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Robinson laments poor defending in Round 1 loss

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15th March, 2019
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Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson bemoaned his side’s defending following their round one loss to South Sydney.

The Roosters’ defence of the NRL premiership started on Friday night – but they might need to work on their actual defending.

The Roosters produced an error-riddled performance in their 26-16 round-one loss to arch rivals South Sydney in the driving rain at the SCG.

But coach Trent Robinson was also irritated by their lack of defensive intensity in shutting down Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds on their fifth-tackle plays.

“On last plays he outkicked us, he put us under some pressure on those last-plays. They had four of their tries at the end of sets,” Robinson said.

“That was disappointing from us.

“The score was irrelevant. I didn’t think we were playing well.”

The 26 points was the most the Roosters had conceded since going down to a Wayne Bennett-coached Brisbane side in May last year.

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Bennett, who was the last coach to claim back-to-back premierships in 1992-93 with the Broncos, made the switch to the Rabbitohs over the summer.

And while Robinson believes his forward pack matched with their opposition, they were simply outsmarted during the big moments.

“I didn’t think the physical battle was won by the other side. Their energy on the end of sets, that’s where they got us, definitely,” Robinson said.

“The amount of plays we had to defend, we kept turning them away. It wasn’t that difficult in the middle of the park for the guys to get forward.”

Their ill-discipline resulted in number of frustrated Roosters players being involved in minor scuffles late in the second half, including Latrell Mitchell.

The Kangaroos and NSW State of Origin centre could be in trouble with the match review committee over a high tackle on Sam Burgess.

Asked about Mitchell’s performance post-game, Robinson said: “There was some physical plays there.

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“For all of us, I think we all would’ve liked to play a bit better.

“There was obviously differences within our team but to a man we would’ve liked to have complete a bit more with carrying the ball.

“And more support. I thought our support was low. I think all 17 can improve on what they did tonight.”

© AAP

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