1980 - 1989 /

The 1980s proved to be a rollercoaster of a decade, which featured a Grand Final appearance, two Minor Premierships, Arthur Beetson's returning as Head Coach as well as a move into the revolutionary Sydney Football Stadium. 

Ultimately, however, it proved to be a decade filled with plenty of 'what could have been' moments, with wavering results seeing a number of players come and go, with the Club infamously dubbed 'the transit lounge'. 

1980 - Grand Final Bound

Without a recognised hooker in his squad, new fulltime Head Coach Bob Fulton enticed recently retired Queensland rake John Lang to make the move down to Sydney - which proved to be fruitful for all involved. 

The season started poorly, with just four wins in the first six games, with a number of new faces including Lang, Noel Cleal and Paul McCabe adjusting to life in Bondi, while established stars struggled with form and injury. 

However, the side's time in the cellar was brief, as Easts came into a purple patch during the winter, including resounding wins against Canterbury (20-5), Manly (29-9), Wests (26-14) and Newtown (19-5).

The Roosters' scintillating form led them to the Minor Premiership after a 15-10 defeat of Balmain in the final round, but after a week's break, they were brought down to earth by a ruthless Bulldogs outfit 13-7 in the first week of finals. 

After a sluggish performance, the razor-sharp Tricolours dismantled Wests 41-5, earning them a second crack against Canterbury in their first Grand Final since 1975, but it wasn't to be as they were beaten 18-4 in a disappointing final result. 

Debutants: Barry Andrews, John Berne, Noel Cleal, Steve Hage, Paul McCabe, David Michael, John Lang, Greg Lane, Steven Sydenham, Robert Lane 

1981 - Falling Short Again

Taking out their fourth pre-season title in eight years, hopes were bright for the Red, White and Blue heading into season 1981, with the disappointing of the previous year's Grand Final well behind them.

With Jack Gibson at the helm of Parramatta, the Roosters recorded three victories against their Western Sydney based opponents; the first in the pre-season final, then in Round 10 (15-7) and Round 21 (20-6). 

The latter sealed the Roosters' second consecutive Minor Premiership with sixteen wins, but in a gripping contest against the Eels in the Major Semi, their opponents bested them in a 100-minute epic, 12-8.

In a bitterly disappointing ending to the season, the Tricolours were downed by Newtown in the Grand Final, in another 'what could have been' year for the men from Bondi.

In a positive end to the year, rookie Jeff Masterman, forwards Paul McCabe and Captain Royce Ayliffe made their Test debuts alongside Kerry Boustead and Terry Fahey, while Kevin Hastings claimed the Rothman's Medal and Dally M Halfback of the Year. 

Debutants: Ian Barkley, Terry Fahey, Ron Giteau, Jeff Masterman, Dave J. Brown, Jeff Fisher, Bruce Foye

1982 - Expansion Continues 

The competition expanded further to 14 teams with the addition of Canberra and Illawarra, and with it came an extended 26-round competition - which proved to be beneficial for the Red, White and Blue. 

Fulton's side suffered a barrage of injuries in the early weeks, and after nine rounds they were anchored to the bottom of the table with just three wins but made an impressive turnaround from the brink. 

Although they succumbed to defeat to Manly 19-20 in Round 12, the performance set the side on a remarkable seven-match winning streak, beginning with a 55-15 demolition of newbies Canberra. 

A three-week period following may have only garnered a draw, but the Roosters were crowing at the right end of the year, and another winning streak saw them scrape into the finals in fourth position. 

Easts took care of Wests (11-7) and Norths (12-10) in two exhilarating and tight matches, but in the Preliminary Final, Parramatta dominated on the SCG quagmire.

The Roosters struggled particularly with the absence of Kevin Hastings to a broken foot, going on to lose 33-nil, and things looked to worsen with a lack of player re-signings and the imminent loss of Coach Bob Fulton - a mass exodus ensued.

Debutants: Russel Gartner, Robert Thompson, Ricky Walford, Robert Cowie, Kevin Webb, Steve Collins, Allen Geelan, Warren McDonnell, Rick Hannan, Les Cleal, Earnie Garland, Grant Jones

1983 - Freier's Club

With nine top-line players from the previous season departing, an astounding 22 players made their first-grade debut in 1983, with a total of 39 taking the field under new Head Coach and former first-grader Laurie Freier.

Coming in with a fresh approach, Freier had the Roosters humming despite the lack of big-name stars and doubt from 'experts' and analysts alike, sitting in fourth position at the end of July with a month remaining before finals.

Unfortunately for the new mentor, numerous incidents had taken their toll throughout the campaign, and a mounting injury toll contributed to a slide down the ladder, finishing tied in fifth position and forced into a Tuesday night playoff.

