Where are they now? Sydney Roosters NRL grand final winning squad one decade on from triumph against Manly Sea Eagles
A 26-18 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles cemented a 13th premiership for the Sydney Roosters in 2013. One decade on, where are the 17 players who clinched grand final glory?
The 2013 NRL grand final marked the end of an 11-year premiership drought for the Sydney Roosters as they triumphed over the ever-formidable Manly Sea Eagles 26-18.
It was the first time in 41 years that the two Sydney-based sides met on the biggest stage, with the Roosters becoming the first team since the Dragons three years earlier to win the grand final and the minor premiership in the same season.
And while it looked as though the Provan-Summons Trophy would be heading to the northern beaches as the Sea Eagles shot out to a 10-point lead in the second half, the Roosters fought hard and mounted the comeback to seal a 13th first grade premiership.
10 years on, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane to remember the 17 players who kitted up in red, white and navy blue to get the job done on the night for the Sydney side.
1) Anthony Minichiello
Captaining the side was the one-club legend who cemented his name in Roosters legend with his second premiership for the club after their 2002 triumph.
His terrific vision to loft a pass to Kenny-Dowall set his centre up to finish in the corner and level the scores.
In 2023 he became the 15th inductee into the Sydney Roosters Hall of Fame, is the founder of fitness clinic MiniFit, and an ambassador for Australian Organic Awareness Month.
2) Anthony Tupou
At the age of 22 he was soaring above David Williams to claim a terrific aerial try in the 2013 grand final.
10 years on he’s still a mainstay on the wing for the Roosters and has become their all-time leading try scorer with 146 and counting.
3) Michael Jennings
The sole premiership in the 298 game NRL career of Jennings, in which he ultimately sealed the game with a freakish chase and finish of a James Maloney grubber.
In 2021, he accepted a three-year ban for doping while at the Parramatta Eels which effectively ended his NRL career.
4) Shaun Kenny-Dowall
‘Skiddsy’ was a prolific try scorer for the Roosters for a decade, notching one in the 2013 grand final to add to the resume.
After leaving the Roosters in 2017 he went to the Knights for two seasons, before going abroad to play for Hull Kingston Rovers where he played his final game in 2023 before announcing his retirement.
5) Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
A rugby league superstar who switched codes to union, RTS was just 20 years old when he lined up on the wing in the 2013 grand final.
Since then his career has been one headline after the other, from winning the Dally M medal in 2018, to switching to rugby union to don the All Blacks jersey in 2022.
He’s set to return to rugby league in 2024 after signing a three-year deal with the Warriors.
6) James Maloney
He might’ve thrown a contentious pass in the buildup to Kenny-Dowall’s try, but Maloney’s grand final performance was ultimately one of winning pedigree.
The NRL journeyman went on to win another premiership with the Sharks, moving abroad in 2020 to Catalans Dragons, before ending his career with FC Lezignan in the French Elite competition in 2023.
7) Mitchell Pearce
A career that unfortunately had its fair share of controversies and bad headlines, but also its accolades, with Pearce playing a key role in their 2013 grand final triumph.
20 tackles, 373 kick metres and a crucial assist to Aidan Guerra for his try.
Pearce spent a decade at the Roosters before playing three years at the Knights. In 2022 he went abroad to Catalans where he remained until calling time on his career in September 2023.
8) Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
The former Manly man got the one-up over his old club on the biggest stage with his 2013 GF triumph, contributing from the forward line with 128 run metres and 18 tackles.
JWH remains a Rooster in 2023 at the age of 34, still one of the toughest front rowers in the competition.
A seven game suspension unfortunately ended his season early in 2023 and prevented him from helping his side in the finals.
9) Jake Friend
The workhorse with the no. 9 jersey topped the tackle count for his team on the night with 30.
A one-club player who took out premierships with the Roosters in 2013, 2018 and 2019, as well as his sole Origin series with Queensland in 2020.
