The Sydney Roosters' 2025 season was a balancing act between resetting and competing, ending with a heartbreaking defeat to Cronulla at Sharks Stadium.
Trent Robinson's side held onto eighth place with an inconsistent 13-11 record, fending off the Dolphins and Sea Eagles to book their ticket to the finals.
Robinson, in his 13th season at the helm, was tasked with navigating a roster that lost Luke Keary, Terrell May, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i amongst others.
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Two wins from their first seven games left pundits questioning whether there was enough talent left in the side to make any real mark on the competition.
Injuries compounded these concerns, with Nat Butcher's MCL blow and Brandon Smith's lingering ACL recovery leaving the middle rotation short of crucial go-forward and defensive resilience.
From midseason, however, signs emerged that the season wouldn't be a write-off. Young players like Mark Nawaqanitawase, Robert Toia and Hugo Savala all stepped up to the plate.
Changes in leadership also forced a culture reset, with Keary and Waerea-Hargreaves gone, established names like Victor Radley and Lindsay Collins had to fill the void.
The halves pairing of Savala and Sandon Smith, thrown together in the absence of Sam Walker, showed promise despite their lack of experience.
The forward pack, anchored by Spencer Leniu, Angus Crichton and Naufahu Whyte, often held its own. Their work gave the backline a chance to move the ball when combinations finally started to click.
What were the highs and lows of the 2025 season?
The Roosters' 2025 season crescendoed in Round 27 against their bitter rivals - the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The Round 27 triumph over the Rabbitohs offered brief optimism, but their season-long inconsistency was ruthlessly exposed by the Sharks a week later in their elimination final.
Throughout the regular season, the Roosters often let matches against lower ranked sides slip away, meaning that once the calendar ticked over to September, they struggled to find that extra gear.
Off-field and roster instability also loomed large. The mid-season transfer mess over Dom Young and Brandon Smith clearly unsettled the club.
That's without mentioning the constant questions about Daly Cherry-Evans' potential arrival in 2026, putting undue pressure on the developing halves already on the roster.
James Tedesco's revival was a bright spot in 2025. After losing his New South Wales jersey to Penrith's Dylan Edwards in 2024, it looked like the champion fullback had left his prime.
That narrative was quickly put to bed as he consistently affected the result of Roosters games through his leadership, running game and ball playing.
With the extensive experience that was lost in the off-season, Tedesco made a point of setting standards that his young teammates could follow.
How will the Roosters build for the future?
Looking ahead, the Roosters appear at a crossroads. They have emerging talent and a core group of players that are premiership ready.
But they have to take the lessons of 2025 seriously. Putting their faith into talented juniors and developing good habits throughout the season are the keys to success.
The signing of Reece Robson is a genuine coup. He offers defensive grit and crisp service that will instantly raise the Roosters' floor.
It will also unlock Connor Watson by allowing him to either come off the bench and avoid wasting energy doing the grunt work; or, start at lock and follow the evolution of the ball playing middle.
The same cannot be said about the impending deal for Cherry-Evans. At 36 years-of-age, by the time he arrives, the veteran may offer leadership and a short-term boost to the halves stocks, but investing heavily in him risks stalling the development of Sam Walker and Hugo Savala.
For a club trying to build its next great spine, leaning on an ageing Cherry-Evans feels more like a stop-gap than a genuine solution.