Sydney Roosters: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing

The Sydney Roosters are out to become the first team in the NRL era to win back-to-back premierships.

Not even the Melbourne Storm, the most successful side of the past 20 years who have reached eight grand finals, could manage the feat.

The Brisbane Broncos were the last side to do it in 1997/98 when they clinched the Super League title before triumphing in the inaugural NRL season.

However, the Roosters are primed to create history this year having somehow strengthened their squad.

NSW back-rower Angus Crichton slots into an already-lethal forward pack featuring Boyd Cordner, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Victor Radley.

The metre-eating Blake Ferguson is a massive loss but his wing position will be capably filled by former Australian winger Brett Morris.

England star Ryan Hall – who is the fourth-highest try-scorer in UK Super League history with 196 four-pointers for Leeds – will also push for a spot on the flank once he regains fitness after a knee injury.

Apart from the departures of Ferguson and forwards Ryan Matterson and Dylan Napa, the Roosters have maintained an almost identical playing group from 2018.

Halfback Cooper Cronk has recovered from surgery on the famous broken scapula that saw him enter league folklore by playing in the decider with virtually one arm.

Pivot Luke Keary is set to go to another level after his man-of-the-match display in the big dance and the experience of an international debut at the end of the year.

And it's a scary thought that backs Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu and James Tedesco – who are still only 21, 22 and 26 respectively – could improve on their incredible efforts of last season.

One thing is for sure – it won't be ability that prevents the Bondi club from raising the Provan-Summons Trophy again, but remaining motivated and a step ahead of the opposition are arduous challenges.

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SYDNEY ROOSTERS PRE-SEASON NEWS

The Roosters' premiership squad was granted a few extra weeks of holidays, making the most of the time with a celebration trip in the United States.

Cooper Cronk, Boyd Cordner, Luke Keary, Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu and James Tedesco were named in the World XIII team after their 2018 form.

Dylan Napa was released from Sydney over the summer to take up a deal at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

But Napa's impact was felt at the Roosters after he left when a series of lewd videos  featuring the prop from some years ago were published online in January.

The sex tapes had first been uploaded in a WhatsApp chat made up of Tricolours players.

The NRL has launched an investigation into the WhatsApp group in an attempt to find the source of the leak.

Sydney beat Wigan Warriors 20-8 in the World Club Challenge at DW Stadium in the UK on February 17, with wing recruit Brett Morris scoring three tries in the unfamiliar role of centre.

PRE-SEASON TRIALS

February 17 – Roosters 20 def. Wigan Warriors 8 (World Club Challenge)

March 2 – Roosters vs Sea Eagles

SYDNEY ROOSTERS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD

Aside from the high-profile signings of Angus Crichton, Brett Morris and Ryan Hall, former Newcastle Knights playmaker Brock Lamb  arrives at the Roosters.

Young centre Paul Momirovski and halfback Sean O'Sullivan join Dylan Napa, Ryan Matterson and Blake Ferguson in moving on to other clubs.

Promising prop Linsday Collins has extended his contract at Sydney for a further three years.

COACH: Trent Robinson

Additions (players who were not in 2018 top 30): Angus Crichton (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos), Brett Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs), Brock Lamb (Newcastle Knights), Bernard Lewis, Egan Butcher, Josh Curran, Shaquai Mitchell

Losses: Dylan Napa (Canterbury Bulldogs),  Blake Ferguson (Parramatta Eels), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (retired), Paul Momirovski (Wests Tigers), Sean O'Sullivan (Brisbane Broncos), Ryan Matterson (Wests Tigers), Kurt Baptiste (North Queensland Cowboys), Billy Smith, Eloni Vunakece, Matt Ikuvalu, Mitch Cornish, Reece Robinson

Re-signed: Nat Butcher (2020), Boyd Cordner (2023), Jake Friend (2020), Luke Keary (2021), Isaac Liu (2021), Joseph Manu (2020), Latrell Mitchell (2020), Victor Radley (2023), Zane Tetevano (2019) , Linsday Collins (2022)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Mitchell Aubusson, Cooper Cronk, Joshua Curran, Craig Garvey, Brock Lamb, Zane Tetevano, Sitili Tupouniua

SYDNEY ROOSTERS' 2019 BETTING ODDS

At $4.50 (via TAB on 21/2/19), the Roosters are favourites to win the premiership.

Fullback James Tedesco ($11) is second in the betting to take out the Dally M Medal.

Sydney are $1.15 to finish in the top eight, $1.50 to make the top four and $251 to suffer the most losses.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS' 2019 DRAW

Teams they play twice

South Sydney Rabbitohs, Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm, St George Illawarra Dragons, Wests Tigers, Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Canterbury Bulldogs

Games played on

Thursday: 3

Friday: 7

Saturday: 6

Sunday: 8

It's a big year for...

Luke Keary.

After a career-best season in 2018 that culminated in a Test berth, Keary has set a lofty benchmark for himself.

The five-eighth will likely assume control of the Roosters' attack in the early rounds of the competition as Cooper Cronk eases back from his shoulder injury.

Keary isn't far away from State of Origin selection and could force his way into a sky blue jumper if he starts the season with a bang.

The No.6 will again be relied upon by Sydney for playmaking spark, so he needs to ensure he doesn't sport a hangover from the success of 2018.

This could be the year that Keary establishes himself as the premier pivot in the game.

MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

As of 21 February, the Roosters had 12,488 members committed for the 2019 season.

The Roosters finished 2018 with 16,044 members.

Membership packages can be viewed here.

General tickets for the season are available here.