Sydney Roosters facts for kids
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| Club information | |||
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| Full name | Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | Roosters, Easts, Tricolours, Chooks, Red White and Bluesters, Sydney City, Eastern Suburbs | ||
| Short name | Sydney Roosters | ||
| Website | roosters.com.au | ||
| Colours | Blue (Navy) White Red |
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| Founded | 24 January 1908 as Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club | ||
| Current details | |||
| Ground(s) |
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| CEO | Joe Kelly | ||
| Chairman | Nick Politis | ||
| Coach | Trent Robinson (NRL) John Strange (NRLW) |
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| Captain | James Tedesco (NRL) Isabelle Kelly (NRLW) |
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| Competition | National Rugby League and NRL Women's Premiership | ||
| 2024 season | 3rd | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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| Records | |||
| Premierships | 15 (1911, 1912, 1913, 1923, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1945, 1974, 1975, 2002, 2013, 2018, 2019) | ||
| Runners-up | 15 (1908, 1919, 1921, 1928, 1931, 1934, 1938, 1941, 1960, 1972, 1980, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2010) | ||
| Minor premiership | 20 (1912, 1913, 1923, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) | ||
| World Club Challenge | 5 (1976, 2003, 2014, 2019, 2020) | ||
| NRL Nines | 1 (2017) | ||
| World Sevens | 1 (1993) | ||
| NRLW | 2 (2022) | ||
| Wooden spoons | 5 (1949, 1963, 1965, 1966, 2009) | ||
| Most capped | 310 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves | ||
| Highest points scorer | 1,469 - Craig Fitzgibbon | ||
The Sydney Roosters are a professional rugby league team from Australia. They are based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club plays in the top-level National Rugby League (NRL) competition.
The Roosters have won many titles, including fifteen NSWRL and NRL championships. They are one of the oldest clubs, founded in 1908 as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club. They are the only club to have played in every season of the top league.
The Sydney Roosters have won 15 premierships, which is tied with the St George Dragons. Only the South Sydney Rabbitohs have won more. The club also holds records for winning the most matches and the most World Club Challenge trophies. They were runners-up in their very first season.
Today, the team is coached by Trent Robinson and captained by James Tedesco. They play their home games at the Sydney Football Stadium. The club's main base is in Bondi Junction. Their training facilities are in Moore Park. The Roosters have strong rivalries with other Sydney clubs, especially the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Contents
Club History
The Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club (ESDRLFC) started on January 24, 1908. This happened at a meeting in Paddington Town Hall, Sydney. It was decided that the area should have a team in the new New South Wales Rugby Football League. The club was set up to represent areas like Waverley, Randwick, and Paddington.
The team was unofficially called the "Tricolours" because of their red, white, and blue uniforms. Eastern Suburbs won their first game against Newtown 32–16 in April 1908. In 1913, they made history by winning three championships in a row. Famous players like Dally Messenger and Sandy Pearce were part of the team then.
After this success, the club had a quieter period for nine seasons. But from 1926 to 1942, Eastern Suburbs were very strong. They won four titles and were minor premiers seven times. During this time, Dave Brown set many scoring records.
In 1935, the team lost only one game. They also had their biggest win ever, 87–7, against Canterbury. In 1936, Eastern Suburbs became one of only five teams to go undefeated for an entire season. They even did it again the next year, being the only club to be unbeaten for two seasons in a row.
Even after winning the premiership in 1945, Eastern Suburbs struggled for seven seasons. They came close in 1960, finishing runners-up. They lost 31–6 in the grand final to the strong St George team. In 1966, the club had its worst year, not winning any games. This was the last time they won the wooden spoon until 2009. From 1963 to 1966, they won only 8 out of 72 matches.
Things changed in 1967 when Jack Gibson became coach. The team also got a new emblem, the rooster.
