Roosters make big changes to leadership group

The Roosters have locked in their leadership structure for the 2025 season, with James Tedesco remaining skipper while Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley have been promoted to new roles after the club lost a stack of experience. Tedesco has led the side since 2021 and will enter the new season with a couple of new deputies after Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves moved to the Super League. The experienced duo have been replaced by Collins and Radley who will serve as vice-captains as the Roosters turn to two of their most senior figures in a year where the top-eight credentials are already being questioned. The club may have lost a lot of talent but they have still managed to name a strong leadership group that includes Connor Watson, Angus Crichton, Nat Butcher, Spencer Leniu, Sam Walker and new recruit Chad Townsend. “James has been an outstanding leader for our club. He is highly respected, and his professionalism and drive set the standard for those around him,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said. “Lindsay and Victor bring tremendous energy and commitment, and their leadership qualities continue to grow. “We have a strong group of players who understand what it means to represent the Sydney Roosters, and this leadership group will play a key role in driving our standards in 2025.”

The 'nucleus' missing from Roosters win

Take these nine blokes and you have the nucleus of a premiership-winning team - Brandon Smith, Daniel Tupou, Dominic Young, Nat Butcher, Sam Walker, Victor Radley, Egan Butcher, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins. All nine were missing from the Roosters line-up last Friday night yet the team still managed to carve out a 36-28 win over old rivals Souths. The win without so many stars shows what many believe - that the Roosters have the best depth in the NRL. That will be crucial when the finals basically come down to a battle of the fittest, with injuries and suspensions likely to decide who takes the title. And with such a powerful squad and many of these nine blokes set to return in coming weeks, the Roosters could be the team to beat.

Awkward Radley reunion looms after bust-up

One of the most fiery forwards in English rugby league has attracted the interest of several NRL clubs.Leeds' Irish international James Bentley - who was embroiled in an off-field fight with Roosters hardman Victor Radley during the 2022 World Cup - is off contract at season's end and exploring his options.A hard-running edge forward, Bentley is renowned in Super League for never taking a backward step and like Radley, has often had his issues with referees.But his take-no- prisoners style has attracted the eye of Aussie clubs and he could well be playing in the NRL next season.Bentley has a temper on the field and rival forwards have baited him - but if he can control his aggression, the 25-year-old could be a real asset.Bentley is also versatile - he can play hooker and front row and that will only add to his value.

What's going on at Bondi?

Lack of discipline is becoming a bigger issue by the week at the Roosters.The Roosters matched the Sharks in most areas of skill on Friday night but conceded the first seven straight penalties and had three players spend time in the sin bin.You just can't win in circumstances like that and after an arm wrestle for much of the game, the Sharks cruised home 22-12.The Roosters actually finished with 11 players on the field and need to take a long hard look at themselves at training this week.

Questions over Radley

Victor Radley is one of my favourite players - I love his energy and enthusiasm out in the middle.But "The Inflictor" needs to have a good hard look at himself after being sin-binned for the sixth time in the past three seasons against the Storm on Thursday night.His departure had a massive impact on a game that was finely balanced at the time.The Roosters led 8-6 and were right in the game. But after he returned from his 10 minutes in the naughty corner, the Storm were ahead 18-8… and never looked back.They went on to win 28-8 - so the Roosters didn't score a single point in nearly an hour after Radley was sent to the bin.

Roosters plan drastic action on 'reckless' duo

Furious Roosters officials will put bad boys Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Victor Radley through the club's own form of anger management over the summer.The pair crossed the line in Sunday's brutal clash with the Rabbitohs, spending three stints in the sin bin between them for cheap shots.Club insiders largely blame the duo's brain explosions for their loss to Souths that sent them spinning out of the comp.Both sail close to the wind with the way they play and with referees and the Bunker taking a zero tolerance approach to foul play these days, they are fast becoming a liability.A week earlier, with Radley missing and Waerea-Hargreaves getting little game time, the Roosters beat South Sydney comfortably.In that game the Roosters played with controlled aggression whereas in the final, both players lost their heads and the Rabbitohs took full advantage.Roosters coach Trent Robinson is about to begin his season review and is certain to give the pair a severe tongue lashing for their reckless performances last Sunday.Both can be fine players, but have short fuses and will need to learn to channel their anger to remain effective in the NRL.They have the whole summer to think about how they blew it against South Sydney - and how they must cool it to stay relevant in the big games.

Career-best for Radley

With the injury-ravaged Roosters down to just one sub in the second half against the Dragons, Victor Radley decided he had to step up… and how.Radley played the full 80 minutes and ran for a career high 213 metres - an unbelieveable tally for a middle forward.Down 14-12 at halftime, the Roosters stormed home with 42 points in the second half, putting the Dragons to the sword despite having just one man on the bench.On a lighter note, it was an unusual day for Radley on another front - he got through 80 minutes without being sin binned or put on report!