NRL legend Matty Johns has urged Roosters coach Trent Robinson to rethink his team’s playing style to remain competitive with the top teams and contend for future premierships. In a recent match against Melbourne Storm, the Roosters struggled, especially in the last 20 minutes, highlighting a noticeable gap in quality. The loss reinforced a pattern, with the Roosters consistently falling short against powerhouse teams like the Storm and Panthers.
Since 2020, the Roosters have only defeated these top teams once. This ongoing issue led Johns to suggest Robinson should overhaul their approach. “They need to scrap the ‘Roosters way’ because it isn’t working,” Johns said on Finals Footy. He emphasized that the Roosters’ struggles aren’t due to their roster but rather their style of play, predicting Robinson will enter the 2025 season “under pressure” to make changes.
The offseason poses additional challenges, as the Roosters are set to lose several key players, including Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, and Joseph Manu, along with Brandon Smith and Sam Walker who will be sidelined for part of next year due to injuries. While Chad Townsend will join the team from the Cowboys, Robinson will face early-season difficulties with a roster low on veteran players and leadership.
When asked if the Roosters’ preliminary finals exit could be considered acceptable given their injuries, Johns was skeptical. “It’s still a very strong side,” he noted, indicating that regardless of injuries, their current record against top teams needs improvement.