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The real story at Bondi isn't DCE. It's the homegrown Roosters revival

The real story at Bondi isn't DCE. It's the homegrown Roosters revival

As always, wheeling and dealing at Moore Park has been a fascinating narrative this season. Brandon Smith's exit. Dom Young's on-again, off-again departure. Once again, why exactly did they let Terrell May go?
The spectre of Daly Cherry-Evans' potential arrival which, given the rising form of Savala and diminutive five-eighth Sandon Smith, has plenty asking if the Roosters really do need the Manly and Maroons skipper.
Meanwhile, Robinson has blooded six rookies in 11 games this year. The club's dramatic generational shift comes after $4 million worth of talent and more than 900 games of experience walked out the door last season.
A season-opening 50-14 thrashing from Brisbane, in which Rob Toia, Salesi Foketi and Taylor Losalu all played NRL for the first time, was followed by an upset win over defending premiers Penrith when the Roosters were the rankest of $11 outsiders.
Losalu, who was earning $20,000 a year on a NSW Cup contract at the time, was back pouring concrete 12 hours after one of the biggest upsets of the NRL era.
Already, the Roosters' 5-6 campaign has delivered similar boilovers against the Broncos and Sharks and a slew of eclectic origin stories among their next generation.
Like Savala, the 193cm halfback, local junior and part-time Randwick bagman for his dad, bookmaker Scott Savala.
Impressive young lock Blake Steep told the story back in February of how he saved his own old man from drowning when he suffered a heart attack underwater while spearfishing.
Toia, the prodigious centre who has pushed through two ACL ruptures, back stress fractures and a broken jaw to be making his Queensland Origin debut after just 10 NRL games.
When Laurie Daley asked Roosters and NSW assistant Matt King for some intel on Toia last week, King told him he would already be a Maroons rep if it hadn't been for three straight years on the sidelines.
From a reporter's perspective, Robinson has always been at his most expansive when talking about a young player's progress and rugby league's various learning curves.
But we can't recall one of the game's most measured and considered coaches flying out of his seat to celebrate a try like Va'a's against Cronulla.
Skipper James Tedesco and vice-captain Victor Radley are playing with the same enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Mark Nawaqanitawase's remarkable rugby league learning curve – thrills, spills, tries of the decade and all – already makes him a player worth watching each week on his own.
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Reinvigorated is the kind of word that belongs in a shampoo ad before a rugby league story, but it's difficult to go too far past it with the Roosters. Even with each stirring upset followed by a loss as a youthful side comes to terms with the weekly demands of the NRL.
The club has been spruiking the virtues of its Roosters Academy for some time, which was inspired by a 2021 visit to Barcelona FC's famed La Masia nursery.
The investment by Nick Politis and Roosters directors is starting to pay serious dividends. Siua Wong, Steep, the Va'a brothers, Ioelu, Foketi and Toia are just some of the Academy's first-grade graduates.

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‘I'll be talking to him': Mal confirms interest in Tigers star as likely ‘top of list' Bears target revealed
‘I'll be talking to him': Mal confirms interest in Tigers star as likely ‘top of list' Bears target revealed

News.com.au

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  • News.com.au

‘I'll be talking to him': Mal confirms interest in Tigers star as likely ‘top of list' Bears target revealed

Inaugural Perth coach Mal Meninga confirmed he will be 'talking' to Tigers hooker Apisai Koroisau after he said he would be 'definitely open' to playing for the Bears. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Meninga was officially appointed coach of the NRL's latest expansion team last week, with the Bears to enter the competition at the start of the 2027 season. With a coach in place, attention now turns to the marquee names the Bears could sign and it sounds like Koroisau could be a target. The Tigers hooker told Channel Nine he would 'definitely be open to it', although he then added he would 'love to keep going' at his current club. 'To be fair I've never seriously thought about it, mainly because I'd love to just finish off here at the Tigers and I'm in no rush to be going anywhere or sign any contracts,' he said. 'I haven't thought about it, not seriously anyway. For me it's Tigers if I can.' While those additional comments from Koroisau may ease some concerns in Tigerland, Meninga definitely took notice of his earlier ones and told Triple M he will 'be talking' to the veteran hooker. 'He did play for North Sydney Bears you know, he came through that system so I think that's another great story,' Meninga said. 'I'll be talking to him don't worry about that.' Koroisau is off-contract at the end of 2026 and will be allowed to talk to rival clubs from November 1. The Daily Telegraph's Brent Read tipped on Triple M that Koroisau will end up being one of many players who will strategically come off-contract around then in a bid to drive up their prices with the added competition of the Bears. 'They're (player agents— going to time blokes coming off contract to maximize that value, so there'll be players out there and there are players out there who are coming off at the end of '26, who I'd imagine will go to November 1,' Read said. Read went on to add that he expects Perth to target Super League teams and South African rugby union for talent, while also predicting Titans forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui — who is signed until 2033 but can leave the club at the end of 2026 — will be 'at the top of the list' when it comes to NRL targets. 'He's got options every year of his deal. He's an obvious one who Mal's got a relationship with... Tino is probably at the top of the list,' Read said. 'Payne is the other obvious one but I think Payne will stay in Brisbane. There's some other guys... Luke Metcalf, Jaxon Purdue, Tyran Wishart, Herbie Farnworth. There are guys out there who are available as it stands on November 1.' Wishart was one player who Michael Ennis singled out during Melbourne's recent win against North Queensland as a priority target for Meninga. 'You get the feeling over the next couple of years as the expansion teams roll into town, the value of a Tyran Wishart, it is going to skyrocket,' Ennis said. 'Pick up the phone Mal.' Former Panthers and Sharks backrower Wade Graham, meanwhile, said on Triple M that the prospect of a player loan system should be something the NRL considers to help out expansion teams. He also pointed to previous successful examples, including Harry Grant's time with the Tigers and subsequent development at Melbourne, as evidence it could benefit the other clubs too. 'Every team has their roster in order and their projected five-year plan in order. They have their backups almost ready to go, but they're in behind (the starter),' Graham said. 'Look at Melbourne. They have Papenhuyzen and Hughes. They have Fa'alogo in behind and Jonah Pezet in behind and we saw with Harry Grant when he was behind Cameron Smith, the opportunity for him to be loaned out to the Wests Tigers. 'I just think it's an area we can look at. Other guys that come to mind... Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at the Dolphins. We know Trai Fuller's an exceptional fullback and has done well in first grade. 'I think we need to think a little bit outside the box of how we manage two new teams coming in the competition and player depth.'

NRL great questions Galvin call as new footage exposes teammate's anger
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News.com.au

time13 hours ago

  • News.com.au

NRL great questions Galvin call as new footage exposes teammate's anger

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