Walker Confident Roosters Can Continue Red-Hot Run in Finals

Sydney Roosters players believe finals rivals will be looking over their shoulders as they have the momentum to become the first team to win the premiership from outside the top four.

The Roosters have won five matches in a row after ending the Rabbitohs’ season with a 26-12 triumph on Friday night and now just need either the Cowboys or Raiders to lose to secure a finals berth against either the Knights or Sharks next weekend.

After struggling to click for most of the season, the Roosters have piled on 148 points in their last five matches while conceding just 52 points as the likes of Sam Walker, Luke Keary, James Tedesco and Brandon Smith hit top form at the right time.

“We are coming together at the right time. We probably left our run a little too late but if we sneak into the finals, we can do something special,” Walker said.

“We’ve clicked at the right time, so fingers crossed results go our way,” Walker said. “We can’t control anything else now. We had one job to do, and we’ve done that.

Centre Billy Smith, whose 70th minute try was a career highlight after being limited to just 12 matches in the previous three seasons due to injuries, the Roosters would be a threat to any team in the finals.

“I think our roster speaks for itself. Across the park, we have so many talented players and once you're in the finals, it's anyone's game from [position] one-to-eight,” Walker said.

“We have been playing finals footy for the last month so it’s no different for us. Guys like Keary and Teddy, and hopefully Joey Manu gets himself right … they can break games open, easily.

“We're not relying on them, but if everyone can pull their weight and those guys can do their thing, there's no reason why we can't go all the way.”

Walker played just his second NRL match alongside Keary since being dropped after Round 8 but he revealed they had been working together while he was out of the team.

The 21-year-old also had what coach Trent Robinson hailed as the best defensive performance of his NRL career, with Walker making 20 tackles and missing none opposite South Sydney’s lethal left edge.

“There was a bit to be worked on there, so I’m stoked,” Walker said of his defensive effort. “It’s awesome to be back playing footy again and being back in this team.

“I’ve spent a lot of time watching how the boys have been playing and being a part of the meetings, and seeing what was happening. Kez gave me a great deal of confidence to step in and play my footy.

“The way he’s been playing is awesome and the reason why we’re a chance of making the finals now. His leadership has been through the roof.

"Any time there’s a big moment, he’s all over it. He’s a big game player and that’s why he’s been at the top of the game for such a long time. Stepping back in, he’s giving me a great deal of confidence.”

Manu missed the final round match against the Rabbitohs with a hamstring injury that forced him from the field in last weekend’s win against Wests Tigers but the Kiwi superstar declared he would be fit for the finals.

However, Tonga winger Daniel Tupou – the greatest tryscorer in Roosters history – has his left knee in a brace after a training mishap last week and he won’t be available until later in the play-offs if the team are still alive.

“He's been a rock out there on the left for the last decade for us,” Smith said. “He’s in a knee brace so we will see how he goes and hopefully if he can get himself right and we can keep winning games he will be back on the field.”