Sydney Roosters ... renaissance as a rugby league superpower extends well beyond signing SBW. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
It began with a handshake between a man of great wealth and a footballer of great talent.
But the Sydney Roosters' renaissance as a rugby league superpower extends well beyond the mutual affection between Nick Politis and Sonny Bill Williams.
Williams aside, it began over breakfast at an Italian restaurant in Sydney's eastern suburbs in November, 2011.
When Todd Carney was shown the door at the end of that season, there was only one player the Roosters wanted.
Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan considered James Maloney the perfect foil for Mitchell Pearce - a competitor who would chase lost causes and loom in support when others lagged in backplay.
The bonus was that season, he had kicked at more than 80 per cent and indicated a desire to return to Sydney.
Other clubs were interested, including South Sydney, the Roosters' opponent in the season opener at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
Over coffee at Zigolini's in trendy Woollahra, O'Sullivan and Smith convinced Maloney and his manager Wayne Beavis that he should join the Roosters.
The only catch was that both parties would be forced to wait a further 12 months as the Warriors had forced Maloney to serve out the remaining year of his contract.
It is only early, but indications are that Maloney was worth the wait. That, however, was only the start.
Michael Jennings had been looking to extricate himself from Penrith for some time.
Rumours of his discontent had been swirling for months.
He shaped as a perfect fit for the Roosters but salary cap constraints became an issue.
O'Sullivan says it was "on for young and old" over the Christmas break as the Roosters and Penrith attempted to strike a deal.
Again, South Sydney was interested.
Again, O'Sullivan sat in on the crucial meeting, only this time he was joined by new coach Trent Robinson and Jennings' manager Stephen Moses.
At a meeting, the Roosters sold Jennings on why he should join the club.
"I said to him that he was exactly what we needed and I believed we could give him what he needed," O'Sullivan said.
"That meeting was the tipping point. Everyone was pumped."
Even then, the Roosters needed some help from Penrith.
For that, the Roosters can thank Panthers general manager of football Phil Gould, who cleared the way for Jennings' move by agreeing to stump up some of his contract money.
The Roosters had the strike centre they craved.
The final piece of the puzzle was a surprise.
Luke O'Donnell had spent recent years in England but like Maloney, he was desperate to return to Sydney.
The Roosters took some convincing.
At one point, Liam Roach - son of former Test forward Steve Roach and a friend of O'Donnell - called the club and encouraged them to take O'Donnell, who himself was pushing for the move and made it clear he wanted to play under former teammate Robinson.
O'Donnell was on the field the night Robinson made his first grade debut for Wests Tigers in 2000.
The pair had stayed in touch when Robinson coached Catalans in the English Super League.
A lunch sealed the deal, although the Roosters still had to move Brad Takarangi and Anthony Cherrington to create room under the salary cap.
That done, O'Donnell was on his way back from England and the Roosters had completed the most compelling overhaul of any side in the NRL.
So influential were their signings, bookmakers dramatically slashed their odds and the Roosters are regarded as genuine premiership contenders.
Williams has quite understandably hogged the limelight.
For all the the club's transfer activity, O'Sullivan takes greatest solace from two players who were already in the Roosters system and signed long-term extensions in recent weeks.
Pearce and Boyd Cordner will be the cornerstone of the Roosters for years to come.
"They saw the difference in the direction we were heading," O'Sullivan said.
"As much as those guys are great, the re-signings were best."
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