Corey Parker is quietly confident that the Sydney Roosters will finish in the top four with the amount of quality they have on the park.
After losing a dearth of experience following 2024, the Tricolours still found a way to make finals in 2025 having finished 7th with James Tedesco ending up with the Dally M.
And they have built on their list to make a charge for the premiership, having added Origin experience in Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson for 2026.
With all this quality in both their backs and forwards, Parker can’t see a world where the Roosters don’t have a double chance in finals.
“Naufahu Whyte in the front row, (he’s a) Test player,” on SENQ Breakfast.
“Reece Robson, who’s moved from the Cowboys to the hooking role at the Roosters, (he’s) such a competitor (and) a wonderful player.
“And then Lindsay Collins. I’m always a big advocate that if you’re going to win a competition, you need a Test front-rower. Well, they’ve got two of them.”
“In the back row, they’ve got Angus Crichton who’s moving on at the end of this year to go and play Rugby (Union). So, he’s going to want to finish with a bang.
“As to (Mark) Nawaqanitawase and Nat Butcher, who is just a quiet achiever, just gets the job done with not too much thoroughfare.
“Connor Watson is another Origin player, so they are littered with Test and Origin players. Now I’ve put down seven Test players, eight Origin players. And that’s not even taking into consideration Samoa, Tonga and England.
“It’s a scary line-up. If they can keep that team together for long periods of time with the talent.
“They’ve got a great balance in their football side, you go through what they need.
“They have experience, James Tedesco, (Daniel) Tupou, (Daly) Cherry-Evans, Reece Robson. They have X-Factor in Nawaqanitawase, X-Factor in Sam Walker.
“So when you combine (that) all together…I can’t see them finishing any lower than a four (on the ladder).”
The Roosters will begin their 2026 season against the Warriors on March 6 at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
