The Roosters' culture will only change with a clearout of players, according to former Roosters captain and board member Hugh McGahan.
The Sydney club have been battling it out with the Sharks for most-disgraced club of the year award as they lurch from one alcohol-fuelled controversy to the next. The latest involved prop Nate Myles, who defecated in the corridors of a hotel north of Sydney after a drunken night last week.
Two sponsors, including Samsung who have had a 10-year relationship with the club, are now threatening to walk away - a move which could cost the club a reported A$800,000 a year.
McGahan, who played for the Roosters from 1985-91 and sat on the board between 1992 and 1995, says it will take a clearout of players to turn things around.
"There needs to be a culture change," McGahan said. "They need a change of players or coach and the indications are that they going to change the coach. But any new coach will have to change the attitude of players or get rid of players. Some need to move on and they need an influx of new ones to change the attitude. Only then will the club move forward.
"The Roosters have their business side sorted but it will be hard to lose a sponsor like Samsung. No new sponsor is going to jump in there without seeing some changes."
Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has been tipped to replace Brad Fittler as coach at the end of the year.
Fittler reportedly lost the dressing room before the season started and there have been suggestions a clearout of the entire coaching staff will follow. Legendary prop Arthur Beetson, who Fittler brought in as an assistant coach and mentor, is said to want to stay.
Fittler didn't help his cause when he was recently found drunk and knocking on a stranger's door at a Townsville hotel in only his shorts.
The Sharks lost LG as a sponsor this year after details of the 2002 group sex scandal involving Matthew Johns emerged.
NRL: Major clearout way forward
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.