Beating Eels is Roosters’ only dream in finals hunt
Joanna Guelas |
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is happy to simplify it: “Tomorrow night against Parramatta, 80 minutes, let’s go and play footy.”
Robinson is sticking close to the “one week at a time” mantra as the Roosters aim to close in on a finals spot with a win over Parramatta at CommBank stadium on Saturday.
The race for a top-eight finish is delicately poised for the Roosters, who sit eighth on 28 points with an 11-10 record ahead of their final three fixtures.
The Dolphins are ninth (10-11) on 26 points, while Manly and Wests Tigers are mathematically still alive, behind by a further two points.
The Roosters have so far impressed under late-season pressure and head into Saturday’s clash with a three-match winning streak.
“We know tomorrow night’s the only thing that really matters in the course of our season,” Robinson said on Friday.
“The dreams haven’t got past the weekend each week for us.
“It’s ‘burn the boats and let’s go on Saturday night’. That’s the beauty of what we get to do and the simplicity of it as well.”
The one week at a time cliche extends as far as the speculation surrounding Sea Eagles legend Daly Cherry-Evans’ potential future at the Roosters.
Cherry-Evans has been consistently linked to a move to the Roosters for 2026 after announcing in March he would leave Manly at season’s end.
A deal with the Roosters has not been finalised, with Robinson refusing to be drawn on the speculation ahead of Cherry-Evans’ milestone match this weekend.
Cherry-Evans will become the third player in NRL history to play 350 games for the one club, having become synonymous with Manly since his premiership-winning 2011 rookie season.
The 36-year-old halfback’s drop in form has added to uncertainty over a Roosters move, given the red-hot chemistry between current halves Sam Walker and Hugo Savala.
Asked if he thought Cherry-Evans should retire at season’s end, Robinson said: “No, I just think this weekend, it’s a big congratulations to him.
“… It’s Saturday night and they’re (Walker and Savala) our starting halves, so that’s all I’m focused on.”
The Roosters will have a new face in the line-up against the Eels, with Robinson handing Junior Tupou his first game in Roosters colours since a mid-season switch.
Former Dolphins player Tupou replaces concussed winger Daniel Tupou.
AAP
