Roosters team of the 21st century

[Steakface]

For all the uncalled for sooking and whining that goes on in here, we are pretty damn lucky over the past 20 years. Much much luckier than most and we're in a secure position moving forward. Be thankful. I'd say only the Broncos or the Storm could possibly rival what we can put together.

21st century team:

1. Tedesco
2. Minichello
3. Jennings
4. Mitchell
5. Tuivasa Sheck
6. Fittler (c)
7. Cronk
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. Morley
11. SBW
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Ricketson

14. Aubusson
15. Fletcher
16. Moa
17. Cordner

Coach: Robbo
Ballboys: Jordan Tansey & Nick Kouparitsis

Unlucky to miss out were Cayless, Mullins, Maloney, Pearce, Keary, Wing. Just couldn't wedge them in.

Now tell me, who the fk could beat that team? They'd even shellack QLD's peak Origin outfit imo.

[Rooster1908]

Shows how good Teddy is to push the count to the wing

[milanja]

there would be some good matches considering Cronk probably has to be named for the storm.

plenty of players I have probably forgotten about

Storm

slater
folau
inglis
king
ado carr

hill
cronk

dallas Johnson
kearny
nikau
lazarus
smith
howe

munster
blair
bromwich
asofa Solomon

bellamy


broncos

lockyer
sailor
hodges
renouf
lote

walters
langer

Fifita
tallis
thorn
lazurus
Priddis
Webcke

petero
parker
carroll
haas

bennett

[Tommy Smith]

A few of those Broncos wouldn't be classed as 21st century...

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Joey Manu
5. Anthony Minichiello
6. Brad Fittler (c)
7. Luke Keary
8. Jared Waerea Hargreaves
9. Jake Friend
10. Adrian Morley
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Sio Siua Taukeiaho
15. Sam Moa
16. Craig Fitzgibbon
17. Craig Wing

I chose Keary over Cronk because he'll be remembered first and foremost as a Rooster, where as Cronk will be primarily remembered for his Storm days. Also I couldn't leave Keary out - 3 outstanding seasons, 2 Premierships and a CCM. He's a Roosters legend already in my eyes.

Defensively that's as scary and dominant as any team you'll ever assemble. And in attack they have some of the most dangerous attacking players of the NRL era - Freddy, SBW, Teddy, Keary, Latrell, Wing, even the Joey/Mini combo would be lethal.

You know we've had it pretty good this century when you could assemble a second backline of:

1. Tuivasa Sheck
2. Ferguson
3. Jennings
4. Hodges
5. Kenny Dowall
6. Maloney
7. Cronk

Even a 3rd backline...

1. Luke Phillips
2. Brett Mullins
3. Ryan Cross
4. Matt Sing
5. Brett Morris
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce

We've certainly been blessed with an incredible amount of talent.

I think we'd certainly start favourites against any other NRL side that you could assemble from the 21st century. The Storm would go very close though, followed by the Broncos as you said.

I would pay to see:

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Joey Manu
5. Anthony Minichiello
6. Brad Fittler (c)
7. Luke Keary
8. Jared Waerea Hargreaves
9. Jake Friend
10. Adrian Morley
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Sio Siua Taukeiaho
15. Sam Moa
16. Craig Fitzgibbon
17. Craig Wing

vs

1. Billy Slater
2. Israel Folau
3. Greg Inglis
4. Matt King
5. Josh Addo Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Glenn Lazarus
9. Cameron Smith
10. Robbie Kearns
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Stephen Kearney
13. Dallas Johnson

14. Jesse Bromwich
15. Nelson Asofa Solomona
16. Tawera Nikau
17. Scott Hill

Wow, what a match up!

If I'm searching for a point of difference to determine the winner, I'm probably looking to the genius of Sonny Bill Williams and the impact of Craig Wing off the bench.

[Nicola Tesla]

So the choices are regardless of how many seasons or where they were at in their careers (eg Morris /Mullins past prime but still great...I'm adding players like this in based on their prime)

Some players can player other positions ..but I just threw them into the spot they were or are known for now unless I wanted them in my team.

There are 33 players down below...some are a little stretch to make the last 17 but wanted to add them to the list of players who had/have high qty careers.(Ryles/SKD/Aubo/Sing/Liu/Cross) and were valuable to our success in the past even if for only one season like Luke Odonnell who would slot into the team below without any issue.

Highlighted my team...

