Easts would be the team to beat in 2018 with the Puppet Master on board.
I would give anything to have Cronk at WT. One of the best half backs of all time and a player you can build a side around. Makes Brooks look like amateur hour.
Easts verses Storm in the 2018 Grand Final would be very interesting.
The chooks would definitely be the team to beat with the "Puppet Master" in control, but Cam is staying in Melbourne. Though he is no doubt a good player, I will hold my final judgement on Cronk until he is without Cam running the show and the other grub chiming in.
That said, he will still have good cattle around and I think Pearce would make a great nine and suit him more than Friend. After they teach Tedesco to run straight again they also have a runner with skill in Keary that will assist his game, just think he won't look nearly as good when the influence of the greatest grub ever is missing.
If the roosters flick Jake Friend, they will really miss a guy that make 40+ tackles a game.
Players like that are not easily replaced.
Not that I care as I dislike like the Roosters just as much as Manly.
He averaged a tick over 50 tackles a game in 2017 after averaging over 53 tackles a game in 2016\. He's a machine.