The Sydney Roosters have a variety of players who have represented in both the State of Origin and International Arenas, with eight Australian Test Captains, five State of Origin captains and over 100 Internationals across a number of nations.
Australian Test Captains
The Club has proudly produced nine Australian Test Captains since 1908, including the likes of Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Arthur Beetson, Brad Fittler and more recently, Boyd Cordner.
- Dally Messenger
- Larry O’Malley
- Dave Brown
- Wally O’Connell
- Arthur Beetson
- Bob Fulton
- Brad Fittler
- Boyd Cordner
Tedesco Relives Kangaroo Captaincy Call
New Zealand Test Captains
A host of proud New Zealanders have donned the Tricolours even since the foundation years of the competition, with Club favourite and skipper Hugh McGahan and Dally M Medallist Gary Freeman captaining the Kiwis whilst at the Roosters.
- Hugh McGahan
- Gary Freeman
Fiji Test Captains
New signing Kevin Naiqama continued his role as Captain of Fiji during his tenure at the Club, guiding the side against Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Test in 2022.
- Kevin Naiqama
Tongan Test Captains
In his final season with the Club, imposing front rower Siosiua Taukeiaho took the mantle as Co-Captain of Tonga in their Test match against New Zealand in June of 2022.
- Siosiua Taukeiaho
World Cup Captains
Since Arthur Beetson in 1977, the Club has had a number of representatives lead their respective nations in World Cups.
Hugh McGahan and Gary Freeman both resumed the captaincy for New Zealand in the split 1989-1992 World Cup, before Adrian Lam led Papua New Guinea in the 1995 World Cup.
The 2000 competition saw a record four Roosters skipper their country; Brad Fittler with Australia, his halves partner Lam with Papua New Guinea as well as Richie Barnett for New Zealand and hulking front rower Ian Rubin with Russia in their sole campaign.
Recent World Cup captains include Lopini Paea with Tonga in 2008, Anthony Minichiello with Italy in 2013 and Boyd Cordner with the Kangaroos in 2013 and 2017.
The 2021 Rugby League World Cup will see three Roosters captain their nations; James Tedesco (Australia), Kevin Naiqama (Fiji) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (Tonga).
- 1977 – Arthur Beetson (Australia)
- 1989-1992 – Hugh McGahan, Gary Freeman (Both New Zealand)
- 1995 – Adrian Lam (Papua New Guinea)
- 2000 – Brad Fittler (Australia), Richie Barnett (New Zealand), Adrian Lam (Papua New Guinea), Ian Rubin (Russia)
- 2008 – Lopini Paea (Tonga)
- 2013 – Anthony Minichiello (Italy)
- 2017 – Boyd Cordner (Australia)
- 2021 - James Tedesco (Australia), Kevin Naiqama (Fiji), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Tonga)
Australian Representatives - 86 (as of 2022)
Ferris Ashton, Royce Ayliffe, Jack Beaton, Arthur Beetson, Kerry Boustead, John Brass, Dave Brown (1909), Dave Brown (1935), Vic Bulgin, Joe Busch, Hugh Byrne, Harry Caples, Todd Carney, Lionel Cooper, Ron Coote, Boyd Cordner, Michael Crocker, Les Cubitt, Col Donohoe, Terry Fahey, Blake Ferguson, John Ferguson, Brad Fittler, Craig Fitzgibbon, Bryan Fletcher, Dan Frawley, Mick Frawley, Jake Friend, Bob Fulton, Aidan Guerra, Arthur Halloway, Nelson Hardy, Mark Harris, Shannon Hegarty, Michael Jennings, Lou Jones, Kevin Junee, Luke Keary, John Lang, Ian Mackay, Paul McCabe, Allan McKean, Ross McKinnon, Willie Mason, Jeff