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In case you didn't see this Fox Sports article. Interesting info on Ethan Roberts.
ROOSTERS
Top 30 spots to fill: 3
Available development contracts: 3
DANE AUKAFOLAU (second row)
A well-deserved opportunity for the towering second-rower, who punched out 80 minutes in every game except one this year for NSW Cup side Mounties. Has a good offload and footwork from his history in the centres. The 25-year-old has played 91 NSW Cup games over the last six seasons and is certain to impress Trent Robinson.
JOSH BEVAN (second row)
The Bilambil Jets junior has been in the Roosters’ system since 2017 after being scouted at a state carnival in Cairns. Bevan trained with the NRL squad in the lead-up to his 2021 SG Ball season and is enjoying another opportunity in the hopes of cementing a spot in one of the club’s two NSW Cup sides.
JAMES COYNE (fullback/centre)
Joins the Roosters from the Sharks system and before that was with the Dragons, where he was named SG Ball Player of the Year in 2018. Coyne — the son of Dragons great Mark — spent majority of the year with Glebe in Ron Massey Cup but did get two games with the Newtown Jets.
KURT DE LUIS (prop)
An absolute workhorse and one of the best defenders in NSW Cup this year, Kurt De Luis is a new face at the Roosters after spending the last couple of seasons with Manly. The 26-year-old often got through 80 minutes at prop in Cup and make upwards of 30 tackles with rarely a miss. The Perth-born prop plays with his heart on his sleeve and can always be heard encouraging his teammates from the grandstand.
WILLIAM FAKATOUMAFI (fullback/centre)
The 21-year-old New Zealand product has been plucked from the Panthers’ system after a solid season in Jersey Flegg and a NSW Cup debut in the centres. Prior to joining the Panthers he was at Warriors.
KYRON FEKITOA (centre)
A member of the Roosters’ SG Ball team that made this year’s grand final that moved into the Jersey Flegg side later in the season.
GUY HAMILTON (halfback)
The 27-year-old joins the Roosters after a breakout season with Titans feeder side, Burleigh Bears where he scored six tries and set up 28 in 22 games to be named Queensland Cup’s Halfback of the Year. The Brisbane product, who played under 20s with the Bulldogs, has 113 games worth of reserve grade experience.
TUI KATOA (wing)
After overcoming a brain aneurysm, staph infection and heart murmur in 2021, former Bulldog Tui Katoa got back on the field this year with Mounties in NSW Cup. The 23-year-old played 15 games but after his Top 30 deal with the Bulldogs expired is chasing an opportunity with the Roosters. Katoa is the brother of Sharks winger Sione and is a former NSW under 20s representative.
ETHAN KING (fullback/wing)
At 20-years old Ethan King is still eligible for Jersey Flegg but played 11 NSW Cup games this year — six at fullback and five on the wing. He’s still a couple of years off playing first grade but with the Roosters entering two teams into NSW Cup next season he will cement a spot from Round 1 after gaining extra experience over the summer.
TYLER MORIARTY (hooker)
The young hooker had a season to remember. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and even got a taste of NSW Cup too. Moriarty — a Central Coast product — was also picked for NSW in the under 19s Origin.
JUNIOR PAUGA (centre)
A new face after spending the last couple of years at the Tigers. Pauga, 26, has had to overcome a horror run of injuries in his career including a broken femur and ACL and MCL ruptures. He played under 20s with the Warriors before joining Wynnum Manly in Queensland Cup and then signing with the Tigers mid-2021. Got an NRL debut not long after and added two more games to his tally. Will provide the Roosters some much-needed outside back depth.
ETHAN ROBERTS (second row)
He might still be 17-years old but Ethan Roberts is already in demand. The Rabbitohs chased him and even tried to woo him with a guaranteed Top 30 spot, but he knocked them back to stay loyal to the Roosters. The Paddington product was the Roosters’ Harold Matthews Player of the Year and selected in an extended Junior Blues squad last month.
JORDAN SWANN (centre)
This will be Jordan Swann’s second taste of an NRL pre-season having trained with the top squad last summer too. He spent most of the year in Jersey Flegg but did get a NSW Cup debut in Round 8. Swann excelled in both rugby league and rugby union as a teenager and first joined the Roosters’ system as a 15-year-old in their Harold Matthews team.
