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Roosters ready for freezing cold Canberra

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10th August, 2019
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Swatting away suggestions his side won’t be as pumped as the Raiders, Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson insists the premiers will be ready for Sunday’s NRL blockbuster come rain, hail or sunshine.

Or even snow.

With Canberrans waking up on Saturday to snow-flaked yards and the apparent temperature dipping to minus-two degrees in the national capital, the prospect of a snowy showdown between the two top-four heavyweights was a distinct possibility.

Not that it bothered Robinson at all.

“I don’t think weather’s ever dictated performance, or it won’t be dictating ours tomorrow,” he said before leaving Sydney on Saturday.

“Obviously we’ve seen the conditions down there and we look forward to playing footy.”

The dual premiership-winning mentor said he’d both played and coached in snow during his English Super League days.

“It makes it more exciting, to be honest,” Robinson said.

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“I’ve done a lot overseas and played and coached in all different conditions and the thing that matters is how you play and how you take to performing.”

And despite former Test star turned analyst, Matt Johns predicting Canberra coach Ricky Stuart would have the Raiders more fired up for the top-two shootout, Robinson promised the Roosters would be equally primed for battle.

“I don’t know what he said and it doesn’t matter. We know where we’re at and we know how we want to perform tomorrow. We’re ready,” Robinson said.

“You want to perform well at this time of the year. We’re excited by where both teams sit and we obviously know the performances that they’ve had.

“But we’re getting into our groove and tomorrow’s a great opportunity.”

Robinson revealed strike forwards Sio Siua Taukeiaho and skipper Boyd Cordner would both be pushing for returns next week after making strong progress from calf injuries.

But having front-row enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves back from suspension to take on the Raiders is a huge boost for the Roosters.

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“Jared’s an important part of our pack and has been for close to a decade now so he’s a very important player for us,” Robinson said.

“I’m looking forward to getting him back in there and getting us rolling again.”

Locked on 28 competition points apiece, Sunday’s winners at GIO Stadium are guaranteed second spot on the ladder with four rounds remaining before the finals.

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