Roosters coach Trent Robinson has taken his pursuit of excellence to the next level by forming a relationship with one of the US’s most revered coaches, basketball legend Steve Kerr.

With the Roosters staring at their most challenging season in a decade after losing a host of star players, Robinson has gone global in his preparation for 2025.

Robinson is doing anything but sitting on his backside waiting to slide down the ladder next year. Instead, he has connected with Kerr, who heads up the Golden State Warriors in the NBA and the US men’s Olympics team.

Not only has Robinson been in discussions with Kerr, but he recently flew to California to spend time with him.
Robinson refused to discuss the influence Kerr is having on his coaching development, or his relationship with him, when approached by this column. So the length of his association with Kerr remains something of a mystery, but the Roosters boss did not deny their link or a recent visit to meet up with him.

For those unfamiliar with Kerr, his achievements are many, including playing for the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan, winning five NBA titles as a player and a further four as a coach. Kerr is revered in basketball and admired by coaches throughout the world.

This column has also learnt in recent days that the Roosters had a secret theme last season that centred on the late, great Kobe Bryant. The Roosters spent time in Los Angeles in the lead-up to their Las Vegas season opener and it is believed by that point they had already decided on Bryant as their theme for the campaign. It was based around his famous “mamba” mentality.

Bryant had five pillars to channelling his inner mamba: fearlessness, relentlessness, passion, obsessiveness and resilience. He would preach: “I want you all to be fearless this year. Whenever you step out to compete, have the mindset of being unbeatable.”

The idea certainly resonated with the players and helped take the Roosters all the way to a preliminary final.

Robinson will enter next year with a severely depleted roster, but one that he is happy to work with and develop. He has already made a brave call in moving on Terrell May because the club needs all their players moving in the same direction.

Roosters off the Cheese

The Roosters are prepared to let Brandon Smith leave the club next year before he returns to the field following a knee reconstruction.

It has long been believed Smith would not be required at the end of next year, when his contract ends, but if a club wanted to bring Smith into their system early, the Roosters are happy for that to happen.

It has been a tough transition to Sydney for Smith. He arrived from Melbourne with big expectations, and while he has shown glimpses of what he can do, overall it has been a troubled move.

Smith’s anterior cruciate ligament injury may not make him an attractive proposition to clubs that would only get half a year of service out of him in 2025, but if someone is keen to sign him, it may be an opportunity to show their faith in the player by taking him on even when injured.

The Roosters have worked hard with Smith off the field and that support will not go away, but the truth is he is not part of their plans for 2026, so they would be happy to move him on early.

Smith has plenty of good football head of him, and if his focus is just on the game, he will be a good pick-up for a club. On his day, he is a tremendous threat with the ball.