Success in the 1970s and 1980s
From 1972 to 1982, the Roosters won four minor premierships. They also played in four grand finals, winning two in a row. Coach Jack Gibson returned from 1974 to 1976. In 1974 and 1975, the team won 39 out of 44 matches. They won both minor premierships and both grand finals. They also set a record of 19 consecutive wins.
The 38–0 grand final win in 1975 against St George was the biggest winning margin in a grand final for 33 years. It was broken in 2008. Players like Mark Harris, Ron Coote, and captain Arthur Beetson were part of these great teams.
Between 1984 and 1995, the Roosters only reached the semi-finals once. They were sometimes called the "transit lounge" because many players came and went. In 1987, under coach Arthur Beetson, they almost made the grand final. They lost a tough game to Manly 10–6.
Modern Era and NRL Success
In the mid-1990s, the Roosters signed famous coach Phil Gould and star player Brad Fittler. This helped the team become strong again. Fittler led the Roosters to four grand finals in five years. In 2002, they won their 12th premiership, their first in 27 years. They beat the New Zealand Warriors 30–8 in the 2002 NRL grand final.
In the 2003 NRL grand final, the Roosters lost to the Penrith Panthers 18–6. A key moment was when Roosters winger Todd Byrne was tackled just before scoring a try. In 2004, the Roosters made the Grand Final again. They lost to the Bulldogs 16–13. This was captain Fittler's last game.
In 2007, the Roosters became the first club to play 100 seasons of top-grade rugby league. They have played in every season since 1908. Chris Anderson coached in 2007 and 2008. He resigned after a big loss. Assistant Coach Fittler took over for two years.
In 2009, the Roosters had a tough season and finished last. Fittler was replaced by veteran coach Brian Smith. A year later, under Brian Smith, they reached the 2010 NRL Grand Final. They lost to the St. George Illawarra Dragons 32–8.
The 2012 season was also disappointing, with the Roosters finishing 13th. Brian Smith resigned, and captain Braith Anasta left the club.
The Trent Robinson Era
The 2013 season brought big changes. New coach Trent Robinson joined, along with new players like Michael Jennings, James Maloney, and Sonny Bill Williams. The Roosters won the Minor Premiership in 2013. They were the best attacking and defensive team in the NRL.
They beat the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 4–0 in the finals. Then they defeated the Newcastle Knights 40–14. This sent them to the 2013 NRL grand final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The Roosters won 26–18, making a great comeback from being 10 points down. This was their 13th premiership. They then won the 2014 World Club Challenge against Wigan.
In 2014, the club finished first again, winning the Minor Premiership. They lost to Souths in the Preliminary Final. In 2015, they won their third Minor Premiership in a row. But they lost to Brisbane in the Preliminary Final.
The 2016 season was difficult, with the Roosters finishing 15th. Star player Mitchell Pearce was suspended, and other key players were injured. In 2017, they finished 2nd. They lost to North Queensland in the Preliminary Final.
In 2018, the Sydney Roosters finished first in the regular season, winning their 20th Minor Premiership. They beat Cronulla-Sutherland 21–12 in the finals.
In March 2018, the NRL announced that the Roosters would have a team in the first-ever NRL Women's competition. This made Eastern Suburbs the only club to be a founding member of both the men's and women's leagues. The women's team finished second, losing the Grand Final to the Brisbane Broncos.
The men's team then beat South Sydney 12–4 in the last sports match at the old Sydney Football Stadium. They won the 2018 NRL Grand Final against Melbourne 21–6, claiming their 14th premiership.
The Roosters started the 2019 NRL season with a loss to Souths. But they then won eight games in a row. They beat Melbourne 21–20 in a grand final rematch. They also had big wins over Brisbane and Wests.
Midway through the 2019 NRL season, the Roosters had a dip in form. But they recovered, winning 7 of their last 8 matches to finish 2nd. They beat South Sydney and Melbourne to reach the 2019 NRL Grand Final. In the grand final, Sydney won their second premiership in a row against Canberra. This was the first time a team had won back-to-back premierships in a unified competition since 1993.
