History of The Sydney Roosters - Super League and Beyond

Super League and Beyond

A bitter Super League war saw the arrival of coach Phil Gould in 1995. A year later Australian captain Brad Fittler would follow in a show of no faith in the Super League bound Penrith Panthers. Reaching the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, the Roosters bowed out of the 1996 competition with losses to the eventual Grand Finalists in Manly and St. George.

The 1997 line-up seemed one of the best on paper in the Australian Rugby League competition, consisting of players such as Terry Hermansson, Jason Lowrie, Adrian Lam, Luke Ricketson, David Barnhill, Scott Gourley, Matt Sing, Andrew Walker and Ivan Cleary. With all accompanying Brad Fittler, the newly-named Sydney City Roosters took their premiership campaign to the Grand Final qualifier. Equalling the scores at 16 a piece with two late tries, the Roosters' Grand Final hopes ended with a field goal by Manly in the final minutes.

In a newly-formed and unified National Rugby League competition, the Roosters were able to finish 6th to secure a finals berth. Away wins against the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights saw the Roosters progress to the Grand Final qualifier for the second year in a row where they where defeated comfortably by the fancied Brisbane Broncos on their ground.

1999 saw few highlights from the Roosters, which bowed out of contention with two straight final losses. The efforts of captain Brad Fittler, who displayed one of his most dominant performances for the Roosters with two solo tries was not enough to defeat the newly formed St George Illawarra Dragons. With a change of coach in Graham Murray and an entirely new playing style in 2000, the Roosters progressed through to the Grand Final on the back of a tight victory against Newcastle in the Grand Final qualifier where to the Brisbane Broncos prevailed 14-6 in a dominant performance.

The Roosters would only have to wait two years to return to the Grand Final stage. Now under the direction of coach Ricky Stuart, the Roosters were able to capitalise on a 9-game winning streak leading into the Grand Final to surprise the critics and take out the 2002 premiership with a 30-8 performance against minor premiers, the New Zealand Warriors. Trailing by two points early in the second half, the Roosters were able to capitalise off a Brad Fittler 40/20 kick to allow Craig Wing to score, setting up a Roosters victory. The win put the Roosters ahead of the Balmain Tigers on the all-time winners list with 12 premierships, still 8 premierships behind South Sydney.

The chance to gain premiership number thirteen came unstuck in 2003. Backing up with another appearance in the Grand Final, the Roosters were tormented by dropped balls at crucial times in a game taunted by wet weather. The Roosters did however have the chance to take the lead midway through the second half when winger Todd Byrne made a clear break, but he was dragged into touch by Scott Sattler in a moment that will forever be remembered in Grand Final history. The Penrith Panthers took their second premiership ever defeating the Sydney Roosters 18-6 in what many describe as the biggest upset since Balmain defeated Souths in 1969. The Roosters would once again reach the Grand Final in 2004 against arch rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs. The game lived up to the hype surrounding the two powerhouse clubs, with Canterbury winning the game 16-13 in what would be Roosters captain Brad Fittler’s last match.

Having lost their star playmaker in Brad Fittler, the Roosters struggled to mount any sort of attacking capabilities in 2005, although were still able to show promising signs in the team's defence. This was not enough to secure the Roosters a finals berth, who missed out for the first time since 1995.