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.
“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.
“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.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Makes interesting reading. I wonder......
Watda
Guest
What a poor comment, you sound like a salty Souths supporter. Just maybe the Roosters are a good team. What has the penalty count been in these games? Is it a case of only the judiciary and Ref’s will get Souths over the line?
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I think Robinson should take a leaf out of Rickys book here. Ricky will be down on the sideline not sitting in a heated coaches box. The Roosters players could well be thinking "it's ok for you to dismiss the conditions".
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
I believe the Roosters are a very strong chance to win this regardless of the conditions for the following reason. When it comes to horses for courses Ashley Klein is on a 8 match winning streak if the Roosters beat The Raiders tomorrow. The last time the Roosters lost a game where Klein officiated was in R8 2018 v Dragons in the Charity Shield. In the 7 games since then where Klein was the ref the Roosters have won all which included the semi and GF last year. Since the 2018 semi Roosters v Souths and GF v Storm Ashley Klein has in 2019 officiated in 3 crucial Rooster games (v Broncos R4, v Storm R6 and v Knights R18 after the Knights beat them in R 11). The Roosters won all 5. In the 10 games the Roosters have lost since R8 2018, Ashley Klein has not officiated in any of them. I am not accusing Ashley Klein of cheating or exercising deliberate bias but it just may simply be an amazing case of coincidence regarding this streak and that his appointment as ref is in crucial games for the Roosters with tomorrow’s game against The Raiders no exception. Now that we are once again nearing the business end of the competition my curiosity will be focussed on which of the Rooster games Klein will be appointed and if this winning streak currently at 7 becomes 8 tomorrow. I will be watching with keen interest for the next time the Roosters lose a game where Ashley Klein is behind the whistle. If the Roosters were a race horse and Ashley Klein was a jockey the form would read very well for this horse to make it 8 straight with this jockey in the saddle.