The club started the 2020 NRL season as a top contender. They lost their first two games, then the season was paused due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. When play resumed, they won five matches in a row. They finished 4th and made the finals. They lost to Penrith and then to Canberra, ending their chance for a third straight premiership.
The 2021 NRL season saw the Roosters face many injuries. Key players like Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner, and Brett Morris retired or had season-ending injuries. Many young players made their debut. Despite this, the Roosters finished fifth and made the finals. They beat the Gold Coast 25–24 but then lost to Manly 42–6.
In the 2022 NRL season, the club finished sixth. They won eight straight games late in the season but were knocked out in the first week of the finals. The Sydney Roosters were expected to do well in the 2023 NRL season. By round 20, they were 14th. But they won their last five matches, including against rivals South Sydney, to finish 7th. They beat Cronulla in week one of the finals. They then lost a close game to Melbourne 18-13.
Club Emblem
Eastern Suburbs did not have a crest on their jerseys for a long time. In 1967, after a season with no wins, the club introduced its first logo. It said "Easts to Win" and featured a rooster. Some believe the rooster was chosen because the French national rugby league team, whose mascot is "le coq" (the rooster), inspired the Roosters' jersey design.
In 1978, the logo changed to just "Eastern Suburbs". In 1994, the club became the "Sydney City Roosters" to attract more fans. In 2000, they shortened it to the "Sydney Roosters". Even with these name changes, the club is still officially known as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club.
Team Colours
Red, white, and blue have always been the club's colours. The jersey design has changed a few times. During World War II, the design was different because dye was needed for the war. The team wore a sky-blue jersey with a red and white V-strip. This was the only time the traditional deep blue, red, and white were not fully used. After the war, the V-strip went back to blue, and the red and white stripes returned. This design from the 1950s is still the team's basic look.
Primary Jerseys Through the Years
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1908–1913
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1914–1943, 1947–1953
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1944–1946
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1954–1974
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1975–1991
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1992–2007
Main Rivals
The Roosters have strong rivalries with other teams:
- Main Rival: South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Major Rivals: St. George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm
- Other Rivals: Penrith Panthers, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Brisbane Broncos, Parramatta Eels, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Home Stadiums
The Roosters played at the Royal Agricultural Ground from 1908 to 1910. After that, they played most home games at the Sydney Sports Ground until 1986. This ground was then knocked down to build the Sydney Football Stadium. In 1987, games were temporarily moved to Henson Park.
In 1988, the club moved to the new Sydney Football Stadium. They lost their first game there 24–14 to the St George Dragons. The Roosters have won 59% of their games at the Sydney Football Stadium. They had similar win rates at the Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Roosters played their last game at the old Sydney Football Stadium on September 22, 2018. It was a Preliminary Final against South Sydney. A record crowd of 44,380 people attended. In 2019, the Sydney Roosters played their home games at the Sydney Cricket Ground while the new Sydney Football Stadium (2022) was being built.
Supporters and Fan Base
The Sydney Roosters have fans across Sydney and beyond. Their main fan base used to be in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. But now, fans come from many different areas. The Eastern Suburbs is known for being a wealthy area. Because of this, some people think Roosters fans are all rich. However, like other rugby league clubs, the Roosters were started by players from working-class backgrounds.
The club estimates they have about 800,000 fans. They were the most-watched NRL club from 2019 to 2021. They were also the third most-watched sports club in Australia overall. In 2021 alone, their games were watched 18.6 million times.
In 2013, the Roosters had the fourth-highest home attendance in the NRL, with an average of 19,368 fans. After the new Sydney Football Stadium opened, the Roosters had the third-highest average home attendance in the NRL in 2023, with 22,898 fans.
At their home ground, the Sydney Football Stadium, fans gather in special sections. The "Chook Pen" in Bay 35 is for the most excited fans. In 2023, the Roosters had over 20,072 paying members. The Easts Leagues Club also has 46,486 members. The football club and the Leagues Club work together as the "Easts Group."
