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Roosters comeback the sign of a premiership side

The Roosters host the high-flying Sharks. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
Roar Pro
22nd March, 2014
22

The scores were 26-18 favouring the Brisbane Broncos with just six minutes remaining. I felt it was ‘game-over’.

However, their opponents, the Sydney Roosters, seemed to disagree.

Scoring two tries in the final four minutes, the ‘Chooks’ staged a memorable comeback, away from home, to get the two points.

Now, many will argue it’s only Round 3 and obviously you don’t win premierships this early in the season.

But I think this comeback has shown the NRL that the Roosters are indeed the real deal again.

Although 2014 has started off a bit topsy-turvy for the reigning premiers, and they haven’t looked as good as they were last year, the comeback can tell its own story.

For starters, the Roosters were losing by eight points with six minutes remaining in Brisbane.

A comeback from this position, in any stadium, would have been hard enough.

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But to stage one in Brisbane? Well, it was just a colossal effort.

You can ask any player where the hardest place to play is, and they will answer Brisbane.

The crowd always gets in the opposition’s face and they ride the emotions of the players.

To make a comeback in those conditions was incredible.

The Roosters were also completely battered and bruised from the previous tough 74 minutes.

They had notched up 313 tackles and had only had 44per cent of possession – meaning their backs had been against the wall the whole game.

Now, after being almost dominated for 74 minutes previously, any other team would have just called it a day.

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But strength and grit sent the Broncos home wondering what might have been.

To battle your way back after being under the pump all game is enormous.

The Roosters did it without main star Sonny Bill Williams too.

An effort like that screams evidence of toughness and a fighting spirit.

I believe that this win will jump-start the Roosters to bigger and better things.

The Broncos may have unleashed the sleeping monster that is the 2014 NRL Premiers.

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