returned to the fore as Premiership contenders.
Revered clubman Mitch Aubusson guided the Club to their newest trophy, the pre-season Auckland Nines title, with youngster Connor Watson earning Most Valuable Player Honours.
2017 Auckland Nines Final Highlights
Incoming five-eighth Luke Keary formed a strong combination with Mitchell Pearce, rejuvenating his career after a stale period of form at South Sydney, while Cordner and Waerea-Hargreaves had strong seasons.
With just eight losses in total and suffering consecutive losses only once, the Roosters rose to dominate the competition once again - winning their first four matches before dropping just three times between Rounds 7 and 21.
A 25-24 thrilling victory over eventual Premiers Melbourne in Adelaide was a memorable highlight, along with a 16-14 defeat of defending champions Cronulla at their own home ground.
After finishing second after the regular season, the Tricolours earned a well-deserved rest after a tense 24-22 victory over the Brisbane Broncos - but the season that promised so much was lost in a shock 16-29 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in the Preliminary Final.
The Club was boosted by major recruitment coups in NSW fullback James Tedesco and experience-multiple Premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk, who would have major implications for the Roosters future success.
Debutants: Michael Gordon, Luke Keary, Zane Tetevano, Paul Carter, Lindsay Collins, Mitchell Cornish, Victor Radley
2018 - Climbing the Summit Once Again
| Played: | 27 |
| Won: | 19 |
| Lost: | 8 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Premiers |
After reaching the preliminary final for three of the last four seasons, the Sydney Roosters called upon premiership-winning veteran halfback Cooper Cronk as well as livewire fullback James Tedesco as Trent Robinson's men looked to go one better after bitter disappointment.
Despite a scrappy start to the season with six wins from the opening eleven matches, the Tricolours combinations continued to grow throughout the year, with a late-season charge culminating in the Minor Premiership in the final round with a 44-10 victory over Parramatta.
2018 Grand Final Match Highlights
A masterclass from Cronk in the first week of the finals against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks bore a 21-12 triumph, before the Red, White and Blue farewelled the Sydney Football Stadium with a grinding 14-6 win over arch-rivals South Sydney in front of a record crowd to qualify for their first Grand Final since 2013.
Coming up against the reigning Premiers in the Melbourne Storm in the decider, the Roosters pulled off what was described by co-captain Jake Friend as 'close to the perfect performance'.
Easts dominated the first half to cruise to an 18-nil lead at half-time, with Clive Churchill Medallist Luke Keary kicking a late field goal to seal the Club's 14th Premiership, while Cooper Cronk made one of the most courageous appearances in a decider, playing the entirety of the match with a broken scapula.
Debutants: Cooper Cronk, James Tedesco, Reece Robinson, Kurt Baptiste, Matt Ikuvalu, Sitili Tupouniua, Sean O'Sullivan, Paul Momirovski, Poasa Fa'amausili
2018 NRLW - New Beginnings
The Sydney Roosters' NRLW journey began against the New Zealand Warriors at ANZ Stadium in Sydney's west - and while the side was downed 4-10 in a tense affair, history was created as Isabelle Kelly touched down for the Club's inaugural try.
| Played: | 4 |
| Won: | 1 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Runners Up |
Kelly bagged her second four-pointer in Red, White and Blue, but the dynamic centre's efforts weren't enough against a powerhouse Brisbane Broncos outfit in the side's very-first home match, pipped 4-14.
But the Tricolours turned their season around in emphatic fashion in the third and final round of the four-team competition, demolition St George Illawarra 26-nil in front of a packed Allianz Stadium, with winger Taleena Simon bagging four tries.
That effort was enough to propel the side into the inaugural Grand Final, much like their male counterparts had done 110 years prior, however, their bravery was unable to yield a result as the Broncos took home the title, 34-12.
Debutants: Lavina O'Mealey (c), Karina Brown, Chloe Caldwell, Vanessa Foliaki, Tazmin Gray, Kylie Hilder, Isabelle Kelly, Victoria Latu, Nita Maynard, Taleena Simon, Shontelle Stowers, Maddie Studdon, Simaima Taufa, Zahara Temara, Sarah Togatuki, Botille Vette-Welsh, Elianna Walton, Sharon McGrady, Ruan Sims, Kandy Kennedy, Brydie Parker,
2019 - History Makers and Back-To-Back Champs
| Played: | 27 |
| Won: | 20 |
| Lost: | 7 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Premiers |
The additions of tearaway second rower Angus Crichton and veteran winger Brett Morris were welcomed as the Roosters began the year in strong form, taking out their second consecutive World Club Challenge and winning eight of the opening nine rounds.
Injuries to captains Jake Friend and Boyd Cordner contributed to a mid-season slump, but the side recovered to record a seven-match winning streak heading into the final round.
A loss to arch-rivals South Sydney in Round 25 mattered little, especially with several players rested as a dominant 30-6 win the following week against the Rabbitohs saw the side earn a well-deserved week off.
One of the most tightly fought Preliminary Finals at the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground followed as the Tricolours defeated the Melbourne Storm in the 2018 Grand Final rematch, as they progressed to their second consecutive decider, becoming the first Easts side to do so since 2003-2004.
The Roosters then faced the Canberra Raiders in the decider, with the Red, White and Blue triumphing 14-8 in a dramatic contest that saw Dally M Medallist James Tedesco score the match-winning try to clinch the Club’s 15th Premiership, becoming the first side to go back-to-back in a united competition in over a quarter of a century.
Debutants: Angus Crichton, Brett Morris, Lachlan Lam, Josh Curran, Sam Verrills, Ryan Hall, Brock Lamb, Drew Hutchison, Billy Smith
2019 NRLW - Grand Final Hangover
Easts were unable to back up their Grand Final appearance in their inaugural season in 2019, failing to win a single match, with two close losses proving to be the difference.
With their first two fixtures down in Melbourne at AAMI Park due to the NRL finals scheduling, the Tricolours were pipped by the Warriors 12-16, before a brave effort against the reigning Premiers resulted in a 20-nil defeat.
| Played: | 3 |
| Won: | 0 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| Drawn: | 0 |
| Final Position: | Fourth (Wooden Spoon) |
The final round against the Dragons at Leichhardt Oval proved to be a classic, with departing Captain Ruan Sims scoring a four-pointer in her final career appearance to level the scores, but a late try to their opponents proved to be the match-winner.
Still, there was plenty of optimism for the future with new faces such as Corban McGregor and Hannah Southwell playing key roles in the Club's future success.
Debutants: Kirra Dibb, Tallisha Harden, Melanie Howard, Caitlan Johnston, Corban Baxter (née McGregor), Aliti Namoce, Hannah Southwell, Kiana Takairangi, Rebecca Young, Simone Smith, Jasmin Allende, Quincy Dodd, Bobbi Law, Shanice Parker
Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
