The last time a veteran champion playmaker joined the Roosters, back-to-back NRL titles were held aloft in Bondi through 2018-19.
In the six seasons that followed that period of glory, Trent Robinson's team has made the finals every year - but a preliminary final in 2024 is their best result.
Despite the Roosters featuring regularly in post-season, they haven't had the required quality to push through to a premiership decider.
Enter Daly Cherry-Evans - who the Tricolours hope can emulate Cooper Cronk's double premiership win at the club after leaving the Storm.
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Tough act to follow.
There are also plenty of differences in the Cronk that arrived in the eastern suburbs and the current version of DCE.
While obviously great players in their own right, 33-year-old Cronk was still at the top of his game when he joined the Roosters, while DCE will be 37 by the time the 2026 season starts and is showing signs of decline.
With his time at Manly over and just seeing the season out at Brookvale, DCE saw his performances tank to the point that he was dropped by Queensland after Origin 1, with the Maroons winning both games without him to claim a series comeback.
But the million-dollar question is whether DCE was just distracted by his impending departure and lost connection with his team-mates or was it a champion player declining as father time catches up?
It's high stakes for the Roosters - who signed DCE on a one-year deal with an option for a second season.
There is likely going to be an unfair expectation on DCE to have a Cronk-like impact on the team as he supports Sam Walker in secondary playmaker role.
And what will happen to talented playmaker Hugo Savala - who will be squeezed out of the starting lineup by DCE's arrival?
Worst case scenario for the Roosters is DCE struggles to have an impact and a disgruntled Savala seeks playing opportunities elsewhere.
With the Roosters having qualified for the last nine finals series without DCE, if they achieve the same or less in 2026 it's going to be seen as a failure.
Reaching a grand final with DCE in the team is likely to just be pass mark, while the only result deemed a success will be a premiership.
It seems like mission impossible for DCE - but that's what awaits in 2026 and possibly 2027.