2007 Sydney Roosters season explained

Year:	2007
League:	NRL
League Rank:	10th
Cup:	Challenge Cup
League Wins:	10
League Draws:	1
League Losses:	13
Points For:	445 (78tries, 65goals, 3fieldgoals)
Ceo Title:	CEO
Coach:	Chris Anderson, Brad Fittler
Captain:	Craig Fitzgibbon
Stadium:	Sydney Football Stadium
Avg Attendance:	12,014
Top Tries:	Joel Monaghan 14
Top Goals:	Craig Fitzgibbon 57
Top Points:	Craig Fitzgibbon 122
Prev Season:	2006
Next Season:	2008

The 2007 Sydney Roosters season was the 100th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership and finished 10th (out of 16).

Season summary

The Sydney Roosters had a relatively poor start to their 100th season, not recording a win until Round 7 against the St George-Illawarra Dragons on Anzac Day. This however was juxtaposed by a rather strong period in the middle of the year winning 5 of their last 8 matches between Rounds 7 and 14.

Despite their poor start to the season, the Sydney Roosters were having a late season resurgence under newly appointed Care-Taker Coach Brad Fittler. Since Chris Anderson left the club following their 56–0 loss to Manly Sea Eagles, the Sydney Roosters were yet to lose a game in 5 consecutive matches and were a few days ago, in 10th position. That came from wins over the likes of the Cronulla Sharks, Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers with a draw to the New Zealand Warriors. Then on 19 August, the run of being undefeated by Brad Fittler was broken, as the Gold Coast Titans claimed victory 22–18. This sits the Sydney Roosters on 11th, still a mathematical chance of making the finals.

Results

Round	Opponent	Result	Syd	Opp.	Date	Venue	Crowd	Report
1	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Loss	6	18	19 Mar	Sydney Football Stadium	24,127	^[1]
2	North Queensland Cowboys	Loss	6	43	24 Mar	Willows Sports Complex	21,396	^[2]
3	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Loss	8	30	1 Apr	Sydney Football Stadium	11,976	^[3]
4	Brisbane Broncos	Loss	10	32	6 Apr	Sydney Football Stadium	11,476	^[4]
5	Canberra Raiders	Loss	28	37	16 Apr	Canberra Stadium	15,862	^[5]
6	Bye
7	St George-Illawarra Dragons	Win	18	4	25 Apr	Sydney Football Stadium	18,240	^[6]
8	Parramatta Eels	Loss	10	28	5 May	Parramatta Stadium	13,021	^[7]
9	Gold Coast Titans	Win	24	18	13 May	Sydney Football Stadium	6,242	^[8]
10	Melbourne Storm	Loss	2	26	19 May	Sydney Olympic Park	9,354	^[9]
11	Cronulla Sharks	Win	13	12	26 May	Endeavour Field	11,193	^[10]
12	Newcastle Knights	Loss	18	22	2 Jun	Central Coast Stadium	11,264	^[11]
13	North Queensland Cowboys	Win	64	30	9 Jun	Sydney Football Stadium	4,168	^[12]
14	Penrith Panthers	Win	24	20	16 Jun	Penrith Stadium	5,831	^[13]
15	Parramatta Eels	Loss	16	36	23 Jun	Sydney Football Stadium	12,211	^[14]
16	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Loss	6	38	2 Jul	Stadium Australia	20,722	^[15]
17	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Loss	0	56	7 Jul	Brookvale Oval	9,932	^[16]
18	Cronulla Sharks	Win	23	12	14 Jul	Sydney Football Stadium	8,421	^[17]
19	Newcastle Knights	Win	20	17	21 Jul	Newcastle International Sports Centre	15,171	^[18]
20	Melbourne Storm	Win	26	16	27 Jul	Sydney Football Stadium	8,824	^[19]
21	New Zealand Warriors	Draw	31	31	5 Aug	Sydney Football Stadium	15,142	^[20]
22	Wests Tigers	Win	26	22		10 Aug	Stadium Australia	25,166	^[21]
23	Gold Coast Titans	Loss	18	22	19 Aug	Carrara Stadium	17,425	^[22]
24	Penrith Panthers	Loss	22	28	25 August	Sydney Football Stadium
25	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Win	26	12	1 September	Stadium Australia

