The Roosters will now need to find yet another assistant coach after Michael Cheika is set to make the switch back to rugby union and coach the Waratahs. The Roosters leapfrogged the Panthers to the top of the NRL ladder this weekend after the 12-6 victory on Thursday night.
Coach Trent Robinson has seen assistants Matt King and Cheika help lead the Roosters to the top of the table in 2026 with the side putting in an improved defensive performance against the Panthers. Unfortunately for Roosters fans, King announced he would leave his role to take up the NSW State of Origin head coaching job next year.
Trent Robinson (pictured right) and the Roosters are set to lose assistant coach Michael Cheika (pictured far left) to rugby union next year. (Images: Getty Images)
And in a further blow, Cheika is reportedly set to take up the Waratahs job after a move away from rugby union. Cheika is focused on helping the Roosters for the remainder of the NRL season.
He will then coach Lebanon at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. While he has a full schedule in rugby league, it appears he will jump back to union after the season to take on the Waratahs role.
AAP reported that it’s understood Rugby Australia sought out Cheika – despite the coach not applying for the role – and a deal could be finalised as early as this week. Cheika took the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final. He also was the first man to win major club titles in the northern (Leinster in 2009) and southern hemispheres after taking the Waratahs to the title 12 years ago.
This is a blow for the Roosters who are set to lose another experienced name in the dressing room ahead of next season. Speaking last month, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh claimed the code were chasing the best coaches on the market.
“We want world-class coaches, right across the system,” Waugh told AAP when asked if Cheika was in the mix last month. “That’s our focus; there’s multiple applicants and we’re working through it. We want to provide certainty to players and supporters as quickly as we can. I don’t like to anchor myself to timelines when it comes to coaching announcements, but we’re conscious of getting the right person and the importance of a successful Waratahs in a World Cup year.”
Michael Cheika (pictured left) is set to leave the Roosters at the end of the season. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Daly Cherry-Evans announces exit
While King and Cheika appear set to depart, the rest of the big name exits come on the field. Daly Cherry-Evans was the player of the match against the Panthers on Thursday having scored two tries in the remarkable win. However, it was confirmed the veteran would be heading to Hull to play out his rugby league career.
Cherry-Evans will play just the one season for the Roosters and will be hoping to deliver a premiership for the club. But he isn’t the only other big name leaving. Both Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton will leave the Roosters to play rugby in a bid to play at the World Cup.
The Roosters are currently in negotiations with star halfback Sam Walker over new deal. Walker reportedly turned down the Roosters’ initial offer of around $5 million across four years.
Matt King (pictured) will leave his Roosters role to take over the NSW Blues job next year. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
with AAP