Roosters admit halves gamble ‘didn’t work out’

Jasper Bruce | July 23, 2025

Trent Robinson admits the Sydney Roosters’ gamble on Chad Townsend did not pay off as hoped, issuing a simple challenge to Sandon Smith on his NRL recall.

It comes as the Roosters coach flags important forward Victor Radley will miss up to a month with the shoulder injury that forced him off against Cronulla on Friday.

Radley downplayed the left shoulder issue, similar to one suffered last year, when quizzed by reporters on Tuesday.

But Robinson is being more realistic as the 10th-placed Roosters prepare for a crucial month closing in on a finals spot.

“(Radley’s injury) is not a week, it’s probably closer to three or four. We’ve just got to repair and do the work,” he said.

“It’d be nice to get him back and firing.”

Robinson raised eyebrows preferencing off-contract veteran Townsend at five-eighth over prized youngster Smith when Hugo Savala went down with a wrist injury before round 20.

In his first NRL game since round five, Townsend could not spark the Roosters, who were error-prone as they fell in a crucial clash against top-eight rivals Cronulla.

With Savala sidelined for at least another week, Smith has earned a rapid-fire recall at Townsend’s expense for a similarly big game against finals-bound Melbourne.

“It didn’t work out how we wanted last week,” Robinson conceded.

“But there’s two separate things there. We weren’t happy with the way we played, but also, Sandon wasn’t there for a reason.

“But we’ve always believed in him as a player. I think we’ve shown that for the last few years in his development.”

Robinson wants to see Smith go after Thursday’s game, the way he did leading the Roosters to a huge defeat of St George Illawarra on Anzac Day earlier this year.

“I want him to play his game, I want him to attack the game. Go and play, go and attack the line and take his opportunities,” Robinson said.

“He’s a really instinctive player and I feel like he can do that more. I’m looking forward to that.”

Smith will start in the halves next to newly-fit Sam Walker for only the second time at NRL level and first since last March.

But the pair are great mates off the park, which Robinson felt would help their chemistry.

“I trust our system and I also trust their combination as friends and an intuition there about how they like playing the game,” he said.