History of the Sydney Roosters

This is a history of the Sydney Roosters Rugby League team.

Foundation years

There have been several rugby teams known as Sydney F.C., dating back to the first ever rugby club in Australia in 1860. Fact|date=April 2008 On the 24th of January, 1908 Eastern Suburbs decided at a meeting held at Paddington Town Hall to leave behind its Union counterparts and enter into the NSWRL. Bringing with them their local playing strip as worn during the rugby union days consisting of red, blue, and white, the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club was born.

With the NSWRL being able to sign Union crowd favourite Dally Messenger, Easts were handed his services due to rule stipulations regarding players playing for their local area. Easts were led out for the first time by captain Henry "Jersey" Flegg and started off their existence with a 32–16 victory over Newtown in front of a crowd of 3000 at Wentworth Park. The "Tricolours" would remain competitive throughout the entire season even without star player Dally Messenger at the beginning of the season due to representative commitments.Losing only one regular season match through the year, the tricolours headed up a star line up including Dan Frawley, Lou Jones, Sandy Pearce, Larry O’Malley, Albert Rosenfeld, Dally Messenger, and captain Jersey Flegg. Feeling the loss of several star players due to the Kangaroo Tour, Easts were able to defeat North Sydney to earn the right to face Souths in the final. Played in a highly-contested match, Easts were close to snatching victory in the final minutes of the game with a try in the corner. Trailing 14–12, the tricolours were unable to make the conversion to force a re-match, ultimately handing over the premiership to the Rabbitohs.

In 1909 Easts showed early signs of improving on the previous years' efforts. However a five-game losing streak towards the back end of the competition saw the tricolours bow out of contention. 1910 saw little improvement, with the team failing to show any form of consistency and eventually missed out on a semi-final berth.

In 1911 Easts would finally be able to reap the full benefits of Dally "The Master" Messenger, who declined to tour with the Australian team. Defeating Souths for the right to challenge minor premiers Glebe for the premiership, the tricolours took Glebe on with the knowledge that a victory would entitle them to a re-match for the premiership. Winning 22–9 in the first of the two games, Easts were able to prevail 11–8 after a come-from-behind victory to take out their maiden premiership. Messenger was instrumental in the win, scoring a try, converting two others and kicking a field goal to help the tricolours in their performance.

In 1912 a change to the rules was implemented, with the minor premier to be declared premiers automatically. Backing up with their previous year’s performance, both the tricolours and Glebe remained the two stand out teams throughout the 1912 competition. With both teams suffering only one loss during the lead up to their match, it was well anticipated that even though there would four matches remaining after their clash, the winner would more than likely take out the premiership. In front of an approximate crowd of 25,000 at the Sports Ground, Dally Messenger would once again prove the difference by kicking a field goal minutes before fulltime to lead the tricolours to victory 6–4 in a close rain-soaked and muddy game.

In 1913 Easts would once again prove the dominant force, losing only to Newtown and Glebe. Easts finished atop of the ladder and were handed the 1913 Premiership. Completing their first premiership treble, Easts would also become the first team to ever win three premierships in a row. The 1914 season showed signs of promise from the Bondi-based team who, during the middle of the season, looked quite capable of taking out their fourth premiership in as many years. However key losses in their final five games saw the tricolours finish 3rd for the end of the year. The following years showed little sign of improvements with Easts failing to finish higher than 5th.

The war years

With the introduction of the "first-past-the-post" era, where teams finishing on top of the ladder remained unchallenged, Easts had to settle for runners-up in both 1919 (Balmain) and 1921 (North Sydney). At the end of the 1923 season, both Easts and Souths finished equal first, resulting in a Grand Final between the two inner-Sydney clubs. The result was a spectacular 15-12 win by Easts in which captain Harry Caples proved the difference by scoring a late try to seal victory. The win gave the Bondi-based team their 4th premiership.

The 1930s would provide one of, if not the most successful era of the Eastern Suburbs club in its long and rich history. Finishing joint minor premiers to the more experienced Wests team in 1934, Easts came short of winning the premiership by going down to Wests 15-12.

