Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler is looking forward to taking a break from the game after his first full season in charge of the NRL club petered out to a disappointing finish.

A season which promised so much - with the Roosters in the hunt for the minor premiership until the last couple of rounds of the regular season - delivered so little.

Friday night's 30-13 defeat at the hands of the New Zealand Warriors sending them spiralling out of the finals with back-to-back losses.

And much like the tired side that failed to score a point in the second half of both of its finals, Fittler admitted he was in need of a rest.

"I'm ready for a holiday now," Fittler said.

"I love it, it's a great job. Because the players are having a crack, it just makes it so much more enjoyable.

"There's times there where it's tough but I don't think any job's worth doing if it's not tough, at times."

Despite the obvious disappointment at the way the season finished, Fittler - who took over midway through last season - said there were plenty of positives to come out of the season.

"Overall the last 14 months has been a big learning experience for most probably our club really ... we just lacked that hardness I think," Fittler said.

"We got a bit soft at a few crucial times over the last couple of weeks and it's something you have to work on.

"I don't know how you work on that, I suppose you've just got to train a bit harder, become a bit more resilient."

One player looking to build is teenage halfback Mitchell Pearce, who admitted he exceeded his own expectations by holding down the Roosters No.7 jumper all season, not to mention making his NSW debut in the Origin series decider.

But if the Roosters are to take the next step and challenge for the title in 2009, Pearce knows he has to improve.

"It's still pretty disappointing this year that it ended like this, it was a missed opportunity with a couple of boys going next year," Pearce said.

"It's just the way it goes, we'll come back better, me and Braith's (five-eighth Braith Anasta) combo is getting better and everyone else will improve next year, learn from his year, but it's still just so disappointing the way it ended."

Meanwhile former Test fullback Anthony Minichiello dismissed reports he was keen to move to either French or Italian rugby union next season.

Speculation surfaced this week claiming Minichiello was hoping for one last big payday overseas, with serious question marks over his long-term future in the NRL due to recent back troubles.

"They're just rumours, I'm under contract (for 2009)," Minichiello said.

"Everyone's been named (to be going) over there haven't they.

"I haven't negotiated with anyone - my manager hasn't either."

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