Injury-prone but signed on a long-term deal.

For #KiwiNRL fans, there should be plenty of optmism floating around the Sydney Roosters. That optimism starts with this season but I certainly wouldn't be banking on the Chooks making any major waves this season, the majority of that optimism should revolve around the core that the Roosters are building around. This core features Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, two Kiwis forwards who have been signed until the end of 2020 and they are the only Roosters players with such long contracts.

Having spoke on Taukeiaho's simmering awesomeness here, Waerea-Hargreaves is slightly less interesting but perhaps a more important piece in the Roosters' puzzle. Injury and suspension have restricted Waerea-Hargreaves minutes in recent seasons and that results in the Roosters relying on a cluster of younger forwards - such as Taukeiaho and Isaac Liu - without the experience and ability of Waerea-Hargreaves.

Expect Taukeiaho to establish himself in the No.13 jersey, playing a similar role to Jason Taumalolo. Waerea-Hargreaves should start at prop and Otahuhu's Liu has been building towards an explosion for the past two seasons. Liu will probably have to do a job off the bench, playing through the middle and the prospect of this Roosters middle-forwards crew for this season and beyond is nothing short of exciting for their fans (and #KiwiNRL fans); Waerea-Hargreaves, Napa, Taukeiaho, Liu, Kane Evans.

Joseph Manu and Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck also enjoyed some #KiwiNRL Niche Cache attention. The toughest decision for coach Trent Robinson in his whole squad could centre around trying to fit Manu into his top-17, while Tuivasa-Sheck will need to wait for his opportunity and I don't doubt that he will make an impression when he gets that chance.

Manu is a centre but the Roosters will most likely start the season with Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell starting as the centre pair. Our #KiwiNRL veteran Shaun Kenny-Dowall will lock down one wing spot and has the ability to play centre/wing equally well so if Mitchell is unable to settle, or if Robinson plays Mitchell on the wing where he can swap between wing and fullback with Michael Gordon, Kenny-Dowall will slot in at centre.

Simply put: Ferguson, Gordon, Mitchell and Kenny-Dowall have four of the five outside back positions sealed.

Daniel Tupou is the man in danger of being leap-frogged by Manu and obviously we want Manu to get that last wing spot ahead of Tupou. Tupou has value in that he's a high-ball weapon, but Manu is far more elusive in running the footy and has footwork almost on par with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck footwork which enables him to get in-between defenders when returning kicks instead of running over the top of blokes.

I've got visions of Tupou being driven back in tackles when returning kicks or taking the first hit-up of a set as he doesn't run with much intensity, isn't overly quick and his height makes him an easy target.

My #KiwiNRL bias has me picking Manu on the wing every day of the week.