"Sydney Roosters, Most Pampered Team in the NRL"

[bondi.boy]

"Sydney Roosters are the most pampered team in the NRL.
You walk into their new Centre of Excellence and the entrance could be mistaken for a six star hotel or a Qantas first class lounge.

A stunning reception desk crafted from imported marble, fresh flowers, a state of the art gym, lecture theatre, kitchen, dining area, games room, a sauna and recovery pools.

Six weeks ago the club even purchased a luxury bus for the players to travel to games in comfort.

Their billionaire chairman Nick Politis ensures they never go without anything.

They look too comfortable and too indulged."

***
So says Buzz in his column today.


I have no words.
Please help me out.

[Horry]

Buzz is on a hotline to Politis. I know this through a friend who works with Buzz. Anytime Nick want's a message sent he does it through Buzz. When he took Buzz over for the WCC it was a very smart move and Buzz is in his pocket. This is Nick's way of giving it the team hoping they respond.

[bondi.boy]

Buzz is on a hotline to Politis. I know this through a friend who works with Buzz. Anytime Nick want's a message sent he does it through Buzz. When he took Buzz over for the WCC it was a very smart move and Buzz is in his pocket. This is Nick's way of giving it the team hoping they respond.

Fresh flowers?
A new bus?

Sounds more like petty jealousy to me.

[Horry]

The Sydney Roosters are the most pampered team in the NRL.

You walk into their new Centre of Excellence and the entrance could be mistaken for a six-star hotel or a Qantas first class lounge.

A stunning reception desk crafted from imported marble, fresh flowers, a state-of-the-art gym, lecture theatre, kitchen, dining area, games room, a sauna and recovery pools.

They’ve been given exclusive NRL access to the $1 billion Allianz Stadium, the best venue in the state.

Six weeks ago the club even purchased a luxury bus for the players to travel to games in comfort.

Their billionaire chairman Nick Politis ensures they never go without anything.

The problem is they are now playing like a team that lacks desire and desperation, flogged 68-10 in the last two weeks. They look too comfortable and too indulged.

There’s the old saying in sport that a champion team will always beat a team of champions.

It best sums up the Roosters and a diabolical Friday night performance against Penrith.

On paper they still have arguably the best roster of all 17 teams.

They started the season as favourites alongside the Penrith Panthers, fielding a team in round one worth $3 million on paper more than the Dolphins – but got rolled 28-18.

Ever since they have failed to connect as a team.

There have been disruptions along the way via Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s rugby deal, the axing of Sam Walker and speculation around their highly regarded assistant coach Jason Ryles.

So many of their stars are down on form.

Brandon Smith: An $800,000 import but struggling because he’s still got the body shape of a middle forward from his days at Melbourne Storm. Lacks the sharpness of a Damien Cook, Api Koroisau, Jeremy Marshall-King, Harry Grant or Reece Robson. There’s definitely a concern around his service to the halves. Also missed NINE tackles against the Panthers.

Victor Radley: A victim of the NRL’s sin bin blitz and the fact his game is now over-policed by referees. Seems to be holding back out of concern for leaving the team with 12 players. As a result he’s nowhere near as menacing as he used to be.

James Tedesco: The Kangaroos, NSW Blues and Roosters skipper will be first picked for Origin on reputation, not form. Penrith’s Dylan Edwards and Latrell Mitchell are way ahead on recent performances. Edwards made 188 metres on Friday night, Tedesco 82. His average run metres this year are the lowest since 2016. After 11 rounds he’s had just three try assists and scored only one try.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii: Affected by the noise around his $5m rugby union deal and living up to price tag expectation as the highest paid footballer in the country. Missing tackles and not breaking the line. Should move to the wing to regain his confidence. Or even take a spell in NSW Cup.

Joey Manu: The switch to five-eighth has been a failure. He won golden boot last year on his performances for the Kiwis as a fullback, not a five-eighth.

Angus Crichton: Missed having an off-season and being a late starter. Trying hard each week but lacks the impact from previous seasons.

Luke Keary: Not the player he once was. Has struggled to connect with Smith and Manu and was playing better with Sam Walker in the side.

We could keep on going … just about every player has been down on form.

There’s still time for the Roosters to recover. You don’t win – or lose – titles as early as May.

They somehow need to get back to their old values.

The values that were the trademark of Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend’s leadership.

Good old-fashioned hard work and strong principles.

That’s the only way they are going to get back on track.

[Qld Chook]

A lot of truth spoken.. I’m sick of the chat from the players & coach. I wanna see a ‘on-field’ response.

[Kelby]

Bingo!

All valid points.

[Roosters1908]

Annoying, but I can’t fault anything he says about their form. Not sure it’s pampering though.

[bondi.boy]

If Uncle Nick told him to write that pampering and Centre of Excellence part then all he's done is hold the club up to ridicule.
I don't believe our Chairman told him to write any of the article.

Comments by readers of the article:

. "Forever in our shadow".

*
. "Keep Cronk away from the Coaching Staff , and, the players, and there might be a chance."

*
. " There are supporters from 16 other other teams who are having the time of their lives watching this unfold, please let it continue."

*
. "Best Roster in the comp?
That's a joke.
They would be lucky to have 4 players who would make the Rabbitohs top 17.
That is pushing it.

[Rooster90]

Getting sick of reading all these negative articles about the Roosters

Only thing that will stop it is by winning games.....

[Rooster89]

This is probably the only article that buzz has written in the last 10 years that I see as pretty accurate.

[bondi.boy]

The new bus looks fantastic.

[Lydon]

Getting sick of reading all these negative articles about the Roosters

Only thing that will stop it is by winning games.....

It starts this week,I know it’s still fairly early in the season but this week is a must win in my opinion to get our season back on track!

[bondi.boy]

It starts this week,I know it’s still fairly early in the season but this week is a must win in my opinion to get our season back on track!

To win this week Suaalii simply cannot be a centre.
Every big forward who can tackle must be selected.
If Brandon Smith is injured he must be rested.

[MCMLXVI]

• The axing of Sam Walker.
• Brandon Smith struggling because he’s still got the body shape of a middle forward. Lacks the sharpness of a Damien Cook.
• Victor Radley and the fact his game is now over-policed by referees. Seems to be holding back out of concern for leaving the team with 12 players.
• Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii missing tackles and not breaking the line. Should move to the wing to regain his confidence. Or even take a spell in NSW Cup.
• Joey Manu's switch to five-eighth has been a failure.
• Angus Crichton lacks the impact from previous seasons.
• Luke Keary was playing better with Sam Walker in the side.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

All correct points, and he didn't even get to the worst number 14 in the history of Rugby League.