Worst Roosters defections of all time?

[redwhiteblue]

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

I had his Scanlens bubblegum card on one of my schoolbooks and I didn't even follow Easts back then. Wish I had kept that card. I had Paul McCabe and Royce too..

[redwhiteblue]

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...

Worst part of that was the Steggles logo clearly showing in his 'pile for charity'..insulting considering how many millions they've donated to the Charity Nest.

[Johnny Brass]

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

Fulton's treachery ripped the guts out of our club for a decade, I still hate Manly to this day for it.

[top_joe]

The reaction to the Suaalii news and some of the over the top responses on here got me thinking. What is the worst player defection we’ve had in your time following the club?

In my 30 years or so of following the Roosters the only time I was ever shocked and angered by a defection was when out of the blue RTS signed with the Warriors midway through 2015. He was having an amazing season and I thought we had our new fullback for the next decade. Was completely blindsided by that news. Fair to say though we got the last laugh.

As for others I was disappointed but not surprised by Latrell leaving and this Suaalii one I’ve thought would happen eventually since day one.

Good faaarkin thread, everyone will have their own thoughts - and all will be right/wrong.

[ccfc bondi]

I'm actually still disappointed we lost Ryan Cross to union. I did hear from Gus recently that it was always a dream of his to play for the wallabies.

So apparently the switch was on the cards all along. Crestfallen at the time though.

...and Darren Junee.

[ccfc bondi]

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

Yes, the fact that Cleal is constantly referred to as a 'Manly legend' rankles.

[Freddy]

1.Gary Freeman
2. Craig Wing
3. James Maloney
4. Latrell

[Freddy]

I'm actually still disappointed we lost Ryan Cross to union. I did hear from Gus recently that it was always a dream of his to play for the wallabies.

So apparently the switch was on the cards all along. Crestfallen at the time though.

I went to school with Ryan and lived close by..yes he was a great junior RU player as he was in RL but from what he told me was that when Ricky was losing it and putting players all over the place and RU came calling he knew it was time to go..
He is still a huge Easts fan and see him at majority of games.

[mattyh]

1.rts
2.maloney
3.latrell

[ARD]

Latrell and RTS most recent players at top of their game who could single handed win matches. But geez it was grand having them while it lasted - hopefully Joey the same

[horrie hastings]

Gurr, McCabe, Schubert, Gibbs.

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

McCabe actually went to Manly in 1982, a year before Fulton took most of the players over .
Marty Gurr actually left Easts to play for Souths before he went to Manly.

When Fulton took the heart out of Easts at the end of the 1982 season, it was Noel Cleal, Kerry Boustead, Ian Schubert and Dave Brown who went, Mc Cabe went the year earlier, Barkley went in 1984, Ron Gibbs went in 1986.
John Harvey also left at the end of 1982 and had a year off before going back to Manly in 1984.

Also at the end of the 1982 season we lost Ron Giteau and Terry Fahey to Canberra.

[The Marshall]

The reaction to the Suaalii news and some of the over the top responses on here got me thinking. What is the worst player defection we’ve had in your time following the club?

In my 30 years or so of following the Roosters the only time I was ever shocked and angered by a defection was when out of the blue RTS signed with the Warriors midway through 2015. He was having an amazing season and I thought we had our new fullback for the next decade. Was completely blindsided by that news. Fair to say though we got the last laugh.

As for others I was disappointed but not surprised by Latrell leaving and this Suaalii one I’ve thought would happen eventually since day one.

Manly picking our eyes out when we were vulnerable - Kerry Boustead, Noel Cleal and Ian Mackay then Rambo Gibbs. Paul Mares to Parra, Terry Matterson and Trevor Gillmeister to the Broncos in 1988,Gary Freeman not resigning after an epic effort in 1992, Mick Crocker to the storm and more recently Latrell but there have been many more that I have missed I am sure.

[The Marshall]

Oh yes how could I forget RTS!! That one hurt a lot.

[The Marshall]

Worst part of that was the Steggles logo clearly showing in his 'pile for charity'..insulting considering how many millions they've donated to the Charity Nest.

I bet Trell didn’t throw out his premiership rings

[The Marshall]

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.

Agree