Notable events

• Sydney Roosters celebrate their 100th year in the competition
• In round 7 the Roosters defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 18–4. This victory marked the 1,000th win in the club's history. The Roosters were the first club to achieve this feat.
• The Roosters scored an unprecedented 64 points in round 13 against the Cowboys. This was the third highest number of points scored in a single game by the Roosters.
• In the Roosters round 14 victory over the Penrith Panthers, the Sydney Roosters recorded their first back to back win since 2005.
• The Roosters 56-point thrashing by Manly was their second worst defeat by Manly, and the Roosters seventh worst loss of all time. Following this loss, Chris Anderson resigned as coach with club legend Brad Fittler named as coach for the rest of the season.
• On 14 July the Sydney Roosters defeated the Cronulla Sharks 23–12. This result after a restless week at the Roosters marked Brad Fittler's first win as a first grade coach.
• With the round 20 victory over the competition leaders and premiership favourites, the Melbourne Storm (26–16), the Sydney Roosters recorded their first three consecutive wins since the finals series in 2004, a run which was halted by the Grand Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
• In round 22, the Roosters became the first team in NRL history to go to Golden Point extra-time for two consecutive matches. They went on to win the match with a Joel Monaghan try.
• In round 23, Brad Fittler tasted defeat for the first time in his coaching career, a loss to the Gold Coast Titans, 22–18.
• On 28 August 2007, caretaker head coach Brad Fittler AM was appointed as the head coach for season 2008 (101st season for the Sydney Roosters).^[23]

Wins

• Round 07, Sydney Roosters 18 defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 4 at Sydney Football Stadium
• Round 09, Sydney Roosters 24 defeated Gold Coast Titans 18 at Sydney Football Stadium
• Round 11, Sydney Roosters 13 defeated Cronulla Sharks 12 at Toyota Park
• Round 13, Sydney Roosters 64 defeated North Queensland Cowboys 30 at Sydney Football Stadium
• Round 14, Sydney Roosters 24 defeated Penrith Panthers 20 at CUA Stadium
• Round 18, Sydney Roosters 23 defeated Cronulla Sharks 12 at Sydney Football Stadium
• Round 19, Sydney Roosters 20 defeated Newcastle Knights 17 at Energy Australia Stadium
• Round 20, Sydney Roosters 26 defeated Melbourne Storm 16 at Sydney Football Stadium
• Round 22, Sydney Roosters 26 defeated Wests Tigers 22 at Telstra Stadium

Draws

• Round 21, Sydney Roosters 31 drew with the New Zealand Warriors at the Sydney Football Stadium

Players

The following is the Sydney Roosters squad named for the 2007 season. For Player Contracts see below in the external links section for details.

1. Jamie Soward as of 28 May has left the Sydney Roosters. He is now a member of the St George Illawarra Dragons.^[24]
2. Josh Lewis as of 14 May gained a release from the Sydney Roosters and with immediate effect will play for the Gold Coast Titans
3. Nigel Plum as of 5 June sought and was granted a release from the Sydney Roosters and has immediately signed with the Canberra Raiders.
4. Chris Flannery as of 15 June has been granted a release from the Sydney Roosters. Flannery, a seasoned origin player for Queensland has since signed with St. Helens in the Super League.

Player Summary

Sydney Roosters 2007	Appearance	Interchange	Tries	Goals	F/G	Points
	19	–	5	–	2	22
	10	7	3	–	–	12
	1	5	–	–	–	0
	–	2	–	–	–	0
	23	–	2	57	–	122
	13	7	4	–	–	16
	14	–	8	–	–	32
	6	2	–	–	–	0
	1	–	1	–	–	4
	10	–	2	–	1	9
	20	–	14	–	–	56
	7	8	–	–	–	0
	17	7	–	–	–	0
	1	2	–	–	–	0
	7	15	3	–	–	12
	–	5	–	–	–	0
	13	3	2	–	–	8
	24	–	9	–	–	36
	1	3	–	–	–	0
	20	1	7	8	–	44
	7	7	1	–	–	4
	6	14	1	–	–	4
	21	–	1	–	–	4
	13	–	1	–	–	4
	1	–	–	–	–	0
	–	2	–	–	–	0
	21	1	4	–	–	16
	–	5	–	–	–	0
	12	–	5	–	–	20
	24	–	5	–	–	20
Total	312	96	78	65	3	445

Player Movements

Incoming

Name	Club Coming From	Details
		4-year contract, begins 2008	^[25]
		3-year contract, begins 2008	^[26]
		3-year contract, begins 2008