With the presence of the legendary Dave Brown, who at this stage was setting point scoring records (that still remain unbroken to the present day), Eastern Suburbs were always going to finish on top of the premiership table. Finishing a massive eight points ahead from their next opponent, Easts progressed into the Grand Final by defeating Wests in the major semi-final 15-10. The only team capable of stopping the mighty Easts failed to do so in the Grand Final, with Souths going down to the eventual premiers 19-3 in front of 22,106 spectators.Easts would retain the premiership in 1936, defeating Balmain 32-12 to claim their 6th premiership. Celebrating their 30th year of existence in 1937, Easts completed their second premiership treble by finishing minor premiers in a shortened season due to a Kanagroo Tour, which saw them automatically handed the premiership.

Feeling the strain of representative commitments having supplied eight players for the Kangaroo Tour, it would only be towards the back end of the 1938 season that Easts would show shades of their previous winning formula. In a not-so-easy task, Easts defeated Souths in the minor semi-final to take on the unlikely opponent of Canterbury, who three years before were torn apart by the Roosters in an 87-7 flogging. However the turn-around was evident when Canterbury took out the premiership with a 19-6 win over the tricolours.

It would only take two years for Easts to exact revenge on the Canterbury-based team. Meeting them in the 1940 Grand Final after taking out the Minor Premiership, Easts prevailed 24-14 to claim their fourth premiership in six years. The following year Easts once again were able to make the Grand Final, however a determined St. George outfit removed all hopes of further premiership glory for the tricolours with an impressive 31-14 win. Taking out their seventh Minor Premiership in 13 years, Easts headed up the 1945 Grand Final against fourth placed Balmain. With an inspirational three tries and five goals by Dick Dunn, Easts took out the premiership 22-18 and moved up to second on the list of most premierships, only three behind Souths.

Birth of the Rooster

Adopting a new playing strip that consisted of a V-shaped design similar to that of the ever so popular French teams who also wore red, white, and blue, the Eastern Suburbs club became known as the Roosters. This was due to the similarities of the French team jersey, who displayed a cock badge on their jersey.

However it is contested by fans of the day that the rooster was associated with the football club decades earlier. This claim strengthened by newspapers in the 1930s often depicting photos of a rooster-top weather vane pointing eastward when publishing articles on the Sydney Roosters. The explanation given being that Eastern Suburbs being in the east, is where the sun would rise hence where the Rooster would crow first. The football club itself has neither confirmed or denied both origins of the Rooster mascot although the first mentioned origin is generally the wider accepted one amongst the rugby league community.

The Roosters were able to make the 1960 Grand Final, but unfortunately their opponents were the mighty St. George who were in the middle of a dynasty that lasted eleven premierships. The Jack Gibson-captained side was to be no match for the Dragons, with Easts defeated comprehensively 31-6. The 1960 Grand Final would remain the highlight of the decade for the Roosters, who would experience their worst era yet. Consistently finishing at the bottom of the table, the Roosters would make history in 1966 by failing to win a single a game. 1967 however brought redemption for the Roosters, who were able to shake off the ghosts of the previous seasons by finishing in fourth place under the guidance of rookie coach Jack Gibson.

The glory years

The 1970s would become a very successful decade for the Roosters, competing in four Grand Finals, two in which they went on to become premiers, and fielding a team that will be remembered as one of the greatest ever. Reaching the Grand Final against Manly in 1972, Easts led early on before a series of mistakes and lost opportunites saw valiant comeback by Manly who went on to win 19-14.

With the introduction of Easts Leagues Club which would become their backbone of success for years to come, the Roosters were able to bring back Jack Gibson to the Bondi-based club and along with a team including the likes of Mark Harris, John Brass, Bill Mullins, Russell Fairfax, Johnny Mayes, John Peard, Ron Coote, Ian Schubert and captain Arthur Beetson. A recipe for success was slowly building.

In 1974 and 1975 the Roosters would dominate the competition like no team had before them. Losing only five regular season matches over both years, the Roosters were able to steamroll their way to the 1975 Premiership on the back of a premiership record of 19 wins in a row which was only eventually stopped in the first semi-final with the loss coming at the hands of St. George. The Roosters were able to exact revenge though, with both teams meeting up weeks later in the Grand Final; a match remembered famously for Graeme "Changa" Langlands' white boots. The Roosters destroyed the Dragons with a 38 points to nil win.

