AS far as captain Anthony Minichiello is concerned, the surest indication that Sonny Bill Williams was serious about what he wants to do at the Roosters came last year - when nobody knew he was there. "It isn't well known but he was in at the club a lot before Christmas, doing a lot of rehab when he was in his sling," Minichiello explains, referring to the torn pectoral muscle Williams had suffered while playing Japanese rugby. The boys got to know him without the media knowing he was at training. They loved him. He comes this week full-time and the players are excited about playing alongside him. Just from talking to him, he's excited about coming back to rugby league and the Roosters. He's fair dinkum about this. He was in doing video sessions and rehab and just wanted to be around the team. He didn't need to be doing that and he did. Williams finally arrives at Moore Park this week, casting aside the never-ending circus of his prolonged signing - and maybe even the calamity of last Friday night's controversial win over Francois Botha in their heavyweight fight in Brisbane. Drama shadows the Roosters like no other club, and fans must surely be giddy from hitting rock bottom one season and then bouncing back to premiership contenders the next. With the unexpected addition of a genuine strike centre in Michael Jennings, a premiership might be beyond rookie coach Trent Robinson this year but the top four is calling. When Robinson - a former assistant under sacked coach Brian Smith - was appointed late last year, he said he wouldn't know until late January if his side could even reach the top eight. And now? "We've recruited a team that should be in the top-eight talent wise," the coach says. But now we need some consistency in the way we play. There's no doubt about the players we've got, but are we going to be disciplined enough to apply ourselves for 24 rounds? That's our test. If the Roosters know how they will use Williams, they are not saying. "He'll be heavily marked, but that can be a massive advantage to the players around him," says Minichiello. But he comes into a pack with two big guns in Martin Kennedy and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The experience of Minichiello, Jennings and Shaun Kenny-Dowall in the backs has been boosted by a premiership winner in ex-Sea Eagle Michael Oldfield. Expect Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to impress when he gets more game time. As for Tautau Moga, pencil in his return from a knee injury within four months. But the most crucial part of the new direction at the Roosters comes in the form of halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney. Maloney can take some pressure off Pearce, who has turned in his most impressive pre-season in his seven years of first grade. GAINS: Michael Jennings (Panthers), James Maloney (Warriors), Sam Moa (UK), Michael Oldfield (Manly), Sonny Bill Williams (Rugby) LOSSES: Braith Anasta (Tigers), Justin Carney (UK), Joseph Leilua (Knights), Mose Masoe (Panthers), Peni Tagive (Retired) X-FACTOR: Michael Jennings - From Sonny Bill to Mitchell Pearce, it's an X-factor-a-thon at the Roosters this season. the most intriguing X-Factor is Generation Y centre Michael Jennings. On his day, and as he showed for NSW, his explosive pace off the mark is lethal. When he's interested. Do you think Penrith coach Ivan Cleary would've let him go if the mercurial centre didn't have some head issues? ROOKIE-MONSTER: Kane Evans - While all the attention has been on last year's Arthur Beetson Medallist Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as the side's under-20s player of the year, look out for fellow NYC prodigy Kane Evans. The young prop still has to grow into his skin, but the word around the Roosters is that he is set to make a huge impact this year. Also keep an eye out for young frontrower, Dylan Naper. VERDICT: If the Roosters reach the grand final, it would stun. But more than a few good judges are privately tipping they have top-four potential. They made all the right moves in the off-season, but consistency has been a rare character trait at the glamour club for years.