You made what has become the well-established move to the Roosters. What is it about the club that is so alluring to players?

I’ll tell you what it is – when you sign with the Roosters, you’re in the Eastern Suburbs, and I don’t care what anybody says, it’s a great lifestyle. You’re getting paid good money to live in a beautiful area and play the sport you love.

That’s a factor as it is. Then you’ve got arguably the most successful – well, a group of them – man to be involved in rugby league in Nick Politis. He can really help you in a lot of ways on and off the field. Apart from being mentors who can steer you in the path of being successful, they can help you with opportunity, they have connections throughout the business world … There’s so many things the Roosters offer that other clubs can’t. I know a lot of people get the shits about it, fans of other teams. Because they can’t provide that, they are at a disadvantage. But the Roosters are in a position to do that, and that’s the difference.

You see that with the likes of Tedesco and Cronk. They could go anywhere and probably get more money. But Cronk wants to get his university degree, and Tedesco was a Roosters supporter – he wants to win a premiership. And again, that’s another thing. They’re always up there, and if they’re not, they’ll make sure they are. And that’s appealing to a player.

A Roosters icon, but the end came with the Wests Tigers. (Photo by Getty Images)

You played for Brad Fittler. How do you think he’ll go as New South Wales coach?

I’m a big fan of Freddie. When he first got the Roosters job, we had instant success, but over time, it was too early for him. And I think he’d admit that. He’s had some time over the last few years to get to know coaching – he knows the game better than anyone – and get used to the position.

When he was my coach, apart from my first years at the Bulldogs, he got the best out of me. I liked a bit of a chilled coach, but one who also had belief and confidence in you. That was a trigger for me, and he knew that. He’s very smart, but he’s also one of the boys. And he had to find that balance, being one of the boys and being the coach. He looks to have found that. The most important thing is to surround himself with the right people, which he’s done – the fact he’s got Joey [Andrew Johns] and Bedsy [Danny Buderus], they’re fantastic guys. They’re successful at Origin level.

You bridged the era of NSW’s last three-peat and the start of Queensland’s streak. You’re a golfer, so you’ll appreciate: every tournament winner gets a little luck on their way to victory. Was that a factor in the eight-straight and beyond, or did you see a dynasty coming in 2006?