For a team that was supposed to be rebuilding, according to those outside the Roosters’ opulent Allianz Stadium walls (and quietly, a few within the Tricolours HQ), Trent Robinson’s side is giving the 2025 title race one hell of a shake.
And for a pack featuring roughly $3.5 million in Origin and international talent, it is undoubtedly hustling, bustling Kiwi prop Naufahu Whyte who is now the Roosters’ spiritual leader.
Just ask Canterbury, beaten first physically with Whyte leading the assault, then on the scoreboard too – 32-12 – as the front-rower bagged two tries in nine minutes and doubled his career tally.
For all the hand-wringing after a small galaxy of stars left the building and the Broncos put 50 on them in round 1, the Roosters have suddenly emerged as one of the NRL’s form sides.
How else can you describe them? In the past three weeks they’ve outmuscled Manly in the wet, thrashed the Dolphins and now trounced the Bulldogs, a genuine premiership contender. All while knowing their season could be all but scotched with a loss anywhere in that run.
All season, Whyte has been immense. And for all the representative credentials of his teammates like Spencer Leniu, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton and Victor Radley, the 23-year-old with big hair and a bigger motor is the top prop around Bondi way.
Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte.Credit: Getty Images
By the time Robinson gave him his first breather on Friday night, Whyte had two tries, 113 metres from 17 runs and 22 tackles to show for his 54 minutes at the coalface.
“I thought the system of play these guys wanted to play pulled [the Bulldogs] apart and then Naufahu has been leading the way a lot in that,” Robinson said.
“He’s been impressive, really impressive.”
Skipper James Tedesco added: “He’s been here for a while and this year I think he’s just matured and grown as a person and a player. He’s really turned into a leader… he’s become one of the best front-rowers in the game.”
The Roosters’ timely run has lifted them into the top eight with games against Parramatta, Melbourne and South Sydney to finish the season. Their finals fate is now not only in their hands, but alongside Penrith, Robinson’s side suddenly shapes as one rivals won’t fancy crossing in September.
Canterbury’s yo-yoing of late meanwhile, is cause for concern. A 42-4 carve-up of Manly, into an insipid loss to the Tigers, back to their best against the Warriors, and now beaten black and blue by the Roosters is hardly an encouraging form line.
“I sort of blame myself there,” a quietly fuming Cameron Ciraldo said.
“Guys are carrying niggling [injuries] and they just get through training instead of actually training. I’m going to stop that. If you can’t train it results in a performance like that.
“We’ve got a deep squad and a lot of good players who didn’t play tonight. If we don’t want to prepare to win then I’ll put someone in that does.”
Aside from Enari Tuala’s opening try, and a late Matt Burton intercept, the Roosters had the Bulldogs covered.
Standing opposite Tuala, Daniel Tupou was a natural target for Sam Walker’s chipped and dinked kicks – putting a pair of tries on a platter for the veteran.
Flying high: Daniel Tupou catches a bomb.Credit: Getty Images
Between Tupou’s first two tries came a rough and tumble grind the Roosters slowly gained the ascendancy of. Thanks to Whyte.
The big man’s first try was fortuitous, a late Angus Crichton offload falling his way when Canterbury’s line couldn’t be cracked.
But Whyte’s second was a front-rower’s dream – with Lachlan Galvin a bug on his windshield and carried for five metres to the tryline, along with three of his teammates.
Loading
The Bulldogs’ rally came all too late from 26-6 down. After the Roosters had dominated the physical exchanges for an hour, Canterbury found their shoulders and hammered the Roosters into errors.
Each error that left them defending deep in their own end was covered by scramble defence, though. And Canterbury turned balls over as they pushed passes and chased points.
Tempers frayed along the way too – with Sam Hughes and Max King both on report for high shots, though Billy Smith may have the most to worry about for an ugly cannonball tackle.
Otherwise for the Roosters, who finished in style as Tupou claimed his third try of the evening, life is looking pretty good.