EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould Left Puzzled by Roosters’ Surprising Roster Changes

Phil Gould has called on the Roosters to start “lowering their expectations” regarding success, following several missed recruitment targets for the club.

The upcoming season presents what could be Trent Robinson’s toughest challenge since he took charge as coach. The Tricolours have lost a number of high-profile players and have struggled to fill the gaps.

Among those who have departed are Luke Keary, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and Joseph Manu, while front-rower Terrell May was controversially released.

Additionally, attempts to secure David Fifita ended in disappointment, and their efforts to recruit Ben Hunt also fell through as he decided to return to Queensland.

Once regarded as the league’s biggest spenders, Gould insists those days are behind them. With a long-standing history with the Roosters, he commented, “They’ve been one of our elite teams for many years.”

On the Wide World of Sports programme Six Tackles With Gus, he stated, “They’ve brought in just one player. Their recruitment strategy has been intriguing, as they aimed for several players but were unable to secure them, which is quite unusual for them.”

Gould added, “David Fifita’s decision to pull out at the last minute is something we rarely see from the Roosters. Their pursuit of Dane Gagai also had some peculiar outcomes in their recruitment efforts.”

Regarding Terrell May’s earlier release, he remarked, “The whole situation was baffling; he’s an excellent addition for the Tigers and could potentially play Origin this year. I simply couldn’t wrap my head around that move.”

Robinson now faces the new season without both Sam Walker and Brandon Smith, creating significant gaps in the Roosters’ spine and their championship aspirations.

Chad Townsend is set to temporarily fill the halfback position, but other key roles will be up for grabs, possibly allowing for younger talents to step up.

According to Gould, it might be time for the Roosters to shift their focus towards the future, even if it means postponing their title ambitions in 2025.

“They invest significantly in their development pathways and boast some exceptional young talent coming through,” he noted.

“I believe they need to seamlessly transition into this new phase.”

“It’s essential to pause, reassess and shift to ensure these young players gain valuable NRL experience before the club resumes its pursuit of marquee signings,” he continued.

“The Roosters have a winning mindset and dislike taking steps backwards, but sometimes you must go back to move forward. It’s clear they are in a transition period.”

“They still possess a lot of talented players, but it’s crucial to lower expectations and cultivate an appreciation for the emerging talents,” he added.

Young players such as Robert Toia, De La Salle Va’a, and Blake Steep are now in contention for positions in the team ahead of the season opener against the Broncos on March 6.