Sydney Roosters

Roosters to ignore Cordner's injury history with new contract

Cordner has been limited to just 30 games for the Roosters over the past two years due to knee and pec injuries, with the former also impacting his ability to train at full capacity

As the current NSW Origin and Roosters co-captain Cordner is one of the biggest names off-contract in 2018, with Angus Chrichton's scheduled arrival from the Rabbitohs next season fuelling speculation that Cordner may have been on the outer.

Sydney Roosters predicted Round 1 line-up

They're not totally unscathed though with not just Mitchell Pearce but a host of other stars (Aidan Guerra and Connor Watson to Newcastle for example) also departed.

It will be very much a new-look side for Trent Robinson in 2018 and while the depth may not be what it once was they have quality in every position.

NRL.com expert Jamie Soward says:

Why Sydneysiders should support the Roosters

The finals series started with such promise for the harbour city with five teams finishing inside the Telstra Premiership top eight, but two weeks later that number has dwindled down to one with the Bondi boys Sydney's last hope. 

Week One of the finals saw the pride of the Northern beaches and the Shire bow out while Sydney's golden West was left reeling when the Eels and Panthers were eliminated by their Queensland foes. 

Ruthless Roosters trounce Tigers

Mitchell Pearce, Aidan Guerra and Connor Watson all scored two tries each in the 40-18 victory.

Watson 'Friend-zoned' despite strong showing

The 27-year-old hadn't missed a game in nearly two years but was forced to sit out the Roosters' fourth-straight win after he copped a knock to the mouth in the final minute of the Round 3 clash against the Panthers.

"I got hit with something – an elbow or something – and it pushed my three front teeth in," he said on Monday morning.

"I went and got them pulled back and now I've got a wire holding them in place. The dentist said that should keep them there and hopefully I don't get a whack and lose my front teeth.

Roosters coach praises 'complete' Gordon

The 33-year-old turned back the clock to score a double against the club he played 108 games for at the beginning of his career, and rallied to pull off a try-saving tackle on Panthers centre Tyrone Peachey in the dying stages of the enthralling encounter at Pepper Stadium. 

Roosters edge Bulldogs in a thriller

It took nine rounds for the Tricolours to register two wins in 2016, but last year's strugglers have already equalled that mark a fortnight into the new season. 

The halves pairing of Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce picked up from where they left off on the Gold Coast with the duo playing a part in almost all of their side's five tries. 

There were plenty of positive signs for the Bulldogs who started and finished the game on fire despite being ravaged by injuries throughout the contest.  

Hat-trick hero Mitchell gets 'pass mark'

As the Roosters ran riot in the first half to open up a 28-0 lead at the break Mitchell was one of the major beneficiaries, scoring two tries in the first 40 minutes before sealing the 32-18 Telstra Premiership win with the final try of the night.

Robinson was unaware that Mitchell had even scored the first hat-trick of his young career and said the decision to move him into the centres was made just two days after the 2016 season came to a close.

We need to find killer instinct: Roosters

But for skipper Jake Friend - who isn't interested in making excuses - it's a reminder of just how ordinary they were last year.

Hanging over the Roosters' annus horribilis is a sense of 'what could have been?'

Brisbane Broncos beat Sydney Roosters 24-14 to make NRL finals picture a little bit brighter

The Broncos sit in fourth place after the first game of the final round, but will be overtaken by North Queensland if the Cowboys beat the Titans on Saturday.

Canterbury is also an outside chance of passing last year's runners-up, but would need to beat South Sydney by 45 points on Friday to make that happen.

Regardless of how it ends up, Brisbane will happily take the two points for a fifth-straight week although the performance left a bit to be desired with the playoffs looming.