The Roosters have built a squad based on turning player’s careers around.

Jake Friend was sacked for assaulting a woman early in his career. Three weeks ago, the plucky Tricolour’s captain made his international debut for Australia. Mitchell Pearce has been riddled with off-field incidences in his career, yet he’s still managed fifteen games for New South Wales. He even captained the Roosters in 2015. Blake Ferguson was suspended all of 2014 after pleading guilty to sexual assaulting a woman. In 2016, he debuted for the Kangaroos. The Rooster’s base their culture on helping players beat their demons, and help them play their very best football. And they’re set to do it again in 2017.

Mitchell Pearce has been riddled with off-field incidences in his career, yet he’s still managed fifteen games for New South Wales. He even captained the Roosters in 2015. Blake Ferguson was suspended all of 2014 after pleading guilty to sexual assaulting a woman. In 2016, he debuted for the Kangaroos. The Rooster’s base their culture on helping players beat their demons, and help them play their very best football. And they’re set to do it again in 2017.

Blake Ferguson was suspended all of 2014 after pleading guilty to sexual assaulting a woman. In 2016, he debuted for the Kangaroos. The Rooster’s base their culture on helping players beat their demons, and help them play their very best football. And they’re set to do it again in 2017.

The Rooster’s base their culture on helping players beat their demons, and help them play their very best football. And they’re set to do it again in 2017.

The Rooster’s 15th placed finish this season was the club's lowest since their 2009 wooden spoon, and even more shocking after picking up three consecutive minor premierships in the three years prior to this one. After a season littered with injury, suspension and off-field drama, the club’s roster needed refreshing. Enter Paul Carter, Zane Tetevano and Liam Knight. Three players whose reputation has been marred by different issues brought together all with the same goal: to resurrect their careers.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Luke Lewis of the Sharks and Tom Symonds of the Eagles collide as Liam Knight of the Eagles is tackled during the NRL Trial match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Manly Sea Eagles at Remondis Stadium on February 14, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Luke Lewis of the Sharks and Tom Symonds of the Eagles collide as Liam Knight of the Eagles is tackled during the NRL Trial match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Manly Sea Eagles at Remondis Stadium on February 14, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Liam Knight’s 2016 was a season of highs and lows for the young prop. He made his NRL debut for Manly after long being touted as a future star, yet was stood down by the club following being pulled over for travelling 137km/h in a 70 zone, and the corresponding random breath test came back with a reading of 0.176. More than triple the legal limit. He was sacked by the Sea Eagles at the season's end.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Zane Tetevano of the Knights gets away from Matthew Pitman during the NRL trial match between the Newcastle Knights and the First Nations Goannas at Hunter Stadium on February 8, 2014 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Zane Tetevano of the Knights gets away from Matthew Pitman during the NRL trial match between the Newcastle Knights and the First Nations Goannas at Hunter Stadium on February 8, 2014 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)

Zane Tetevano’s last NRL game was in the April of 2014, over two and a half years ago. In late 2014, Tetevano pleaded guilty to four counts of assault on his girlfriend. Twelve months prior Tetevano featured for the Cook Islands in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, yet a year later he faced the possibility of jail time. After spending two seasons playing in the NSW Cup, Tetevano will have his fingers crossed he can break into the first-grade side and put the controversy behind him.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 17: Paul Carter of the Rabbitohs runs the ball during the round 15 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium on June 17, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 17: Paul Carter of the Rabbitohs runs the ball during the round 15 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium on June 17, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Paul Carter is arguably the biggest name of the trio. Playing more NRL games than Knight and Tetevano combined, Carter was sacked from his second club in two years after a string of benders ended up with South Sydney terminating Carter’s contract. Two separate drink driving charges saw Carter cut from the Gold Coast after a single season in 2014. He was picked up by the Rabbitohs, and despite being one of the club’s best forwards in 2016, several benders resulting in Carter missing a training session and turning up drunk to another saw his newly-extended contract torn in two. After attending the same Thailand rehabilitation centre Mitchell Pearce attended, Carter will have his eyes firm on a first-grade spot next season.

The troubled trio will have their work cut out for them breaking into the team’s top seventeen, contending with the likes of internationals Boyd Cordner, Jared Warea-Hargreaves, Dylan Napa, Aiden Guerra, Sio Suia Taukeiaho and Kane Evans. If the players can stay incident free in 2017, then the skies the limit for the once troubled trio.

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