ROOSTERS
Top 30 spots to fill: 3
Available development contracts: 3
DANE AUKAFOLAU (second row)
A well-deserved opportunity for the towering second-rower, who punched out 80 minutes in every game except one this year for NSW Cup side Mounties. Has a good offload and footwork from his history in the centres. The 25-year-old has played 91 NSW Cup games over the last six seasons and is certain to impress Trent Robinson.
JOSH BEVAN (second row)
The Bilambil Jets junior has been in the Roosters’ system since 2017 after being scouted at a state carnival in Cairns. Bevan trained with the NRL squad in the lead-up to his 2021 SG Ball season and is enjoying another opportunity in the hopes of cementing a spot in one of the club’s two NSW Cup sides.
JAMES COYNE (fullback/centre)
Joins the Roosters from the Sharks system and before that was with the Dragons, where he was named SG Ball Player of the Year in 2018. Coyne — the son of Dragons great Mark — spent majority of the year with Glebe in Ron Massey Cup but did get two games with the Newtown Jets.
KURT DE LUIS (prop)
An absolute workhorse and one of the best defenders in NSW Cup this year, Kurt De Luis is a new face at the Roosters after spending the last couple of seasons with Manly. The 26-year-old often got through 80 minutes at prop in Cup and make upwards of 30 tackles with rarely a miss. The Perth-born prop plays with his heart on his sleeve and can always be heard encouraging his teammates from the grandstand.
WILLIAM FAKATOUMAFI (fullback/centre)
The 21-year-old New Zealand product has been plucked from the Panthers’ system after a solid season in Jersey Flegg and a NSW Cup debut in the centres. Prior to joining the Panthers he was at Warriors.
KYRON FEKITOA (centre)
A member of the Roosters’ SG Ball team that made this year’s grand final that moved into the Jersey Flegg side later in the season.
GUY HAMILTON (halfback)
The 27-year-old joins the Roosters after a breakout season with Titans feeder side, Burleigh Bears where he scored six tries and set up 28 in 22 games to be named Queensland Cup’s Halfback of the Year. The Brisbane product, who played under 20s with the Bulldogs, has 113 games worth of reserve grade experience.
TUI KATOA (wing)
After overcoming a brain aneurysm, staph infection and heart murmur in 2021, former Bulldog Tui Katoa got back on the field this year with Mounties in NSW Cup. The 23-year-old played 15 games but after his Top 30 deal with the Bulldogs expired is chasing an opportunity with the Roosters. Katoa is the brother of Sharks winger Sione and is a former NSW under 20s representative.
ETHAN KING (fullback/wing)
At 20-years old Ethan King is still eligible for Jersey Flegg but played 11 NSW Cup games this year — six at fullback and five on the wing. He’s still a couple of years off playing first grade but with the Roosters entering two teams into NSW Cup next season he will cement a spot from Round 1 after gaining extra experience over the summer.
TYLER MORIARTY (hooker)
The young hooker had a season to remember. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and even got a taste of NSW Cup too. Moriarty — a Central Coast product — was also picked for NSW in the under 19s Origin.
JUNIOR PAUGA (centre)
A new face after spending the last couple of years at the Tigers. Pauga, 26, has had to overcome a horror run of injuries in his career including a broken femur and ACL and MCL ruptures. He played under 20s with the Warriors before joining Wynnum Manly in Queensland Cup and then signing with the Tigers mid-2021. Got an NRL debut not long after and added two more games to his tally. Will provide the Roosters some much-needed outside back depth.
ETHAN ROBERTS (second row)
He might still be 17-years old but Ethan Roberts is already in demand. The Rabbitohs chased him and even tried to woo him with a guaranteed Top 30 spot, but he knocked them back to stay loyal to the Roosters. The Paddington product was the Roosters’ Harold Matthews Player of the Year and selected in an extended Junior Blues squad last month.
JORDAN SWANN (centre)
This will be Jordan Swann’s second taste of an NRL pre-season having trained with the top squad last summer too. He spent most of the year in Jersey Flegg but did get a NSW Cup debut in Round 8. Swann excelled in both rugby league and rugby union as a teenager and first joined the Roosters’ system as a 15-year-old in their Harold Matthews team.
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