A new era has arrived for the Altona Roosters in the NRL Victoria first grade.
Some familiar faces are at the helm of the Roosters, who have gone back to the future to fill some of their most important positions.
New president Brandon Taunoa was actually a former president of the club not too long ago, first-year head coach Turei Collier is a club life member and assistant coach Bush Koti was involved in the Roosters during their golden generation.
One familiarity is that all three people understand the culture of the Roosters.
They also know what it will take to get the club back to the top of Victorian rugby league, having been part of successful eras in the past.
“I’m trying to get the Roosters back to the top,” Taunoa said.
“It’s good to have Turei on board and his assistant coach Bush, who was part of the squad in the 90s and early 2000s when Altona won eight premierships in 10 years.
“It’s just trying to bring the morale back to the Roosters.
“It’s disappeared a bit in the last few years.”
Altona has rebuilt its junior stocks in recent years, but they have been lagging behind some of the powerhouse clubs in first grade.
The Roosters used to be the most feared club in the state at the top level, but that has waned in recent times. Taunoa believes Collier can lead the Roosters back to the top.
He is also confident in the next wave of Roosters coming through. “He’s been around the Roosters since the 1990s,” Taunoa said.
“He’s got the knowledge and will be a good person for the young ones to learn off.
“He keeps everything pretty simple, nothing fancy, just stick to the basics really.”
On the field, Altona has a rock steady leader in Justin Barnard, who has been a leader of the forward pack for a long time.
“He leads from the front,” Taunoa said.
“He’s teaching these young players what the standards are.”
Altona has made an impressive start to the new season, winning two of its first three games.
The Roosters made it back to back wins in a 52-32 beating of the Northern Thunder at Bruce Comben Reserve.
It followed on from a stunning 68-12 annihilation of North West Wolves a week prior, a game that was massive for the collective self-belief of the Roosters.
Just how much the Roosters have improved will be revealed on Saturday, when they travel to Haines Drive Reserve to face reigning champions Werribee Bears.
