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Roosters avoid excuses for top-four charge

3 minute read

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has built his 2021 assault around youngsters stepping up, as his players ignore nay-sayers who point to their injury toll.

TRENT ROBINSON.
TRENT ROBINSON. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Sydney Roosters are sick of being told why they shouldn't or can't win.

In their push for another title, Trent Robinson's charges have ignored the stats - 60 per cent of this year's salary cap are missing, three stars have been forced into retirement and their challenge rests on the shoulders of young talent.

"I'm getting asked about it every week, every press conference, post-game," coach Robinson said.

Instead, they are focussing on the reasons they believe can win them a third title in four years.

"You know there's bumps in the road," Robinson continued.

"But the belief is high on this side, the belief in what we want. It's just we need to prove it each week.

"We're really focused on the players that are playing and how good they can play.

"No one's telling our halves that they were going to be backups this year or any of the other players.

"Understandably, there's a lot of excuses coming externally but it's not here."

When Robinson speaks of filling players with belief, he's looking no further than the eight men - and in some cases boys - he's given debuts to this year.

Four of them will face St George Illawarra in Toowoomba on Sunday, with Sam Walker in the halves and Egan Butcher, Fletcher Baker and Ben Thomas off the bench.

The Roosters' strength for so long has been perceived as being their big names and experienced players.

But the key this season has been those who have stepped up, from Sam Walker offering creativity in the halves to Ben Marschke as a starting hooker.

"You always rely on the senior players but you also don't want it to weigh them down," Robinson said.

"So that's why the way that say Egan and Fletcher Baker have played, if they hadn't came in and done their role so well it would have put even more weight on Siosiua (Taukeiaho), Isaac Liu or Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves).

"The way that Drew Hutchison's come in and played, and being able to allow Sammy Walker and Sammy Verrills time to develop."

And when it matters most, it's starting to click. The Roosters past six games have been their best all year with a 5-1 record.

It's why Robinson insists his side can take it to Melbourne, Penrith and South Sydney in the finals, with an eighth top-four finish in nine years very much in sight.

"Six or seven weeks ago we played the top two teams and got well beaten in those games," Robinson said.

"We feel like we've made up some ground but we haven't quite got there yet.

"This isn't just a positive talk. I definitely believe we can (compete with the top three).

"We have to keep improving each week. We're not going to sit idle and wait for the finals."

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