Worst Roosters defections of all time?

[FREEMAN89]

Not quiet a defection but the way in which we lost SKD..

one of our more rocks and diamonds centres but when he was on, he was on.

fond memories of SKD splitting defensive lines, carrying numerous players and reaching ridiculous lengths to get the ball over the line.

as well as his 2010 V tigers length of field try and his 2013 GF heroics.

deserved more than the send off he ended up with.

[mightyrooster]

The great mass defection to Manly engineered by Bob Fulton. Kerry Boustead, Noel Cleal, Ian Barclay and one or two others.

Agree. I was only a teen and it was devastating. Boustead was my favourite at the time but no more. RTS was also very very disappointing.

[SamKerrSimp]

Not quiet a defection but the way in which we lost SKD..

one of our more rocks and diamonds centres but when he was on, he was on.

fond memories of SKD splitting defensive lines, carrying numerous players and reaching ridiculous lengths to get the ball over the line.

as well as his 2010 V tigers length of field try and his 2013 GF heroics.

deserved more than the send off he ended up with.

Don’t get caught with drugs then

[redwhiteblue]

Not quiet a defection but the way in which we lost SKD..

one of our more rocks and diamonds centres but when he was on, he was on.

fond memories of SKD splitting defensive lines, carrying numerous players and reaching ridiculous lengths to get the ball over the line.

as well as his 2010 V tigers length of field try and his 2013 GF heroics.

deserved more than the send off he ended up with.

Thanks for that lovely tribute to SKD. I'm grateful he's made it out the other side of everything he went through so publicly.

Every year I mention how he was found in his car just a few minutes down the road from me and it still gives me the chills.

All the more reason to be kind to one another.

[The Brain]

For me it was Fulton took all our chooks back in the day ....Ron Jone's fault but still

[Kramer]

Gurr, McCabe, Schubert, Gibbs.

But we got one up on them when we got Vautin.

Hahaha!

[Swamptrout]

Latrell, crocker, morley and SST.

Biggest devastation is to come with JWH retiring.

[gragra]

For me its always hurts the most when juniors , home grown players have left...johnny Mayes, Kevin Junee johnny peard. Players bought as good players and then only stay a few years doesn't hurt as much. However long term contracted players who really show the love for the club such as toops, teddy, joey manu i would really feel 'hurt' to see them in another jumper....

[milanja]

Latrell for me, could have been anything if he was willing to stay at Center for a few years,(may have played 5/8 while keary was injured).

He was already a huge name, fans and kids loved him, and marketable in every way. Naturally would of progressed to fullback or 5/8 in time.

I suppose nobody really knows what happened behind closed doors, and as always, no one player is bigger than the club.

[Headless Chook]

Bozo taking our players in the 80's hurt bad. He should have won two premierships as our coach but was outfoxed by Ted Glossop and then Jack Gibson. Then he goes back to Manly and tears the heart out of our team. This was the start of the transit lounge era

More recently Craig Wing was a massive loss and the manner in which he left was a sign of things to come. Our next door neighbours showed their colours with the way this signing was trumpeted and was a sign of things to come

I was disappointed when RTS left but understood the reasoning and hold no grudge against him because of this

Easily the most disappointing was Latrell. We discovered him, looked after him, managed him through his homesickness, nurtured him and then he he sacks his manager and signs on with a new management team with an axe to grind against the Roosters and next minute he's checking his value on the open market. We increase our offer, he goes to Souffs and they match it, he comes back wants more and we call his bluff. Souffs don't actually have that amount available in their cap so he comes back to us saying 'hey is that offer still available' and Nick sends him on his way. He then dumps on the club in every way he can.

I love the guy for what he did in our colours but was shattered by the way he left us. I don't blame him completely because I feel his management team are the ones to blame in this saga

[MCMLXVI]

Kerry Boustead

I still haven't accepted that Boustead left. Worst departure in my opinion.

[Headless Chook]

I still haven't accepted that Boustead left. Worst departure in my opinion.

He was my fave in the early 80's too. When I played my brother in the backyasrd, I was always Bowie

[IRoosterManI]

Wing, he was paraded around like a clown while still playing for us... was very disappointed in him for allowing that to happen.

Latrell too, the whole thing was a circus but that Instagram post about him tossing out the garbage and having his roosters gear on top of the pile was such a disappointment...

[Red.]

Gary Freeman - Big Jack Gibson was none too happy when Freeman signed with Penrith

I'm with you. I was bitterly disappointed when Penrith pinched him.

[Chook2]

Rts was a shame had a big future at chooks and top fullback in the game at the time
latrell - what could have been I still think he’s a gun centre in Origen and aus but doesn’t have the legs and lazy at fullback but wants the money

2 players who were not defectors but not resigned
Maloney - haunted for some time not resigning him and no kicker
sst - I wish we resigned him with JWH to retire soon, his footwork in contact was immense, one of the best front rowers for the last 5 years and still only 30!