VALLEYS ROOSTERS
LAST YEAR
12-4, premiers
INS AND OUTS
IN: Dwayne Duncan (Souths), Joe Mua (Townsville Brothers), Ben Cook (Cairns).
OUT: Luke Capewell (Souths), Jazz Namana (Souths), Steve Rodgers (Oakey), Jake Ryals (retired), Hugh Sedger (Northern Pride), Matt Hawkins (retired), Jarryd Dodd (injury).
LIKELY TEAM
1. Dylan Chown 2. Zac Miles
3. Dwayne Duncan 4. Kalemb Hart 5. Novan Munro 6. Ben Cook 7. Cory McGrady 8. Dexter Buchanan 9. Nathan Bowering 10. Joe Mua 11. Hnaloan Budden 12. Nick Sargent 13. Jason Sharpe 14. Reggie Munn 15. Drew Jackson 16. Nathan Short 17. Junior Chong Nee
THE YEAR AHEAD
The Valleys Roosters know what they want to achieve in their 100th season, another premiership.
Last year’s premiers are hoping to get off to a flyer as they start their title defence.
“We’re ready. We’ve had a bit of a disjointed pre-season with players all over the country,” coach Brett Seymour told TRL media.
“We’ve had a good two weeks preparation, so we feel like we’re heading in the right direction.
“The first couple of weeks is about not beating ourselves, not making too errors and defensively trying to keep teams to as least points as possible so we don’t have to run them down.”
The Roosters have largely been able to keep the same nucleus of the side, and have added Ben Cook to partner alongside Cory McGrady in the halves.
Seymour said the new additions had the club in good stead to launch a charge for back-toback titles.
“Junior Chong Nee has come over from Souths, and I’ve been really impressed with him so far,” he said.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Zac Miles. Really stepped up when it counted at a key stage last year. He was rewarded with a starting spot in the Madsen Rasmussen Trophy game, as well as securing a grand final berth. He will only get better for the experience at the top level, and can take his game to new heights this year.
VERDICT
What a rollercoaster year the Roosters had in 2018. From winning the mid-season Madsen-Rasmussen Shield to a losing streak that almost saw them drop to fifth, Valleys clicked into gear when it counted to take out the title. They have a big year in store with centenary celebrations, and what better way to cap off 100 years in the TRL than with a premiership.
FIRST