Squad breakdown: Roosters & Dragons 2025 NRL SuperCoach analysis

The Sydney Roosters enter 2025 with a new-look roster.

Key members have departed, while late season injuries last season have left holes in their 17.

Will it be enough to see them miss the eight or will the adversity be enough to galvanise Trent Robinson’s group?

Only time will tell…

Whether they are premiership contenders or set for a decline, they always seem to be bursting with NRL Supercoach relevance to begin a new season.

This year is no different with a plethora of options, however predicting starting positions, roles, and minute allocation is proving tough.

Let’s take a look at their NRL Supercoach prospects ahead of round 1.

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Sydney Roosters

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1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Robert Toia
4. Mark Nawaqanitawase
5. Dominic Young
6. Sandon Smith
7. Chad Townsend
8. Naufahu Whyte
9. Connor Watson
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Angus Crichton
12. Victor Radley
13. Suia Wong
14. Nat Butcher
15. De La Salle Va’a
16. Blake Steep
17. Salesi Fokeki

Unavailable: Sam Walker (ACL, mid season), Brandon Smith, (ACL, mid season), Billy Smith (Hip, round 2 or 3), Egan Butcher (Knee, round 2 or 3), Spencer Leniu (suspension, round 2)

Analysis: The Roosters boast a few new faces due to injuries to end 2024 and a few departures.

Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend are likely to form a new halves pairing with Luke Keary retired and Sam Walker injured. Smith will goal kick.

Joey Manu’s vacant centre spot is up for grabs, with Mark Nawaqanitawase, Robert Toia and Junior Pauga all fighting to start, along with Billy Smith who is likely to miss the opening round or two.

It’ll be a genuine shoot-out in the pre-season trial fixtures.

Trent Robinson appears locked in on the Radley edge experience, meaning the vacancies in the side will be at lock. Suia Wong and Nat Butcher appear likely to battle it out for the honours until the impending return of Brandon Smith, scheduled for Round 10.

With Spencer Leniu suspended Naufahu Whyte will start at prop in the absence of Spencer.

Egan Butcher is on track for the early stages of the season after suffering an ACL injury last season, he’ll fight for bench spots alongside Blake Steep, Siua Wong and De La Salle Va’a.

Draw: 

Broncos (home), Penrith (away), Warriors (away), Titans (home), Souths (away)

First five round rating: 6/10

Guns:

James Tedesco I FLB I $920,200

Teddy was back to his Supercoach best in 2024 with a monstrous average of 94 points.

This included a 4 point game against the Bulldogs where he lasted just 23 minutes due to a head knock. 

He scored a ridiculous 11 centuries last season, including five in his last six games, four of which were 125+.

With changing faces in the spine he may increase his role in attack, however I can’t justify paying $920k with a likely weaker Roosters outfit.

Buy rating: 4/10

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Angus Crichton I 2RF I $758,700

Crichton returned to his elite Supercoach scoring in 2024 with an average of 78 points per game.

Take out the first two games of the season where he played just 25 and 26 minutes, he averaged 83.5 points per game.

With less attacking weapons this season he’ll be even more of a focal point of their attack.

Despite the high price tag, I do feel he’s one that’s been a little overlooked this pre-season likely due to the hefty price tag.

Probably a target for about round 6 for me, but I don’t mind the call to start him.

Buy rating: 6/10

Dominic Young I CTW I $701,200

Young is in super POD range at tiny ownership to start the season.

He averaged 72 points in a red-hot Roosters attacking outfit last in 2024.

Take out an injury impacted game and another where he was infamously sent off for a score of -15, he averaged 79.2 points per game.

The new-look halves and centre pairings put concern over their attack, so I’m not overly keen to pay up over $700k for him.

A likely target at some point, but not to start for me.

Buy rating: 4/10

Mid-rangers:

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Connor Watson I HOK-2RF I $583,000

Watson looks set to start at hooker for the Roosters and should play big minutes pending the bench make up.

In four starting games at hooker last season, all 70+ minutes, he averaged 62.25 points per game with 55.75 base per game.

He’s priced on an average of 60 points.

With a huge work-rate and attacking upside I see some value in him to begin the year, ideally as a stepping stone to Harry Grant.

Buy rating: 7/10

Siua Wong I $318k I Naufahu Whyte I $367k I Spencer Leniu I $393k

Leniu is suspended, while there’s a big job watch on Whyte and Wong pending the round 1 team lists.

We’ll know more about the Supercoach credentials of this pair when teams drop.

There’s serious potential for Wong who was a popular cheapie to begin 2024, but it’s extremely hard to predict his exact role and minutes prior to trials and the round 1 team list.

Poor trial performances from the Roosters place more uncertainty on roles of forwards moving forward, so I think I want to see how it plays out.