Masterman, John Mayes, Herbert Henry 'Dally' Messenger, Wally Messenger, Anthony Minichiello, Latrell Mitchell, Jim Morgan, Nate Myles, Ernie Norman, Ray Norman, Rex Norman, Andy Norval, Wally O’Connell, Larry O’Malley, Arthur Oxford, Sid ‘Sandy’ Pearce, Sid ‘Joe’ Pearce, John Peard, Harry Pierce, Jim Porter, Luke Ricketson, Albert Rosenfeld, Ron Saddler, Craig Salvatori, Ian Schubert, Bill Shankland, Matt Sing, Ray Stehr, Johnno Stuntz, James Tedesco, Viv Thicknesse, Bob Tidyman, David Trewhella, Anthony Tupou, Daniel Tupou, Andrew Walker, Elwyn Walters, Jack Watkins, George Watt, Bob Williams, Craig Wing
Cook Islands Representatives - 2 (as of 2022)
Tinirau Arona, Dylan Napa
England Representatives - 1 (as of 2022)
Phil Clarke
Fiji Representatives - 3 (as of 2022)
Kane Evans, Kevin Naiqama, Eloni Vunakece
Great Britain Representatives - 2 (as of 2022)
Ryan Hall, Adrian Morley
Ireland Representatives - 1 (as of 2022)
Luke Ricketson
Italy Representatives - 2 (as of 2022)
Aidan Guerra, Anthony Minichiello
New Zealand Representatives - 27 (as of 2022)
Richie Barnett, Dean Bell, Jason Cayless, Olsen Filipaina, Gary Freeman, Tony Iro, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Isaac Liu, Andrew Lomu, Jason Lowrie, Joseph Manu, Hugh McGahan, Sam Moa, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam Perrett, Quentin Pongia, Gary Prohm, Setaimata Sa, Kurt Sherlock, Iosia Soliola, Dane Sorensen, Kurt Sorensen, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Zane Tetevano, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sonny Bill Williams
Papua New Guinea Representatives - 4 (as of 2022)
Kurt Baptiste, Adrian Lam, Lachlan Lam, Nene Macdonald
Russia Representatives - 1 (as of 2022)
Ian Rubin
Samoa Representatives - 3 (as of 2022)
Isaac Liu, David Solomona, Lama Tasi
Scotland Representatives - 1 (as of 2022)
Scott Logan
Tonga Representatives - 12 (as of 2022)
Samisoni Langi, Nelson Lomi, Andrew Lomu, Sam Moa, Michael Oldfield, Lelea Paea, Lopini Paea, Mickey Paea, Nafe Seluini, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua
Tonga Invitational Representatives - 3 (as of 2022)
Siosiua Taukeiaho, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua
State of Origin Representatives (1980-Present)
Over 40 players have represented New South Wales and Queensland in the annual State of Origin series since its inception in 1980, with five players captaining their respective states.
State of Origin Captains
Paul Vautin (Queensland)
Brad Fittler (New South Wales)
Adrian Lam (Queensland)
Boyd Cordner (New South Wales)
James Tedesco (New South Wales)
NSW Blues Representatives - 28
Braith Anasta, Royce Ayliffe, David Barnhill, Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton, Terry Fahey, Blake Ferguson, John Ferguson, Brett Finch, Brad Fittler, Craig Fitzgibbon, Bryan Fletcher, Marty Gurr, Kevin Hastings, Michael Jennings, Luke Keary, James Maloney, Willie Mason, Anthony Minichiello, Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Pearce, Luke Ricketson, Craig Salvatori, James Tedesco, David Trewhella, Anthony Tupou, Daniel Tupou, Craig Wing
QLD Maroons Representatives - 19
Kerry Boustead, Dave Brown, Lindsay Collins, Michael Crocker, Chris Flannery, Jake Friend, Trevor Gillmeister, Paul Green, Aidan Guerra, Shannon Hegarty, Justin Hodges, Adrian Lam, John Lang, Paul McCabe, Nate Myles, Dylan Napa, Matt Sing, Brad Tessman, Paul Vautin