Friend retired from the game in 2021 due to concussion injuries. He has since stayed involved at the club by taking up the head coach role at the Sydney Roosters Academy.
10) Sam Moa
The big prop forward came within inches of a grand final try had it not been for the combined effort of George Rose and the padding of the goalpost.
Moa left the Roosters after the 2016 season to join Catalans, staying there for three years before playing a year at FC Lezignan.
After retiring at the end of 2021, he returned to Catalans in an assistant coaching role where he remains today.
11) Aidan Guerra
Scored 40 tries across his time at the Roosters, none more important than when he sent himself through a gaping hole in the Manly goal-line defence in the 2013 grand final.
Guerra called time on his career at the end of the 2020 season at the Knights. He has since become an ambassador for charity organisation Buildcare, where in August he trekked the Kokoda Track to raise funds for.
12) Sonny Bill Williams
Whether it’s league, union or boxing, SBW makes headlines wherever he goes.
Would’ve been right up there with the picks for Clive Churchill medal in the 2013 grand final, leading the run metres with 185m, breaking six tackles and making a late line break that ultimately set up Michael Jennings’ try.
After a brief second stint at the Roosters in 2020, Williams announced his retirement from the game in 2021, moving back into the boxing scene where his professional record stands at 9 wins and 1 loss.
Williams remains involved in the media, right now a regular presence in the coverage of the Rugby World Cup.
18) Boyd Cordner
A late inclusion in the no. 18 jersey was another one-club man who took out three premierships with the Roosters, his first of which was the 2013 triumph in the same year he was crowned the Dally M second rower of the year.
Like Friend, Cordner also retired from the game in 2021 as a result of repeated concussion issues.
In 2023 he’s set to be on the upcoming season of SAS Australia, where injuries continue to follow him as he suffered a major pectoral injury while filming.
13) Frank-Paul Nuuausala
‘Frank Paul the Wrecking Ball’ played eight seasons with the Roosters and came off the bench to impact their 2013 grand final triumph.
After playing two seasons with both the Canberra Raiders and Wigan Warriors, he returned to the Roosters for just two games in the 2018 season, before retiring from professional footy at the conclusion of the season.
He has spent the last two years playing for South Newcastle Rugby League Club first grade.
14) Daniel Mortimer
Was on the losing end of a grand final with the Eels in 2009 but finally got his medal off the bench with the Roosters in 2013.
Since leaving the Roosters after the 2013 season he played with the Titans, Sharks and Leigh Centurions before announcing his retirement in 2018 at the age of 29.
He now lives in Orange and is the general manager of winery Mortimer’s Family Wines.
15) Mitch Aubusson
Another one-club man and three-time premiership winner with the Roosters was the versatile Aubusson who came off the bench in the 2013 GF.
He retired in 2020 as the club’s most capped player with 306 appearances. Since then he’s picked up a Diploma in Business Management and continues to work with the Roosters as a club ambassador and recruiter for junior pathways.
In 2020 himself and his brother also joined Body Fit Training as franchisees, opening a gym in Ballina.
23) Luke O’Donnell
What a way to bow out of the professional game, with the former State of Origin player calling time on his career after his final game being the 2013 grand final.
Since retiring he became a senior coach and personal trainer at Brooks Performance in Sydney.
He found himself in some hot water in 2019 after being arrested and convicted for four offences.
More Coverage
Trent Robinson
Taking out a premiership in his first year of coaching in the NRL instantly put him into Roosters folklore.
A decade on Robinson is still the head honcho at the club and has two more premierships under the belt.
Originally published as Where are they now? Sydney Roosters NRL grand final winning squad one decade on from triumph against Manly Sea Eagles
NRL transfer tracker: Every player signing, exit linked with your club
Souths chasing Latrell unicorn, Qld insult – bookies’ brutal 2026 calls
Haas, Sergis on notice as PVL confirms R360 bans are legal
Knights ask NRL for ‘Suaalii rule’ exemption for teen star
How Roosters will solve delicate DCE-Savala halves puzzle
