Ferguson and Roosters back five ready for finals
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The Sydney Roosters' back five will enter the finals hoping to continue their free-running ways after a season that included 52 tries.
Daniel Tupou, Latrell Mitchell, James Tedesco, Joseph Manu and Blake Ferguson combined to score all eight of the Roosters tries in their 44-10 hiding of Parramatta on Saturday night - a result that secured the minor premiership for the Tricolours.
"That's the rewards of a lot of work," coach Trent Robinson said.
"I know they'll get some raps about that, but 17 guys set that up."
Ferguson will enter the finals playing as well as any winger in the Telstra Premiership.
His two tries against the Eels meant he reached – and then passed – his 100 career tries milestone.
He did it in less than 200 games (189) and you get the feeling the finals will see him continue on his merry way.
"He's a physical specimen – the size of him and how strong and powerful he is," Robinson said.
Match Highlights: Eels v Roosters - Round 25, 2018
"If you saw him lift in the gym, he's very strong. And he's matured in his game. He knows his game and his role with us. He knows how to use his physical strength in the game of footy.
"So there's a really good balance between the powerful backfield carries and subtleties in movements, but also in the speed he can produce."
Ferguson made 25 runs for 314m against the Eels. He was part of the 13 line breaks the Roosters made on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium – again, all by the back five.
He has made 81 tackle-breaks for the season so far.
The 28-year-old is about to end his four-year association with the Roosters as he ironically heads to the Eels in 2019.
But his service to the Roosters cause of winning a second premiership within five years is there for all to see.
He leads the NRL for total runs, and all run metres, and is equal third on tries during 2018 with 17 behind Warriors winger David Fusitu'a (21).
