The 2024/25 off-season has been a huge one for the Sydney Roosters Academy.
After seeing thousands of first grade games of experience walk out the door at the conclusion of the 2024 season, the usual Sydney Roosters response would be to announce one or two big signings, plug some gaps with experience and prepare for another run at the top four.
The run at the top four will remain, however it will be done on the back of three years of development that has taken place in the Sydney Roosters Academy.
The Roosters have made one signing in Chad Townsend, but Head Coach Trent Robinson has been quoted as saying that the opportunity is now for the Sydney Roosters Academy players to make their mark on the NRL.
"We are going to play these kids. We've set up an academy for the last three years and now we're seeing these kids come through" Robinson said on SEN's The Run Home with Joel & Fletch.
“We believe in these kids that are coming through, so they're just going to play.”
And so it has been that no less than eight current or former Academy players are now entrenched in the Roosters Top 30 listed NRL players, with a further 4 holding development contracts with the Club. All 12 of these players are eligible for NRL selection, with Siua Wong, Blake Steep and De La Salle Va’a having already made their debut over the last two seasons.
Head of Academy, Jake Friend, said it should be a very exciting year for the Academy, praising the Club’s decision to open up the path for their development this season.
“I expect to see a bunch of our guys that have come through the Academy and apartments to get an NRL debut this year.” Friend said.
“We have had a large chunk of Academy players training with the First Grade squad over the summer. Now is the time for them to prove that they belong on that stage and I can’t wait to see how they go.”
To cap the pre season of hard work, our Academy players had the opportunity to display their talents in the first NRL Trial Match against St George Illawarra Dragons, with a total of 13 current or former Academy players taking their place in the line up.
Looking to the season ahead, Friend said he could see up to five or six Academy players making their debuts in 2025.
“Salesi Foketi is one of those, I think Jake Elliot has got a great chance, Benaiah Ielou is in a bit of a battle with Tyler Moriarty to get chance at that hooker spot and Rob Toia should be a lock for one of the centre positions come Round 1. It’s really exciting.”
