Sydney Roosters Head Coach Trent Robinson has reaffirmed the Club's belief with just three weeks left until the finals, and has praised a quartet of Roosters; two re-signing, one returning and one retiring this week.
The three-time Premiership-winning coach said there were both positives and negatives coming from their nail-biting 21-20 win over the Brisbane Broncos, and was looking forward to seeing an improvement in his side come Sunday afternoon against the St George Illawarra Dragons in Toowoomba.
“We know that we’ve been getting better a team,” Robinson said.
“We’re not looking for a spot. We’re looking to really perform when it comes time. That’s no different on Sunday. We want to keep pushing forward and getting better at our game.
“I thought we were really calm last week, no matter the situation. There was a real understanding of what scenario was in front of us. I loved the calmness around a relatively mixed team, around what did the game need.
“There were things that we need to do better – we lacked flow in attack, we were a little disjointed in some defensive movements. The mental composure we had, they are good signs.
Coach's Media - Round 23
“We need to have a good performance on Sunday, we need to play really well and keep improving. We’re on the way up, we just need to accelerate quicker than the other teams.
“I’ve learned a little bit over the last 24 hours over one of the big heartlands of Rugby League and one of the legendary areas that have had a lot of Australian players in the 1950s as well.
“We’re looking forward to getting up there and taking the game to an area that’s loved Rugby League for 100 years.
“The belief is high on this side, we’ve just got to prove it each week.”
The week also marked the re-signing of both Nat and Egan Butcher who have both extended their stay at the Club, while it was also confirmed that former Rooster Connor Watson will make a welcomed return in 2022.
Both pieces of news mean three junior representatives and players who all debuted with the Club will be wearing the famous Red, White and Blue for at least the next few seasons, something that Robinson is more than pleased with.
“It’s great just to have a couple of guys there that have come through our junior reps,” he said.
“To have brothers come through – I love watching brothers play together – and we were lucky enough to have Josh and Brett (Morris) and now obviously with the Butcher boys to come through and play.
“They’re different in the way that they play but they do have a heart to the way that they play, they’ve got a good ticker in their style of play.
“I love watching Connor play, and I always have. He debuted at the Roosters, came through and had been here for a few years.
The belief is high on this side, we’ve just got to prove it each week.
Trent Robinson On his 2021 side
“He’s just turned 25 and just had 100 games and he’s ripe and ready to play. It wasn’t the time for Connor to go and play a fourteen role in Super League. It was time for him to go and change games regularly in the NRL. It was pretty simple.
“We let Connor go to play five-eighth, and he left on good terms. He’s become an amazing fourteen and I want him to be the best in that role. That’s the view for the future.
“I know it was a tough choice for Connor, he’s a loyal guy, that’s why he’s coming back. I’m glad he made the decision.
“There’s a whole group of those guys that have played together and are going to continue to play together into the future so that’s a positive for our group."
Sydney Roosters Members and fans received bittersweet news this week when fan favourite and 2013 Premiership-winner James Maloney announced his retirement for the end of the season, with former coach Robinson praising the wily five-eighth for his contribution to the game.
“I was talking about him today with Toops (Daniel Tupou) about his coaching aspirations,” he revealed.
“I always said to Jimmy that he could coach, there’s the larrikin in him. The bank of knowledge in him is incredible. What a career.
“He’s been rejected from clubs, but he was the original player with ‘amnesia’. He would forget the moment and go on the courage to play footy at all moments.
“He causes chaos around him, but he’s got calmness within him.”
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