Robinson urges Roosters to heed NRL lesson
Jun 2, 2017 - 4:26 AM The NRL calendar is about to reach its halfway point and Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is adamant his team have been on a premiership trajectory for every day bar one.A 24-point hiding from Brisbane in round six - their heaviest loss so far this season - is the one result that stands out.
And ahead of Saturday's re-match at Allianz Stadium, Robinson was quick to remind his players of the lessons they took when the Broncos whipped them the last time they met.
"It was the only day that I felt like we've had off this year," Robinson said on Friday.
"I'm talking about right from (Auckland) Nines right through to last round. I felt like that was the round we well and truly got beaten. And that hurt, it hurt a lot."
None more so than centre Latrell Mitchell, who was hooked late in the game and dumped to reserve grade for a fortnight to find form and confidence before earning a recall.
Since that match, the Roosters got their title tilt back on track with four wins in five games before they were brought undone by Canberra without their State of Origin stars last week.
In what is arguably the match of the round, the fourth-placed Roosters meet third-placed Brisbane with both sides feeling the toll of the Origin period.
Robinson confirmed star Mitchell Pearce will be a scratching after getting knocked out against Queensland, however Boyd Cordner, Blake Ferguson, Aidan Guerra and Dylan Napa will all play.
The Broncos will be without Anthony Milford, who was concussed in the same play, although Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett and Josh McGuire will also back-up.
Benji Marshall, who was quiet in his club debut during their own 28-10 lashing by the Warriors last week, has been handed another chance following a shoulder injury to Kodi Nikorima.
But it doesn't matter says Robinson, who insists his team still need to lift for a win.
"No matter who played on Wednesday night or not, we have to be good against Brisbane. I think they're playing really top-end rugby league at the moment," he said.
STATS THAT MATTER
- The Roosters have been awarded the fewest penalties in the competition (4.9 per game), while the Broncos concede the fewest (5.2 per game).
- The Roosters have won their past two, and six of their past seven at Allianz Stadium.
- Brisbane have scored 17 of their 44 tries through the centre of the park, the most and highest percentage of any team in the NRL.
Source: AAP
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