They are the big-money signings brought over to win the Sydney Roosters a premiership.
Fed up with just one major trophy from their four minor premierships, Roosters captain Boyd Cordner believes Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco can deliver them an elusive NRL title.
The Roosters this year finished atop the ladder for the fourth time in six years under coach Trent Robinson, but Cordner has his sights set higher for the premiership heavyweights.
“It doesn’t really mean much,” Cordner said of claiming another minor premiership.
“In past years we’ve become minor premiers and fallen short. It is a long season to go all that way and fall short, so we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The major inclusions in this year’s line-up are undoubtedly the representative pair of Cronk and Tedesco, both of whom are understood be on $1 million a season.
Ahead of their qualifying final showdown with Cronulla on Saturday, Cordner wasn’t hesitant to label the twosome as difference-makers for the side this season.
“We have the same core group of players that have been here for a while now,” he said.
“Obviously (we have) the additions of Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco in some key positions there so that’s going to help us out a lot.”
He said Cronk – who is now a part of three successive minor premiership sides, including the previous two with the Storm – has proven to be the key to their late-season surge.
The Roosters were eighth in April but won 12 of their final 16 games of the regular season to pip Melbourne as first past the post.
“He never really has a bad game, Cooper. You can’t really say much about his form or anything because he’s always on top of his game,” Cordner said.
“He’s been massive for us this season, especially mid-to-late season where we’ve gone on a bit of a run. He’s been one of our best players.
“His experience … I think he’s played more finals games than any of us here at the Roosters, and, probably apart from Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, anyone in the top eight.
“He’s going to help us out a lot in that sense.”