Outgoing

Name	Club Going To	Details
		4-year contract, begins 2008	^[27]
Joel Monaghan		3-year contract, begins 2008	^[28]
		2-year contract, effective immediately	^[29]
Josh Lewis		3-year contract, effective immediately	^[30]
Nigel Plum		2-year contract, effective immediately	^[31]
Chris Flannery		4-year contract, effective immediately	^[32]
Heath L'Estrange		2-year Contract begins 2008	^[33]

Representative Players

The following is a list of Sydney Rooster players who have played for Australia or New Zealand and other nations, New South Wales or Queensland and City or Country in representative levels of football during the 2007 calendar year. This is correct as of 15 May 2007

International

Australia

• Anthony Tupou

New Zealand

• Iosia Soliola

State of Origin

New South Wales

• Anthony Minichiello
• Braith Anasta
• Anthony Tupou

Queensland

• Nate Myles

City Vs Country

City

• Anthony Minichiello
• Braith Anasta
• Craig Wing

Country

• Amos Roberts
• Craig Fitzgibbon

Staff

Coaching Staff

Head coach – Brad Fittler AM (10 July 2007 –)
Head coach – Chris Anderson (16 March 2007 – 9 July 2007)
Physical Performance Manager – Ronald Palmer
Strength and Conditioning coach – Richard Harris
Strength and Conditioning coach – Ben Gardiner
Jersey Flegg and NRL Assistant coach – James Pickering
Club Physotherapist – Tony Ayoub
Football Manager – Troy Rovelli
Team doctor – Dr John Orchid
Recruitment and Retention – Arthur Beetson OAM

Assistant Staff/ Consultants

Luke Phillips
Luke Ricketson
Adrian Lam
Phil Gould

Executive

CEO – Brian Canavan
Chairman – Nick Politis

List incomplete

External links

• Official Sydney Roosters Website
• Official Sydney Roosters Player Contracts
• Official Australian Rugby League Website
• Official National Rugby League Website
• Official New South Wales Rugby League Website
• Official Queensland Rugby League Website
• Official Country Rugby League of New South Wales Website
• Official New Zealand Rugby League Website
• Official International Rugby League Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2008 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024247/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=1&grade= . 11 April 2008 .
2. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2008 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024253/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=2&grade= . 11 April 2008 .
3. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070427172506/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=3&grade= . 27 April 2007 .
4. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070427171921/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=4&grade= . 27 April 2007 .
5. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070427172159/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=5&grade= . 27 April 2007 .
6. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=7&grade=
7. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=8&grade=
8. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=9&grade=
9. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=10&grade=
10. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . https://archive.today/20070626035741/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=11&grade= . 26 June 2007 . dead.
11. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070709182028/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=12&grade= . 9 July 2007 .
12. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070709183552/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=13&grade= . 9 July 2007 .
13. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070709182735/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=14&grade= . 9 July 2007 .
14. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070709183227/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=15&grade= . 9 July 2007 .
15. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070709183646/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=16&grade= . 9 July 2007 .
16. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=17&grade=
17. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2008 . 18 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080730132256/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=18&grade= . 30 July 2008 .
18. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 24 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071026103542/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2678 . 26 October 2007 .
19. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2008 . 29 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080731125215/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=20&grade=first_grade . 31 July 2008 .
20. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=21&grade=first_grade
21. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/season2007/lastmatch/match_report.php?RoundID=22&grade=first_grade
22. http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2771
23. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 21 August 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070903122312/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2776 . 3 September 2007 .
24. Web site: Soward released by Roosters . Sydney Roosters . 28 May 2007 . 28 May 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070907102737/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2541 . 7 September 2007 .
25. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 29 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070908143647/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2480 . 8 September 2007 .
26. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 12 November 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071026102829/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2597 . 26 October 2007 .
27. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 22 June 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070907085943/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2588 . 7 September 2007 .
28. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 29 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070905145346/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2694 . 5 September 2007 .
29. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 28 May 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070907102737/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2541 . 7 September 2007 .
30. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 19 November 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071111201016/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2506 . 11 November 2007 .
31. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 19 November 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071028023229/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2555 . 28 October 2007 .
32. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 19 November 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071028021517/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2581 . 28 October 2007 .
33. Web site: Sydney Roosters Rugby League 2007 . 19 November 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071026103745/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2716 . 26 October 2007 .