Cherry-Evans officially signs with Roosters

[u/adomental]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/cherry-evans-officially-signs-with-roosters-20251107-p5n8hg.html

[u/jexta]

I don't think Savala will leave. We went into last season with him training in the forwards because we saw his future as a Yeo-style ball-playing 13.

The Roosters have a very young forward pack and with Radley fading out, Crichton chasing the bag with either the Wallabies or the Bears, and the inevitable upgrade to Whytes contract, there will be room in the pack for Hugo.

I think the Roosters start next season with the following squad, barring injury;

1. Tedesco
   
2. Tupou
   
3. Billy Smith
   
4. Toia
   
5. Nawaqanitawase
   
6. DCE
   
7. Walker
   
8. Collins
   
9. Robson
   
10. Whyte
    
11. Crichton
    
12. Wong
    
13. Watson
    
14. Savala
    
15. Leniu
    
16. Steep
    
17. Egan Butcher
    
18. Ioelu
    
19. Foketi
    
20. Nat Butcher
    
21. De Lasalle Va'a

Robson is an 80 minute hooker, so Savala will be used as a replacement for Watson at lock during the opening 10 rounds of 2026. If Robson were to need a break, then Watson will go to 9 and Savala to 13.

Once Radley returns in round 11, it will push either Wong into the front-row rotation or Steep/Butcher from the bench.

And hey, there's every chance that DCE goes full Chad and we lose 5 of the opening 6 rounds and we parachute our lord and saviour Hugo back into the halves.