Hey Roosters fans, here’s a fun side to contemplate this morning over your double-shot decaf rose petal beetroot lattes, a team of players who each played just one game of first grade for the Roosters during the NRL era. How many of them can you remember?
1. Brad Abbey (2021)
Abbey had played some limited first grade with both Canterbury and Canberra before he found himself running out for his final top grade appearance in the Roosters’ 54-12 shellacking by the Rabbitohs in 2021.
2. Steve Skinnon (2003)
Skinnon was a Kiwi dual international at junior level and switched from rugby union to join the Roosters in 2003, where he made his NRL debut on the wing in their Round 13 clash with the Bulldogs. He tried his luck with South Sydney the following year and played five games for them, primarily coming off the bench as an interchange forward.
3. Francis Vaiotu (2011)
Born in New Zealand, the giant outside back came from the Cabramatta Two Blues to the Roosters and was called up as a late replacement in their Round 14 clash with the Storm.
4. Michael Oldfield (2013)
Now here’s a player you should be familiar with, an outside back who played for seven clubs in a 12-year career during which he played 59 first grade games, including just one for the Roosters in 2013.
5. Christian Tuipulotu (2020)
The big winger scored a try in his first grade debut with the Roosters back in 2020 before heading to Manly the following year to build some momentum in his career, and then going on to represent Tonga in 2022.
6. Luke Dorn (2004)
Hailing from Maitland, NSW, Dorn was a talented journeyman who notched up nearly 320 games and some 190 tries in his 15-year career, primarily in England. He had just one top grade appearance in his only season with the Roosters in 2004, joining Brett Finch in the halves for their Round 17 victory over the Cowboys.
7. Sean O’Sullivan (2018)
A Panthers’ junior, O’Sullivan scored a try on debut for the Roosters when deputising for Cooper Cronk in 2018 and has gone on to play for the Broncos, Warriors and Panthers before being recruited by Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in 2023.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
8. George Azzi (2002)
Azzi is a rare breed of player who has five times as many internationals as first grade games. He had just one first grade match in his career when he played off the bench for the Roosters in Round 5 of 2002, and five games for Lebanon, scoring four tries and winning the lot.
9. Daniel Fepuleai (2010)
Just like Azzi, Daniel Fepuleai can boast more internationals than NRL games. He had just one game off the bench for the Roosters, but has scored five tries in his seven matches for the Cook Islands.
10. Willis Meehan (2014)
A former Australian Schoolboy representative, they don’t come much bigger than Meehan, who came through the Roosters system before making his first grade debut in 2014. He was sacked by the Bondi club in 2015 after he was charged with armed robbery and decided that his second love, boxing, would be the sport he’d pursue.
11. Sean Rudder (2008)
Unlike most of his teammates in this side, Rudder was a very good player and had a premiership with Newcastle in 2001 to prove it. In 2008 he was happily playing for Newtown in the NSWRL Premier League when he was called into the Roosters’ first grade team for his final appearance at the top level.
12. Jason Baitieri (2010)
Baitieri represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2007 and was called up by the Roosters for his first grade debut early in the 2010 season before heading overseas a month later to join Catalans Dragons. He went on to play over 300 games in France and England, and has also represented France on 22 occasions.
13. Josh Curran (2019)
Curran came through the ranks, firstly with the Eels and then the Roosters, where he made his first grade debut off the bench in their Round 6 victory over Melbourne. He’s gone on to bigger and better things since leaving the Roosters and now finds himself as a key player with the resurgent Bulldogs.
So, Roosters fans, how many of these players do you recall running out in the red, white and blue?
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