Sydney Roosters Head Coach Trent Robinson's side are rejuvenated and ready to take on a ladder-leading Melbourne Storm outfit this Thursday at Newcastle in what is set to be a blockbusting clash against their Victorian rivals.
With recent protocols forcing the match to be held at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Roosters' mentor said that his squad will have to make the necessary changes in order to successfully transition into the new yet familiar conditions.
“Like everybody in Sydney especially but also Australia, it’s moved every day on what our preparation has looked like," he stated.
“Inside as far as how we’ve trained that hasn’t changed, and who we’re playing hasn’t shifted so I think we’ve all learned how to adapt well and quickly over the last couple of years. That’s what we’re doing now.
“A part of life is what you can and can’t control, what you can let go and whether you can get on with the job at hand. Young players are very good at playing what’s in front of them and they’ve got to do that at the moment.
“We’re lucky enough to be playing the competition at the moment so let’s just get on with it.”
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Coming up against the top-of-the-table Storm, who have enjoyed a twelve-game winning streak, Robinson believes that his Roosters have an opportunity to set a standard for the rest of the remaining rounds in the regular season - and challenged them to prove themselves against the best.
“It’s a big one for this week,” Robinson said.
“We want to perform well and keep getting that improvement. We’re starting to get some continuity with players, and we’ve had to change almost every single week basically.
“We’re starting to get a consistent squad over the next couple of weeks. We’re going to get a consistent squad that’s going to finish the season for us. We want to nail each game from here on in.
“We believe in ourselves and how we can play and we get an opportunity on Thursday to do that. We want to nail our combinations and our style of play and that will improve the longer the season goes.”
“We’ve had some great rivalries in the past and I think it’s up to us to prove that on Thursday night. I felt like we were physical last time we played them and now it’s time to go a step further."
While a change of scenery might be unideal for most head coaches, Robinson was positive about the move and called on the citizens of the Hunter region to head to McDonald Jones Stadium and witness two of the competition's heavyweights go toe-to-toe.
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“If you’re going to take football outside of Sydney, you’re going to take it to Newcastle," he said.
“When it was proposed it was an easy choice for us. They know their footy and it’s outside of the zone at the moment that we’re allowed to play.
“Let’s hope Newcastle stays in that range to freely move about, we hope that continues. But if they have the chance to go out and watch some sport, come out and watch two teams go at it.
"They’re not their Newcastle Knights but they’re two teams they should enjoy watching play and we’re looking forward to some jeers on Thursday night. They love their footy and we’d love for them to turn up.”
We’ve had some great rivalries in the past and I think it’s up to us to prove that on Thursday night. I felt like we were physical last time we played them and now it’s time to go a step further.
Trent Robinson On playing Melbourne on Thursday night
Robinson also gave an update on James Tedesco and Angus Crichton following their State of Origin victory on Sunday night, confirming that both would be pulling on the famous Tricolours on Thursday night.
“They’ve both good,” he confirmed.
“They both came through the game well. I spoke to them and we won’t see them until tomorrow at some stage. I’ve only talked to them on the phone or via zoom but they’re good.
“We’re planning on playing them for the minutes they would in a normal game. They both performed well on Sunday night, but with a Thursday game, it’s almost a full two weeks until the following game.
“I’ll manage them physically if I see it during the game, but they’re positive and ready to go.”
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