Luke Keary formed a lethal combination with Latrell Mitchell as the tricolours collected back-to-back premierships in 2018-19, and the half hopes he can repeat that success with teen star Joseph Suaali’i.
Keary will team up with Suaali’i on the Roosters’ left this season, and comparisons to Mitchell aren’t lost on him.
“We saw ‘Su’ play fullback at the World Cup, but he can play a few different positions,” Keary said. “I think centre will be good for him. He has that ‘Latrell’ type of feel about him. I just have to give him the ball.
“He has a dominant right-hand carry, but he can also carry the ball in the left hand. I think we’ll see a lot more ball out there this year.”
Keary knows the Roosters’ hopes of chasing more silverware have been helped by their preparation in recent months. The knockabout Keary, who will be one of several big names to feature in Sunday’s opening trial against Melbourne, says the club is well ahead of where it was last year in terms of health and fitness.
Keary entered round one last year seriously underdone due to an ankle injury – on the back of returning from a ruptured ACL – not to mention a shift to halfback to help take pressure off rookie playmaker Sam Walker. Once Keary moved back to his preferred No.6 role after the Origin series, the Roosters won their final seven regular-season games.
Luke Keary feels fresh and is loving his left-edge combination with Joseph Suaali’iCredit:Getty
Some coaches claim the No.6 and No.7 are the same role in the modern game, but Keary disagrees.
“Sometimes change isn’t always the best solution,” Keary said. “The No.7 jersey at the Roosters holds some weight, and ‘Robbo’ [coach Trent Robinson] didn’t want to expose Sammy too quickly. Sam will tell you himself he probably wasn’t ready to be thrown in at the start.
“The halfback has that responsibility to guide the team around, the last plays become a big focus on the right side of the field, and you need to think about where the game is at.
“With the No.6 role, I’m on the left, I’m free, you wait for your opportunities, you know someone is taking care of the kicking, and you chime in when you want to with the kicking. There’s a big focus on the combos around you rather than having that whole team focus.”
Joseph Suaali’i has shifted from right wing to left centre.Credit:Getty Images
Manu, the regular right centre, has impressed whenever he’s been shifted to five-eighth, but Keary feels anything but threatened.
“Joey could play anywhere,” Keary said. “We have a few blokes who can play anywhere. What can you do [about the talk]? You do your job and get on with it.
“Joey could have left a while ago [to play fullback or five-eighth]. He’ll get his chance to play fullback or wherever in a few years. We had him in the middle a bit last year, and we’ll probably do that at times again.”
How the Roosters keep Manu, Suaali’i and even James Tedesco on the books moving forward will be a challenge. Suaali’i and Manu both have fullback aspirations.
Keary is off contract at the end of 2024, but vowed not to make a call on his future until after he had finished playing next year.
“I need to see where I’m at once I finish next year,” Keary said. “I’ll be 33. Missing the year with the ACL will help me [with longevity], but when I signed my last contract, I said I’ll wait to finish and see where I’m at and where the club is at. I’ll let you know then.”
