Here's a glance at how this week in history looked for the Sydney Roosters from May 4th to 10th.
MAY 4
2017: The Sydney Roosters officially announce the signing of Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco to a four-year deal from 2018.
MAY 5
2011: The Sydney Roosters are poised to release up to six star players because of mounting salary cap pressure, according to the Daily Telegraph. Internationals Nate Myles, Anthony Minichiello and Jason Ryles are expected to depart along with hooker Mark Riddell, centre Phil Graham and back-rower Aidan Guerra.
2013: Sydney Roosters legend Brad Fittler rates the club’s 2013 outfit a better combination than the 2002 team that he led to a grand final triumph. “This current team boasts a lot more talent than we ever did,” he says.
2014: Sonny Bill Williams becomes the first rugby league player to sign with sportswear giant adidas as a global ambassador.
2016: The Daily Telegraph reports that halfback Mitchell Pearce would prefer to concentrate on his role in resurrecting the Sydney Roosters’ season rather than playing for New South Wales in the State of Origin series.
MAY 6
2011: Wayward Rooster Todd Carney recommences training after his enforced lay-off.
2018: Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley nails Manly centre Dylan Walker with a bone-rattling tackle that saves a try and saves the day for his team in a 22-20 nail-biter at Allianz Stadium.
VB Hard Earned Effort | Round 9
MAY 7
1993: Easts captain Craig Salvatori damages his knee in his side’s loss to Canberra in Perth and is eventually ruled out for the season.
2006: The Sun Herald reports that fullback Anthony Minichiello could miss the State of Origin series with a lower back injury.
2018: Canterbury twins Brett and Josh Morris announce they have no plans to retire despite the likelihood that they will be squeezed out of the club due to salary cap pressures.
MAY 8
1994: A glandular fever scare disrupts preparations for Eastern Suburbs’ clash with Illawarra. After consultations with medical experts, the game is allowed to proceed.
2000: Sydney Roosters chief executive Bernie Gurr calls for widespread changes to scheduling around State of Origin matches, including the suspension of the premiership competition.
2004: Sydney Roosters captain Brad Fittler plays his 200th first grade game for the club and becomes the first player to appear in 200 games for one club and 100 for another (Penrith).
2008: Nine of the game’s greats – Ron Coote, Arthur Beetson, Bob Fulton, Noel Kelly, Graeme Langlands, Bob McCarthy, Norm Provan, John Raper and Arthur Summons – are honoured with life membership of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
2017: The Sydney Roosters re-appoint coach Jason Taylor as assistant coach.
MAY 9
2005: The NRL issue a new set of guidelines aimed at outlawing the grapple tackle.
MAY 10
1998: Sydney City upset Brisbane 26-12 at ANZ Stadium
2008: A pre-game address by chairman Nick Politis, who relates to players the remarkable contribution to the club of the late Jack Gibson, inspires a 30-4 demolition of Canberra at the Sydney Football Stadium.
2010: Reformed hooker Jake Friend returns from the wilderness to reappear for the Sydney Roosters, five months after the club sacked him for a series of alcohol-related incidents.
2015: A Sydney Roosters physiotherapist accompanies centre Blake Ferguson on a trip to Philadelphia where Ferguson is to receive treatment on his foot injury from sports medicine specialist Bill Knowles. The Roosters are hoping the treatment can improve Ferguson’s recovery time by at least two weeks.
2017: Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters announce that the clubs’ Holden Cup teams will play for a new trophy, the Chad Robinson Cup, in honour of the late second-rower who passed away in December 2016. Robinson played at NRL level for both clubs.
MAY 11
2015: Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall extends his contract with the club until the end of the 2017 season.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
