Today the Sydney Roosters confirmed the re-signing of 23-year-old halfback Mitchell Pearce to keep him in red, white and blue until the end of 2017. The rare, long-term signing is comforting news for fans who have been dealt a mixed bag of signings and departures.
The Roosters, as it stands, are merely a shadow of the team they once were.
The purchase of Sonny Bill Williams is the shining example of what is so wrong with Easts right now. A mentality to buy success instead of grow it, has poisoned the culture of the club over the years.
Sydney paid a pretty penny for Williams' signature. However whether they'll get their money's worth is another story.
The league-turned-rugby-turned-boxing star hasn't played a league game since 2008.
In that time, shoulder charges - the major weapon in SBW's arsenal - have been outlawed by officials. And under month until the 2013 season kicks off, Williams had his very first training session with the Roosters squad just this week. Hardly the type of preparation you'd accept from any other player.
Though his achievements in multiple sports should be applauded, an athlete like SBW, who has ongoing commitments with other sports, will only be a liability.
Even if he does well with the club, what good is it if he's gone by next season? Great clubs are not built season to season, they are built over years of hard work.
The Roosters used to be one of those clubs. It was an experienced and disciplined side that led them to victory in 2002 and helped them appear in two more grand finals in the next years thereafter.
2010 was a fluke, as proven by the hideously inconsistent performances in years prior and immediately following.
And it seems the Roosters will be in for much of the same moving forward, if they continue this revolving door method of running a footy club.
In 2013, the Roosters' membership drive slogan is "represent". But what exactly are they representing these days? Certainly more dollars than sense.
Follow Melanie on Twitter, @MelanieDinjaski
7 Comments
You want a Title " Boofhead " EARN it Ligenimetly
ReplyLEGITETIMELY
ReplyThis Williams palooka is very much overrated. He may have been successful playing rah rah footy but in RL he was a mere stock standard first grader, no more, no less. I'm tipping mediocrity will be his level this season. Easts can have him.
ReplyTry legitimately mate.
ReplyI'm afraid you are living in the past Melanie. No club can afford to spend years growing talent any more. Trying to create a home-grown team to create a dynasty just can't happen any more. The salary cap has put an end to that. What is the point of spending the time when just as your efforts are being rewarded with a winning team, the players you have nurtured are bought away from you because you can't afford them under your salary cap due to that improvement. These days, if you want a premiership you have to buy the best players available to you and fill in the gaps with local juniors who have yet to fulfil their potential knowing full well, that should you win a premiership their value will skyrocket out of your means to retain them. In principle, I agree with the salary cap but not if it is applied to local juniors. No matter what the value of a superstar player, there should be no way that value should be counted in the salary cap of the team that brought him into grade.
Reply