Trent Robinson has lauded his departing crew as among the most influential players in Sydney Roosters history, as the Tri-colours confirm they will lose almost 1300 NRL games of experience for next year.
One of the premiership favourites at the start of the season before injuries and a poor record against fellow heavyweights took their toll, the Roosters were dumped out of the finals by the Storm on Friday.
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Battered from the opening tackle, when Lindsay Collins was knocked out by a Nelson Asofa-Solomona high shot, the Roosters were gutsy to fight back to 24-18 down early in the second half.
But ultimately their defence cost them in the same way it has for much of this season, as the Storm racked up 48 points in the preliminary-final win at AAMI Park.
The loss marked the end of the road for the most-capped Rooster in history in Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, along with the club’s two-time premiership-winning five-eighth Luke Keary.
Joey Manu and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii are also bound for rugby, but could one day return later in their careers.
Sitili Tupouniua will head to Canterbury, while Robinson also confirmed the off-contract Dylan Napa and Michael Jennings would leave the club for a second time.
In total, the seven players account for 1279 matches experience.
“Really disappointed obviously with the result,” Robinson said.
“There’s absolute disappointment to the opportunity that was right there in front of us, but not good enough.
“Then obviously it’s quite clear that some guys are leaving there, so it’s sort of the last time for some guys, that have put a lot of heart and soul into our jersey and the club and we feel really proud about the time that they’ve had with us and it’ll be the last time they’re sitting in the sheds.
“There’s guys that have impacted the club in the right way as much as any guys over the course of 116 years,” Robinson said of the departing crew.
“Jared, Joey Manu, Kez (Luke Keary), Sitili, Suaalii and then Naps and Jenko back at home as well.
“Those guys have had a big impact on the history of our club and jersey. We’re really proud of where our club is.”
Waerea-Hargreaves will likely loom as one of the most difficult to replace, after spending the past 15 seasons as one of the NRL’s most-fear enforcers.
Keary has also developed into one of the NRL’s most composed playmakers, as one of only three halves to have won premierships at multiple clubs this century.
“He bounced around a lot, and he got everything out of his football career,” Robinson said of Keary.
“He is an intelligent guy, and has worked so hard on his game, physically and mentally. Three premierships, a Clive Churchill, Australia and NSW.
“It’s a pretty good career he has eked out there. I am pretty proud of him.”