Just over a month after disposing of St George 47-12 at Kogarah Oval, the Roosters were on the wrong end of a 44-16 thrashing and missed the finals for the first time since 1979. 

Still, there were plenty of positives from a year that saw plenty of change, including:

• Freier named Coach of the Year
• New signing Mike Eden claiming the Rothman's Medal and breaking Dave Brown's 48-year Club record of most points in a year, finishing with 256
• Marty Gurr breaking Graeme Langland's record for most tries by a fullback with seventeen to his name
• After shifting to lock, Kevin Hastings made his long-awaited State of Origin debut for New South Wales from the interchange bench

Debutants: Michael Eden, Peter Grounds, Alan Neil, Seamus O'Connell, Terry Regan, Mick Ryan, Tom Arber, Keith Farrelly, Graeme Atkins, Ron Gibbs, Ken Groves, Matt Cruickshank, Col Porter, Wayne McPherson, Craig Farrugia, James Cutler, Dale Garrett, Joe Fenech, Harold Salmon, Mick Fitzsimons, Stuart Davis, Darren Finlayson

1984 - Unstable and Untenable

Newtown's departure from the top grade saw thirteen teams compete over 24 rounds, but that mattered little as Eastern Suburbs stumbled to their worst result since the infamous 1966 season.

Following a strong 24-8 win over heavyweights Manly in the opening round, the Roosters lost their next five matches, before producing back-to-back victories over Norths (22-20) and Wests (54-6). 

But as performances stagnated, support became hard to come by with crowds only usurping 5000 at the Sydney Sports Ground once over the year and star players spending time in and out of reserve grade. 

Five weeks from the competition's end, Freier was told his services were no longer needed, with Arthur Beetson instilled as the Club's Head Coach for 1985. 

In contrast to the Premiership season, the Red, White and Blue paved through the mid-week National Panasonic Cup, narrowly defeated by a Wally Lewis-led combined Brisbane, 11-12. 

Debutants: Mark Beaven, Rowland Beckett, Paul Dunn, John Ferguson, Brett Gale, Scott Gale, David Greene, Dane Sorensen, Kurt Sorensen, Shane McKellar, Robert Simpkins, Steve Stone, Glenn Leggett, Tim Barnes, Kelvin Eirth, Steve Hardy, Mick Cupic, Gary Wurth, Mark Wheeler, Jim Harvey, Scott Bennett, Phil Dotti, Bibi Edgerton

1985 - Coach Artie

With Club Legend Arthur Beetson at the helm came another influx of player arrivals and departures, while the administration of the Club took a significant change throughout the year, introducing the first fulltime secretary in Barry Van Heekeran. 

On the field though, it was a tough season most notably with a broken arm to Kevin Hastings midseason, following a renaissance at hooker and as the side's Captain - his leadership was sorely missed as Beetson trialled six different skippers.

A highlight of a disappointing season, though, came in Round 22 when the Tricolours took on the reigning Premiers in Parramatta.

Down 4-20 just after the halftime break, the Roosters rallied with tries to Ron Gibbs, Gary Wurth and Wayne Challis getting on the scoreboard for what was, at the time, statistically hte greatest comeback in the Club's history.

Debutants: Dean Bell, Olsen Filipaina, Hugh McGahan, Laurie Spina, Wilfred Williams, Wayne Challis, Mark Horton, Mike McLean, Wayne Portlock, Todd Riley, Terry Matterson, Brad Tessmann, Col Dreier, Brendan Hall, Michael Alchin, Corey Adams, Lindsay Johnston, David Cruickshank, Richie Douglas, Mike Ford, Roy Robinson

1986 - Nomads of the NSWRL

More departures in the form of Paul Dunn, John Ferguson and Ron Gibbs along with a handful of players who featured in first grade saw the introduction of Trevor Gillmeister, David Trewhella, Brian Battese, Tony Melrose, David French, Gary Prohm and Trevor Paterson - but of growing concern was the Club's inability to lure top-end players. 

With the competition looking to expand at the end of the decade with the likes of Newcastle and Brisbane pushing for a team, for the first time Easts were identified by the media as being 'on death row' - however, with the financial stability of the Club, it was a criticism that was far from warranted. 

In 1986, with the development of the Sydney Football Stadium, the Roosters took home games around to the Sydney Cricket Ground, Parramatta Stadium and Orana Park in Campbelltown in the most nomadic season since the Club's foundation years.

On June 29, the Club played its final match at the Sydney Sports Ground, holding off a fightback from North Sydney and claiming a famous 21-14 victory, with Gary Wurth starring with a hat-trick in the first 22 minutes.

Halfback Kevin Hastings broke Barry Reilly's record for most caps in the Red, White and Blue, and became the first Rooster to claim 200 first-grade games against Western Suburbs.