While the 1976 season may not have brought premiership success it did see the introduction of jersey sponsorship in the game, the Roosters once again leading the field, negotiated a $50 000 a season deal with the City Ford company. The move met with some opposition at first but the other clubs quickly followed and today jersey sponsorship is common place in the game.

Remaining competitive throughout the remainder of the decade, the Roosters returned to the Grand Final scene in 1980. Taking on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs team known as the "Entertainers", the Roosters were easily disposed of, being defeated 18-4 in the decider. In 1981 the Roosters were thought to get a chance of redemption after winning the minor premiership, however, crucial losses at the back end of the season saw them watching the Grand Final from the grandstands. 1982 would see the Roosters field one of their most competitive teams for a long period of time. Making the preliminary final against defending premiers Parramatta, the Roosters were sent packing with a 33–0 defeat. It would be a long wait for Roosters fans before they would once again see a genuine premiership contending team.

The "Transit Lounge" era

Considered one of the darkest eras for the Roosters since the 1950s and 1960s, the Roosters would show little signs of success throughout this time. The period has recently been bestowed the nickname the "Transit Lounge" amongst fans due to the clubs persistence to purchase established players often past their peak at an incredible price. Lasting more than a decade from 1983 to 1994, the Roosters were only capable of making the finals once during 1987 in which they were defeated by the Canberra Raiders in the preliminary final. This period drew little highlights from the club which saw only three Australian representatives being produced in Trevor Gillmeister, Craig Salvatori, and David Trewhella.

uper League and beyond

A bitter Super League war saw the arrival of successful coach Phil Gould to the streets of Bondi in 1995. A year later Australian captain Brad Fittler would follow in a show of no faith in the Super League bound Penrith Panthers. Reaching the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, the Roosters bowed out of the 1996 competition with losses to the eventual Grand Finalists in Manly and St. George.

The 1997 line-up boasted one of the best on paper in the Australian Rugby League competition, consisting of players such as Terry Hermansson, Jason Lowrie, Adrian Lam, Luke Ricketson, David Barnhill, Scott Gourley, Matt Sing, Andrew Walker and Ivan Cleary. With all accompanying Brad Fittler, the newly-named "Sydney City Roosters" took their premiership campaign to the Grand Final qualifier. Equalling the scores at 16 a piece with two late tries, the Roosters' Grand Final hopes were shot to pieces with a field goal by Manly in the final minutes.

In a newly-formed and unified National Rugby League competition, the Roosters were able to finish 6th to secure a finals berth. Tough away wins against the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights saw the Roosters progress to the Grand Final qualifier for the second year in a row. Unfortunately the Roosters would not be rewarded for their away victories, having to face the powerhouse Brisbane Broncos at Brisbane, a game in which Brisbane comfortably won.

1999 saw little highlights from the Roosters, who bowed out of contention with two straight final losses. The efforts of captain Brad Fittler, who displayed one of his most dominant performances for the Roosters with two solo tries was not enough to defeat the newly formed St George Illawarra Dragons. With a change of coach in Graham Murray and an entirely new playing style in 2000, the Roosters were able to progress through to the Grand Final on the back of a nail biting victory against Newcastle in the Grand Final qualifier. However the day belonged to the Brisbane Broncos, prevailing 14-6 in a dominant performance.

The Roosters would only have to wait two years to return to the Grand Final stage. Now under the direction of coach Ricky Stuart, the Roosters were able to capitalise on a 9-game winning streak leading into the Grand Final to surprise the critics and take out the 2002 premiership with a 30-8 performance against minor premiers, the New Zealand Warriors. Trailing by two points early in the second half, the Roosters were able to capitalise off a Brad Fittler 40/20 kick to allow Craig Wing to score, setting up a Roosters victory. The win put the Roosters ahead of the Balmain Tigers on the all-time winners list with 12 premierships, still 8 premierships behind South Sydney.

