Trent Robinson will usher in a new era at the Sydney Roosters as a host of club greats leave Bondi.
The Chooks cruised to a third-place finish on the ladder, while boasting the best attacking numbers in the league.
However, their prolonged inability to beat Penrith and Melbourne caught up to them in the end and denied their veteran stars a premiership-winning goodbye with a fresh start now in the offing.
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Which players have left the Sydney Roosters in 2024?
The multiple premiership-winning veteran duo Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary will leave a massive void at the club.
JWH wrapped up a 15-year stay at the club in 2024 and will head to the Super League, where he will be joined by Keary.
The former South Sydney playmaker initially signed an extension during the campaign before backflipping on his decision and announcing his retirement.
However, he then changed his mind again as he revealed he would be linking up with the Catalans Dragons in 2025.
Star centres Joseph Manu and Joseph Suaalii have also left the club in order to pursue careers in rugby union.
The Kiwi international made just shy of 200 NRL appearances for the Roosters since debuting in 2016 and established himself as one of the game's best centres before linking up with Japanese outfit Toyota Verblitz.
Meanwhile, Sitili Tupouniua was granted an early release from his contract to link up with Canterbury from next season onwards.
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"We feel really proud about the time that they’ve had with us and it’ll be the last time they are sitting in those sheds," Robinson said after his side lost their preliminary final against Melbourne.
"There’s guys that impacted the club in the right way as much as any guys over the course of 116 years.
"Jared, Joey Manu, Kez, Sitili, Suaalii and we’ve also got Naps [Dylan Napa] and Jenko [Michael Jennings] back at home as well.
"Those guys have had a big impact on the history of our club and the jersey and I feel like we’re really proud of where our club is."
Full list of Sydney Roosters departures
List accurate as of 10th October
Player | New club |
---|---|
Dylan Napa | Retired |
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves | Hull KR |
Joseph Manu | Toyota Verblitz |
Joseph Suaalii | NSW Waratahs |
Luke Keary | Catalans Dragons |
Michael Jennings | TBC |
Sitili Tupouniua | Canterbury Bulldogs |
Who have the Sydney Roosters signed for 2025?
Chad Towsend is the lone signing for the club as things currently stand with the veteran halfback set to start in the No.7 jersey next year following Sam Walker's knee injury towards the end of the season.
Rugby union convert Mark Nawaqanitawase will also be expected to play a larger role after joining the club in the latter stages of the 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, the club locked down a host of key players on new deals during the year with Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Daniel Tupou and Spencer Leniu agreeing to fresh terms.