While the first grade failed to make the finals, Jim Morgan's reserve grade side surprised Minor Premiers Parramatta to win the Grand Final 10-2 in their first title since 1949. 

Debutants: Brian Battese, David French, Trevor Gillmeister, George Katsogiannis, Tony Melrose, David Trewhella, Trevor Paterson, Craig Salvatori, Luke Beasley, Paul Matterson, Dean Bailey, Ron Griffen, Gary Prohm, Brian Johnson, Carlos Parra, John Thomas, Brendan Hall, Steve Keir, Mark McDonnell

1987 - Surprise Packets

Despite no major signings or changes to the side for 1987, coach Beetson was confident in his side's ability as the league looked to expand, with player movement looking to take an upswing during the year with three new sides confirmed for 1988.

The loyalty from their mentor proved to be a catalyst in the side's reversal in fortunes, as they rocketed up the ladder to throw out a credible challenge to the likes of Parramatta, Canterbury-Bankstown and Manly-Warringah. 

By the time the finals series had rolled around, both Grand Finalists from 1986 had fallen away, while Easts emerged as Manly's main threat with their first consistent season since 1982 - displaying an uncanny ability to win close contests.

The 1987 Roosters took out seven games by five points or less, as well as a 12-all draw with Balmain, but reserved their best performance against the Sea Eagles, breaking their twelve-match streak with a 26-16 victory after leading 26-nil.

Still on their nomadic tour at Henson Park, the SCG and Parramatta Stadium, Eastern Suburbs finished second on the ladder before disposing of Canberra in the major preliminary final, before being denied by Manly 10-16 in the semi.

But the well-balanced team couldn't compete against the Raiders in the major preliminary final, going down 32-24, but with the likes of Trevor Gillmeister, Hugh McGahan, Steve Morris and halves Laurie Spina and Brendan Hall in fine form, plenty expected the side to go one better in 1988. 

The season was also the final one for talisman Kevin Hastings, who finished his career in Red, White and Blue after 228 games of first-grade, holding the Club's appearance record for fifteen years. 

Debutants: Tony Rampling, John Richards, Steve Morris, Paul Danes, Peter Johnston, Kurt Sherlock, Ron Ryan, David Smith, Brad Tassell, Danny Shepherd, Joe Lydon, Russell Bartlett

1988 - The Home of the Future 

The rapidly growing competition added three more teams - and for the first time expanded outside of New South Wales for the first time with Newcastle, Brisbane and Gold Coast coming in for a total of sixteen clubs. 

After over half a century at the Sydney Sports Ground, the renovations were complete for the brand-new 40,000-capacity Sydney Football Stadium, and following the addition of rugby international Brett Papworth along with the return to Moore Park, the Roosters were instilled as early favourites. 

Unfortunately, however, injuries and troubles adjusting to the heavy rain on the opening night at their new home, saw the side's lofty goals diminished in a matter of weeks, with just a single victory in the first ten rounds.

Following four seasons at the helm, which saw him slow down the Club's recruitment policy and take the side to one game within a Grand Final, Arthur Beetson stood down from his position with six weeks remaining with his Premiership-winning teammate Russell Fairfax taking over. 

Debutants: Gary Bridge, Wayne Marshall, Brett Papworth, Jason Williams, Darren Blythe, Bill Dart, Kevin Duckett, John Elias, Dean Clark, Pat Jarvis, Adrian Sligar, Rob McClusky, Dennis Beecraft, Rod Silva, Rodney Thomson

1989 - Revolution Afoot?

While the Club's on-field fortunate showed little sign of improvement under new coach Russell Fairfax, moves of a power shift at board level were underway, with fans looking for a change in the Roosters' recruitment policies.

A paper titled 'Resurrecting the Roosters' pitched by former player Bill Healey identified major problem areas and ways the Club could improve their positioning - with a focus on management and administration which suggested the appointment of a fulltime chief executive and football manager.

On the field, the Tricolours laboured through the season with a 9-12 record including a solitary draw, with star signing Brett Papworth's luck eluding him as injuries and form saw him ruled out of the season.

The sleeping giants of the competition won opening games against Souths and St George, and despite the mid-season arrivals of exciting Englishmen Martin Offiah and Joe Lydon, but ultimately were unable to reach their potential and the semi-finals. 

While a late surge of five wins from their final nine matches gave supporters hope for 1990, ultimately it would prove to be another under achievement for the Club. 

Debutants: Sandy Campbell, Michael Cook, Paul Mares, Geoff Sharpe, Mick Delroy, Steve Georgallis, Martin Offiah, Paul Culnane, Paul James, Tim Dwyer, Col Fraser, Steve Deacon, Brett Gillard, Warren Crompton, Anthony Totten