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"Could be anything": Minichello anticipates exciting time for Roosters as next generation emerges
Sam Kosack • February 20th, 2025 5:34 pm
Sydney Roosters’ legend Anthony Minichello still expects the club to qualify for the top eight in 2025, framing the necessary injection of young talent as a positive rather than a negative for their finals push.
The Roosters lost Jared Waerea-Hargraves, Luke Keary, Joey Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Sitili Tupouniua, and Terrell May over the off-season, amounting for 953 games of first grade experience.
Despite this, Minichello, a former club captain who played 302 first grade games for the Roosters, thinks the club’s youth are primed for breakout seasons, and will keep the club in the top eight.
“I think this season the Roosters will unearth a lot of young kids, which is good, some fresh blood coming in,” Minichello told SEN 1170 Mornings.
“I hear Robbo (Trent Robinson) speak all the time; it’s an exciting time for the club… getting these guys some experience. Once they get their confidence, these players could be anything.
“I think it’s exciting for the Roosters, if they take that opportunity that's the start of their career.
“I have the Roosters in the top 8. I'm not sure about the top four to be brutally honest.”
Minichello also praised the signing of Chad Townsend, saying the veteran halfback’s experience will be invaluable to the side.
Townsend has played 262 NRL games and won a premiership with the Cronulla Sharks in 2016.
“Experience on the field counts for a lot,” Minichello said.
“You can have all these young guys with the speed and the power, but you need some calmness under pressure and guys that… been in grand finals before and have done it over and over again for 150-250 games, especially in the halves and the spine.
“I think he will add a lot to the calmness of the group on the field.”
The Roosters’ season kicks off on March 6 against the Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium.
