Another year and another finals appearance for the Sydney Roosters under the guidance of supercoach maestro Trent Robinson.
Such is the Tricolours’ familiarity with September football, it has almost become their right to lace on the boots and fill the gatorade tub at this time of the year.
Though no one at the club will openly say it, it was made all the more sweeter when they expunged fierce rivals South Sydney in merciless fashion in the final round of the year, condemning the Rabbitohs to a long off-season of soul searching.
Although critics will trot out the old baseless line “the Roosters have no salary cap” , there is no denying Robinson has the “special touch”.
In recent times many great coaches have been given the opportunity at the Roosters including Phil Gould , Ricky Stuart, Brian Smith, Chris Anderson, Bard Fittler, the list goes on.
And none of these have come close to Robinson’s success – it is without peer and was driven home in 2018/19, when only six years into the top job he became the first Roosters coach since Jack Gibson in 1974/75 to go back to back.
When he landed his first NRL head coach gig back in 2013, it was the players who had previously worked with Robinson as an assistant to Brian Smith for three years who pushed for him to get the gig.
The appointment paid immediate dividends as in his first year at the helm, the Roosters won the minor premiership and the premiership and Robinson collected Coach of the Year honours.
The players’ sentiment towards their former assistant coach was rewarded and he has since repaid the loyalty on countless occasions.
Fast forward and now in his 11th season there is no indication the “Trent Train ” is slowing down anytime soon.
Along with Robinson developing a winning culture at the Roosters with his pragmatic approach, he is also a good judge of character.
Trent Robinson. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
A few years ago when Tevita Pangai jnr was on the move from Brisbane, he was linked with the Roosters. Robinson categorically denied this was the case and was quoted as saying “We don’t want that type of character at our club”.
Robinson was proven right as TPJ has recently lost his lust and desire for the game and has become another of Gould’s misfit recruitments at the Bulldogs.
More recently, Robinson’s judgement on Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell has been proven correct and come to fruition. Mitchell plied his undeniably freakish talents at the Roosters for a number of seasons, but they were privately concerned at him putting the team’s needs before his own and they were happy to let him go to the Rabbitohs. In return they picked up teenage prodigy Joseph Suaalii and the rest is history.
With a penchant for more often than not getting their man, and the player who they think will be the best fit for their club, there aren’t many Robinson misses out on signing – let’s see if the class of ’23 prove Robinson’s judgement right again and go deep into September.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I always find that an interesting argument NSWman; Bellamy has only ever been at the one club and has achieved brilliant things. While Bennet has had success at a number of different places, he has generally gone places with money and (already) good rosters, and has one premiership in the last 17 years. Obviously the Dolphins buck that trend and outperformed my expectations, but they weren’t near the 8 and probably just goes to demonstrate that much of being a premiership coach is having premiership-calibre squad.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Remember, Robbo didn’t see it. Strange condition Robbo has going on with his eyes; when his player is the perpetrator of a potential incident, his eyesight is that of a 90 year old. When it is his player on the end of something he has the eyes of a hawk.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
JWH, Manu , Cheese for starters aren't eligible for SOO so there's a lot more to it than that. Manly from memory only had a couple of SOO reps in 2008 but won the GF 40 nil. The Roosters were one, if not the favorite for the title this season based on the roster. They are loaded with SOO and internationals as well as two recent Golden boots. They will be one of the favorites again next year because of their roster strength, no doubt at all.
criag
Roar Rookie
Viewing roster as strong is subjective. Fact is, the Roosters had one State-of-Origin rep in each team this year.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Agree, send him to the Tigers see if he’d do any better than Maguire.
Tony
Roar Guru
:crying:
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The roster is that good that many had them as favorites for the title. Sneaking into the 8 with such a stellar roster is plenty of evidence that the train has slowed down and derailed at times. How many Warriors make the Roosters team? A handful? Supercoach clearly has plenty of talent to be a first grade coach for so long and do very well and keep the players on side but it's not exactly a level playing field this coaching caper. Next season his roster get even stronger. It's a handy situation for a coach to be in.
Poss
Roar Rookie
Can't have him Tony he's ours!!!! :thumbup:
Poss
Roar Rookie
We'll have to agree to disagree with that comment Mushi.... :happy:
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Give any coach the players Robinson has had at his disposal over the years & they’d be considered a super coach lolol. I don’t rate him at all. When he’s won premierships at other clubs ala Bennett then maybe I’ll think a little more of him.
Insideflickpass
Roar Rookie
I don't rate him. The Roosters way simply means illdiscipline, stupid penalties and low completion rates. They haven't been able to beat the top sides for years. He only got angry with JWH the previous week, why does he put up with so crap from JWH & Radley.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing he'd last a season if by some miracle he decided to go, but would then need at least 12 months off to recover. Clubs like the Dragons and Tigers have a way of turning quite rational people into basket cases at present. Just look at their respective Boards.
Tony
Roar Guru
No one has the same budget :laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Would he have the same budget at the Dragons ? Can they say, ‘here’s a new car for you , one for you , one for you’? :laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
That haven’t seemed to mind what JWH has gotten up to on the field either?
Tony
Roar Guru
I'd be happy to see him at the Dragons :happy:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've no idea whether Robinson is a good judge of character or is even a good coach because I'm not a part of the Roosters inner circle or squad. I do know that there are two areas where he, as a modern coach excels. I think he deals with the media extremely well and is able to deal very effectively with the pressure all coaches come under when results are not going their way. Is he a supercoach? He's a great fit at the Roosters, where he has pretty much all a coach could want, but would he be a great fit at other Clubs?
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Good article, Gambler. Mid-season, people were calling for Robinson's head. ps I'm not so sure about 'Bard Fittler.' He's quite articulate in the media, but not yet on Shakespeare's level :stoked:
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah I don't think we have the character test given Radley is a pretty rubbish human
Tony
Roar Guru
"We don't want that type of character at our club" Did Robinson actually say that? Interestingly, the Roosters were happy enough to give Matt Lodge a run while it suited their purpose.