If the events of the past few days have proven anything it's that a week can be a long time in rugby league - but for Sydney Roosters skipper Braith Anasta, Sunday's Anzac Day clash against St George Illawarra is a chance for his side to show how much can change in a year.

The Roosters were embarrassed 29-0 when they ran into a red-hot Dragons side last Anzac Day, that defeat part of a run in which the tri-colours lost nine of ten games in a season in which they collected their first wooden spoon since 1966.

Twelve months on and the Roosters are hardly recognisable - a new coach, new players and a new attitude that has the Bondi faithful optimistically eyeing a return to the finals after opening the season with four wins from their first six games.

But Sunday brings a new test, a step up in class against one of the real heavyweights of the competition, and Anasta knows victory over the Dragons will help turn a few more doubters into believers.

"It was disappointing," Anasta said of the 2009 shut-out.

"I think it just showed where we were at as a club last year and you just can't do that on a big day in a big game when you're supposedly putting everything you've got into it.

"It was disappointing and a little bit embarrassing to be honest.

"But to be straight out, we haven't even talked about it because it's a distant memory for us, we're a totally different team now and different players and for us right now it's just a good challenge for us to see where we're at and kick start the (rest of) the season."

The man who put them to the sword last year, Dragons ace Jamie Soward, agrees.

"Last year was different, the Roosters were a different side, they had different personnel, they had different coach - they had different everything," said Soward, who produced the game of his life last Anzac Day with two tries, six goals and a field goal in a masterful personal haul of 21 points.

Anasta knows Soward will again be the greatest danger to the Roosters, particularly with the picking of representative sides just around the corner.

Soward and Roosters' Mitchell Pearce, Todd Carney and to a lesser extent Anasta are all in the running for a NSW Origin call-up, Anasta adamant the Dragons No.6 had done enough to be given a shot in rugby league's toughest arena.

"He's been playing great for the past couple of seasons - he's quick, he's got a great kicking game and he's very skillful," Anasta said of Soward.

"I suppose with Origin you don't really know who's got what it takes until you're out there.

"Definitely, everyone should be given a chance and if you've got the form on the board, why not."

Carney has overcome a rib complaint and will take his place at the back, while Roosters teammate Jason Ryles will line up for the first time against the club with whom he played for on 156 occasions.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP