Remember when the Sydney Roosters were being written off? When the whispers suggested their era was done, their feathers ruffled beyond repair? Cast your mind back to the pre-season murmurings of 2025.
The narrative was set: the Roosters were yesterday’s news, potential also-rans, perhaps even… feather dusters.
What a difference a season makes. Or perhaps, what a masterclass in misdirection.
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The greatest trick this Bondi Junction outfit might have pulled wasn’t a slick backline move or a desperate try-saving tackle. No, their most impressive feat was convincing practically everyone – fans, pundits, perhaps even rival coaches – that they were no longer a genuine threat in the 2025 NRL premiership race.
Early talk centred on ageing stars, perceived lack of squad depth compared to the shiny new contenders, and the lingering question of whether the old guard could rediscover their championship spark.
While the Panthers reloaded, the Broncos bristled with young talent, and the Storm remained ominously consistent, the Roosters were often discussed with a tone of polite respect for past glories, rather than genuine fear for the present.
But the Chooks, as they so often do, have quietly and ruthlessly dismantled that narrative. Week by week, they’ve churned out performances blending trademark defensive steel with flashes of attacking brilliance. Key veterans have found vintage form, young talents have stepped up seamlessly, and the tactical nous emanating from the coaching box has been sharp. They’ve ground out wins in the trenches and exploded when given space.
Now, as the business end of the season approaches, the conversation has shifted dramatically. No longer are they the faded force. Instead, the Roosters are firmly entrenched back where they feel they belong: among the usual suspects for the title. Their name is mentioned alongside the Panthers and Storm without hesitation or caveat. They possess the experience, the big-game players, and crucially, the momentum and belief forged by proving the doubters wrong.
Was it a deliberate ploy? Did Trent Robinson relish the underdog tag, using the external noise as fuel? Or was it simply a case of a proud club taking time to find its rhythm, its quality undeniable once the engine warmed up?
Either way, the effect is the same. The Roosters, dismissed as feather dusters in the pre-season shadows, have fluffed their plumage and soared back into the harsh spotlight of genuine premiership contention.
They didn’t just re-enter the race; they made everyone forget they were ever truly out of it. That, ladies and gentlemen, might just be their greatest trick of 2025. And the competition is now wide awake to the threat.
