The Roosters were billed as genuine premiership contenders heading into the 2023 season, but with five rounds remaining they are all but out of the finals race — and facing a crossroads no one saw coming.
The Tricolours last missed the top eight in 2016 — the first time that had happened under Trent Robinson since he was hired in 2013.
Now the Roosters’ fate is almost sealed this year and supremo Nick Politis will already be plotting to spark a change next season.
It was a bombshell move to drop Sam Walker ahead of the Roosters’ Anzac Day clash, sending him back to reserve grade to rediscover form.
The Roosters beat the Dragons and Warriors following his omission, with the situation turning positive in Bondi with Manu’s switch proving fruitful.
But the tides changed quickly after losses to the Cowboys, Panthers and Dragons.
Since their Round 9 win over the Warriors, the Tricolours have only won three games out of 11 appearances and have desperately awaited his return from a knee injury.
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