Hardest for me was what to do with Mini...I think I prefer the other wingers and prefer JTs game at FB...but super hard for me...
Centres ...Some good ones there...Latrell and Hodges were tough to leave out....the others were notable and deserved a mention for being part of a great era. (Was Sing just made our the 21st century) Im just a massive Manu fan so couldn't leave him out although outsiders would prefer others.

FB - JT/Mini/Phillips/Mullins/RTS
Wing - Toups/Morris/Fergo
Centre - Latrell/Manu/Hodges/Jennings/Sing/SKD/Cross/Hegarty
5/8... Freddie/Keary/Maloney
Half - Cronk/Pearce
Lock - Ricko/Liu/Odonnell
2nd Row - SBW/Cordner/Fitzy/Fletcher/Aubo/Crocker
Hooker - Jake/Wing/Bonetti
Prop - Morley/JWH/Cayless/Moa/SST/Ryles/

Bench - From Above list I keep...

Fletcher
SST
Cayless
Wing

[The Brain]

I would have Taki in for fletch any day ...what a backline though and to think if sheck hadnt of left couldve been reality ...

[Steakface]

I would have Taki in for fletch any day ...what a backline though and to think if sheck hadnt of left couldve been reality ...

Could never happen of course, but can you imagine an edge of SBW > Latrell > Tuivasa Sheck in attack?

I'm pretty sure opposition defensive lines would drop their heads in dismay even before the kick off!

[Tommy Smith]

Could never happen of course, but can you imagine an edge of SBW > Latrell > Tuivasa Sheck in attack?

I'm pretty sure opposition defensive lines would drop their heads in dismay even before the kick off!

An attacking left edge of Freddy-SBW-Latrell-RTS with Teddy sweeping around the back from fullback.

They'd go alright.

[rozza]

Here's my team

Tedesco Tupou SKD Manu Minichiello Fittler Cronk JWH Friend Morley Cordner Fitzgibbon Ricketson

Bench:Keary SST Aubusson SBW

[Steakface]

Here's my team

Tedesco Tupou SKD Manu Minichiello Fittler Cronk JWH Friend Morley Cordner Fitzgibbon Ricketson

Bench:Keary SST Aubusson SBW

Not bad.

But just massively curious why you'd put SKD in front of Latrell, Jennings or Hodges?

And Tupou over RTS or Mullins on a wing?

[Maxy Walker]

1. Anasta
2. J Carney
3. S Sa
4. Vince Mellars
5. Perrett
6. Josh Lewis
7. Finch

There’s my backline. I’ll come back to the rest later.

[Henry P is a cheat]

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Justin Hodges
5. Anthony Minichello
6. Brad Fittler
7. James Maloney
8. JWH
9. Jake Friend
10. Adrian Morley
11. Boyd Cordner
12. SBW
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Mitchell Aubusson
15. Craig Fitzgibbon
16. Sam Moa
17. Sio Siua Taukeiaho

[Tommy Smith]

Not bad.

But just massively curious why you'd put SKD in front of Latrell, Jennings or Hodges?

And Tupou over RTS or Mullins on a wing?

I'd have Toops over Mullo easily.

Toops was the best winger in the game last year. Just the complete winger atm. And he was awesome in 2018 too.

The dude is a 3x Premiership player for the club who has only gotten better and better after a dip in form in 2016/17.

He kinda sneaks under the radar, but again, I thought his 2019 season was equal to Fergo's 2018 season as the best I've seen from a Roosters winger.

[rozza]

Not bad.

But just massively curious why you'd put SKD in front of Latrell, Jennings or Hodges?

And Tupou over RTS or Mullins on a wing?

I don't remember too much of Mullins in 02 cause that was when i started watching league RTS was great but i see him more as a fullback than a winger so that's why Tupou is ahead.

On the centre question i put SKD just ahead of Latrell, Hodges and Jennings due to all the service he has given to the club.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

1st Grade

1. Tedesco
2. Mini
3. Latrell
4. Manu
5. Tuivasa Sheck
6. Freddy (c)
7. Cronk
8. JWH
9. Friend
10. Morley
11. Cordner
12. Fitzgibbon
13. SBW

14. Wing
15. Aubusson
16. Ricketson
17. SST

Coach: Robbo

Reserve Grade

18. Brett Mullins
19. Toops
20. Jennings
21. Ryan Cross
22. Fergo
23. Luke Keary
24. Maloney
25. Jason Cayless
26. Mick Crocker
27. Mark O'Meley
28. Fletcher
29. Lui
30. Luke O'Donnell
31. Pearce
32. Chris Flannery
33. Sam Moa
34. Victor Radley