Hooker Jake Friend says the Sydney Roosters are beginning to play their best football at exactly the right time of the NRL season.
The Roosters are gunning for their fifth successive win this weekend when they play Melbourne, which would form the premiers’ longest winning sequence this season.
On the back of their most-impressive win of the season, their last-start 46-12 hammering of the Warriors in Auckland, Friend says the Roosters are building nicely, two weeks out from the start of the finals.
“We have been pretty hot and cold this year. Hopefully, these next couple of weeks, we can really get it right heading into the finals,” Friend said on Wednesday.
“I think our last couple of weeks have been some of our best footy, so it is pleasing that we are getting that going this time of the year and, hopefully, we can keep that going this weekend.
“We have had a bit of building to do and we have got that going in the last couple of weeks.”
Friend returned from two games out with a hamstring injury for the Warriors clash, alongside Sonny Bill Williams who came back from a month out with a broken thumb, bringing almost a full complement of Roosters players back on the park.
Daniel Tupou returned from a back injury against the Wests Tigers.
Those wins were preceded by victories over Gold Coast and St George Illawarra, in which Michael Jennings returned from a back complaint.
But Friend said the form of halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney had been key to the tricolours’ improvement.
“It was probably one of Jimmy’s best games against the Warriors and Mitch has been pretty consistent for most of the year,” Friend said.
“It is good to see them stepping up and taking control and getting us going.
“They control a lot of what we do. If they are on fire, the team should be doing well.
“Melbourne have got on a bit of a roll and they will be a tough game.
“A lot of the teams up the top of the comp are really starting to find some form so it is going to be a really tough end to the season.”
Pickett
Guest
This year is gonna be a Rooster-Waratah double. Souths will go the way of the bumbies - out when it counts.
Pickett
Guest
Will be a great game against the drizzle. Both teams will want to make a statement. Easts by 4.
Muzz
Guest
Save your money,Jack Chooks 13+. Maloney and Pearce have found form mate and will only get better. As for next week, this will be the clash of the season, once again.It will be the Roosters 3rd game in 12 days and the Bunnies 3rd in 13 days.We can thank channel 9 for that ! Can't wait.
BrumbyJack
Guest
The Storm will certainly give the Chooks a good run. And then Souths next week will give them an even bigger run! Look at the facts. The Chooks have beaten very very average teams in the last month - St George, Titans, Tigers and Warriors. Maloney has been below par the whole season and Pearce needs a lot more momentum from his forwards - which he won't get against the Storm and Rabbits. The Storm with 5.5 start is decent value, and one thinks next week the Roosters will need at least 8.5 points start against Souths. The Burgess Boys, Isaac Luke and Kyle Turner will run through and all over the Chooks next week.
Johnnyball
Guest
Stop Hargreaves from pulling his macho crap and you will go a long way. Think Storm might get you though
gary
Guest
hi.i think the roosters are hitting form now. melbourne will really check them out.roosters have had allot of hard ref calls this year,not just penaltys against, but dissalowed tries.they should really be 4 points up easy and be ontop of the ladder. the necastle r14 match was blatenlymade for the roosters to loose by the refs.hope they stop this sort of reffing. BE FAIR REFS.
Elma Dudd
Guest
In a close game the chooks by 8 .