If he were named to start in round 1 it’d change a fair bit, but would still hold risk at the awkward price.

Buy rating: Team list pending…

Cheapies:

Billy Smith I CTW I $317,200

Billy Smith is an exceptional talent that can’t catch a break when it comes to injury.

In 2023 he strung together 14 straight games in the top grade, averaging 54 points with a very strong 33 in base.

Recent reports suggest he may not be available until closer to round 2 or 3 at best.

You could still start him on your bench, but I’m happy to wait until named ahead of his third game and initial price rise.

If named for round 1 lock him in.

Buy rating: 2/10 

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Sandon Smith I HOK-HFB I $237,600

Smith should be near enough the first player picked for most squads this season provided he wins the goal-kicking duties.

He’ll get an extended stint in the halves at the Roosters and is dirt cheap, with dual position.

In two 80 minute games last season he had scores of 51 and 88.

If he does goal-kick he’ll be an easy play in 17s early on also, even if he doesn’t I’d still buy him.

The Roosters and Smith were very ordinary in trials, but there’s very little competition for his spot.

Buy rating: 10/10

Robert Toia I CTW I $198,800

Toia is fighting for a starting centre spot at the Roosters, and like many on this list would be a certain buy if named.

The 20-year-old play six games in NSW Cup last season at centre where he had four tries, one assist and three linebreaks.

He busted 42 tackles at 7 per game which is incredible, while he also had six offloads in his final three games.

On those numbers he’ll be a very viable starting CTW in the 17 if named.

Buy rating: 9/10 

The St. George Illawarra Dragons enter 2025 with plenty of promise off the back of a big off-season recruitment drive.

Shane Flanagan instilled plenty of fight in the Red V last season that saw them on the brink of a shock top eight berth.

Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook headline major signings that’ll bring plenty of class and experience to the squad.

Let’s take a look at their NRL Supercoach prospects ahead of round 1.

St. George Illawarra Dragons

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1. Clint Gutherson
2. Matt Feagai
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Moses Suli
5. Christian Tuipulotu
6. Kyle Flanagan
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Emre Guler
9. Damien Cook
10. Toby Couchman
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Jayden Su’A
13. Jack de Belin
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Tom Eisenhuth
16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
17. Hame Sele

Unavailable: Ben Murdoch-Masila (lisfranc, round 3)

Analysis: Despite plenty of change to the Dragons line-up, the starting 17 appears fairly straight-forward.

Tyrell Sloan will need to prove himself defensively to win a starting berth on the wing, with Sione Finau now the front-runner to start.

Damien Cook will start at hooker, likely spending time at lock when Jacob Liddle is introduced.

The likes of Blake Lawrie, Michael Molo, Ryan Couchman and rookie Loko Pasifika Tonga will all come into contention for bench roles.

Draw: Bulldogs (H), Rabbitohs (H), bye, Storm (H), Eels (A), Titans (H), Sea Eagles (A), Roosters

First five round rating: 5/10

Guns:

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Valentine Holmes I CTW I $784,500

Val slipped nicely into the Dragons left edge in the Charity Shield where he had numerous try-assists for Sione Finau.

After another monstrous season where he averaged 80 points he starts very expensive at $784k.

While there’s huge upside in his game, I’d prefer to see how the Dragons play early on before investing.

The Cowboys were lethal in attack last year, so there’s potential to buy at a discounted rate early in the season.

Buy rating: 4/10

Mid-rangers:

Toby Couchman I 2RF / FRF I $483,200

Couchman is a sneaky buy at 2RF after averaging 49 points in 38 minutes at an excellent 1.31PPM last season.

He had a base of 39 in that period.

If he can get an uptick in minutes to 45+ he could earn some decent cash and be a reliable scorer.

I’d prefer watch his role and minutes early and invest if they come.

Buy rating: 4/10

Moses Suli I CTW I $470,900

Suli was on my early season radar based on the fact he played left edge last season which caught a cold in attacking territory as everything was tailored around Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax and the right edge.

He moves to the right this season to accommodate Holmes, unfortunately trial signs suggest they’ll heavily attack down the left meaning Suli may not get over his cold anytime soon.

In 19 games last season he scored just three tries and set up four, while he had a healthy base of 31 which is deceiving due to a -1 score in the first minute against the Roosters where he suffered a head knock.

I think there’ll be an uptick in attack, but not enough to gamble on him early at a slightly awkward price.

Buy rating: 5/10

Cheapies:

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Sione Finau I CTW I $279,000

Four tries in the Charity Shield shot Finau into cheapie prominence.

It was his positioning that was the most eye-catching, lobbing on the left edge outside Valentine Holmes which is where the Dragons sent the majority of their attacking ball in both trials.

There’s still job security issues with Christian Tuipulotu lurking, but if named for round 1 he looks a decent buy.