Club Records and Statistics
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves holds the record for playing the most top-grade games, with 307 matches. He passed Mitchell Aubusson's record in 2024. Former captain Craig Fitzgibbon scored the most points for the club, with 1,376 points in 210 games.
Dave Brown set a competition record in 1935. He scored 45 points (five tries and 15 goals) in one game against Canterbury. This record still stands today. Ivan Cleary scored 284 points in 1998, which was a record for points in a season at the time.
Bill Mullins scored 104 tries in his 11-year career with Eastern Suburbs. This means he scored a try in about half of his games. Anthony Minichiello became the highest try scorer in Roosters history in 2011. He scored his 105th try against the Newcastle. 'Mini' retired in 2014 with 139 tries. He was also the first fullback in 70 years to captain a Grand Final-winning team (in 2013). Rod O'Loan scored seven tries in one game against Sydney University in 1935. Dave Brown's 38 tries in 15 games in the same year is still a competition record.
In 1975, the Eastern Suburbs Roosters set a record with a 19-match winning streak. This helped them win their 11th premiership. In a 1935 game against Canterbury, Dave Brown's 45 points led to an 87–7 win. This is the club's highest score and winning margin.
The club's record attendance for a regular season home game at the Sydney Football Stadium is 40,864. This happened on ANZAC Day in 2017 against the St George Illawarra Dragons. The record attendance for a regular season game at the SCG is 50,130, from a match against Manly Sea Eagles in 1974.
The 2000 grand final between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos had 94,277 spectators at the Olympic Stadium.
Team of the Century
In 2000, the Sydney Roosters chose their "Team of the Century." This team included players from 1908 to 2000.
| First team squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
Updated: 22 October 2011 |
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Club Honours and Titles
Major Titles
- Premierships – 15
- 1911, 1912, 1913, 1923, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1945, 1974, 1975, 2002, 2013, 2018, 2019
- Runners-up – 15
- 1908, 1919, 1921, 1928, 1931, 1934, 1938, 1941, 1960, 1972, 1980, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2010
- Minor Premierships – 20
- 1912, 1913, 1923, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
- World Club Challenge – 5
- 1976, 2003, 2014, 2019, 2020
- Amco Cup – 2
- 1975, 1978
- City Cup – 3
- 1914, 1915, 1916
- Auckland Nines – 1
- 2017
- World Sevens – 1
- 1993
Youth and Pre-season Titles
- Club Championship – 12
- 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1945, 1970, 1974, 1975, 2004, 2006
- Second Grade – 9
- 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1935, 1937, 1949, 1986, 2004
- Third Grade/Under 23 – 11
- 1914, 1917, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1941, 1947, 1970, 1976
- Preseason Cup – 4
- 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981
- Under-20s Competition – 1
- 2016
- Jersey Flegg Cup – 3
- 1995, 2002, 2004
- Presidents Cup – 16
- 1910, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1938, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1978, 1993
- S. G. Ball Cup – 4
- 1997, 2008, 2010, 2014
Women's Team
On March 27, 2018, the Sydney Roosters were given a license to join the first 2018 NRL Women's season. Adam Hartigan was named the coach.
In June 2018, the club signed fifteen top players for the first season. These included Karina Brown, Isabelle Kelly, and Ruan Sims.
The team finished as runners-up in the first NRL Women's Premiership. They lost to the Brisbane Broncos 34–12 in the Grand Final. Zahara Temara won the 2018 Player of the Season award.
In 2019, Rick Stone became the coach. However, the team did not win a match and finished last. Tallisha Harden was named the club's Best & Fairest Player for 2019.
Jamie Feeney became the head coach for the 2020 season. He wanted to improve the team's results. He was helped by Kylie Hilder and John Strange. Feeney made Corban McGregor the new captain. The club also signed famous Rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick.
See also
In Spanish: Sydney Roosters para niños