The chance to gain premiership number thirteen came unstuck in 2003. Backing up with another appearance in the Grand Final, the Roosters were tormented by dropped balls at crucial times in a game taunted by wet weather. The Roosters did however have the chance to take the lead midway through the second half when winger Todd Byrne made a clear break, but he was dragged into touch by Scott Sattler in a moment that will forever be remembered in Grand Final history. The Penrith Panthers took their second premiership ever defeating the Sydney Roosters 18-6 in what many describe as the biggest upset since Balmain defeated Souths in 1969. The Roosters would once again reach the Grand Final in 2004 against arch rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs. The game lived up to the hype surrounding the two powerhouse clubs, with Canterbury winning the game 16-13 in what would be Roosters captain Brad Fittler’s last match.

Having lost their star playmaker in Brad Fittler, the Roosters struggled to mount any sort of attacking capabilities in 2005, although were still able to show promising signs in the team's defence. This was not enough to secure the Roosters a finals berth, who missed out for the first time since 1995.

Batting for the century

With promising signings in both Braith Anasta and Ashley Harrison and alongside talented youngsters such as Iosia Soliola, the Sydney Roosters looked to have a promising 2006 season ahead of them. However playing in their 99th season, the Roosters could be compared to a nervous cricketer with 99 runs waiting to break the century mark.

Winning only eight games for the entire season for one of the worst performances in the clubs history, the Roosters showed capable signs of winning most games. However, poor game plans and a lack of team composure saw the tricolours outdone by most of the opposition. Coach Ricky Stuart would pay the ultimate price for such a poor performance, being sacked of the coaching role having only been told months earlier that the club would see out his contract that lasted until the end of 2007.

Marching on to their 100th season in 2007 with 999 wins under their belt, the Roosters signed two-time premiership winning coach Chris Anderson to head coach for the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the notion of blooding newly promoted assistant coach Brad Fittler to top position in season 2009.

The centenary season celebrations were delayed after the Roosters lost their opening five games, including the 'Monday Night Football' blockbuster between arch-rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs in round 1. The 1000th win finally came in the annual ANZAC Day clash against St George Illawarra Dragons downing the Dragons 18-4. Victories were few and far between and the lowlight of the season came in round 17 when the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles defeated the Roosters 56-0.

The defeat would end Chris Anderson's coaching career thus far, deciding to step down from the head coaching role and allowing Brad Fittler to step into the top job. Fittler's late season charge showed promising signs of hope in 2008, although the Roosters would miss out on the finals, Fittler managed to lose only 2 matches for the remainder of the season and recorded significant victories against eventual premiers Melbourne Storm and arch-rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the final round.

The Roosters are expected to build upon promising signs shown in late 2007 for the 2008 season, with local betting agencies displaying favourable odds for the Roosters 2008 season.

So far, halfway through the season the roosters are equal first with 9 wins and 5 losses. Their most recent game was against the Bulldogs on Friday June 27, the Roosters victorious 28-14. The Roosters next play on Friday July 11 against the Gold Coast Titans

Team song

The current song is labelled "Rooster Man", a revamp of the original tune Macho Man performed by the Village People. [ [http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/playvideo.php?filename=RoosterMan.mp3 Rooster Man] "Sydney Roosters minisite." Retrieved on 10 July 2006.] However the traditional club song, "Here come the Roosters", [ [http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/playvideo.php?filename=OldEastsSong.mp3 Here come the Roosters] "Sydney Roosters minisite." Retrieved on 10 July 2006.] favoured by many of the traditional fans, goes as follows:

:Easts know how to play the game, they play it hard and fair,:Easts know how to win the game, they win more than their share.:They're great to see in action, these boys who show the way,:Put the Roosters on the field, they'll show you how to play.:Here come the Roosters, the best we've ever seen,:The red, white and bluesters, the Eastern Suburbs team.

:"Easts to win" shout the cry that everybody knows,:If you play this football game beware the Roosters crow.:They're great to see in action, these boys who show the way,:Put the roosters on the field, they'll show you how to play.:Here come the Roosters, the best we've ever seen,:The red, white and bluesters, the Eastern Suburbs team.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.rleague.com/db/club/sydney_roosters/history.php Sydney Roosters history]