Robinson confident he has armoury to contain Rabbitohs
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South Sydney leads the way in the NRL for tries, line breaks, decoy runs, plus try and line break assists but Trent Robinson is confident his Roosters haven't peaked yet and can handle the Rabbitohs.
Both teams are playing free-flowing football - the Rabbitohs have produced 83 tries in 21 rounds, with the Roosters in second place tied with the Storm on 75.
The left edge for Souths has 35 tries – although without the injured Robert Jennings that number drops to 24. The right edge for the Roosters has 27 tries. The likes of Cody Walker, Hymel Hunt and Richie Kennar going up against Cooper Cronk, Joesph Manu and Blake Ferguson on Saturday at ANZ Stadium should provide quite the spectacle.
"We're the best attacking team in the last 10 rounds as well. It's the best defensive edge in the comp – I think equal with their left edge – so that's why we're all excited about getting into this game," Robinson said.
Backlines aside, will the Roosters forwards and hooker Jake Friend have enough to hold back the Burgess brothers and Damien Cook?
"Good defence," Robinson dead-panned when asked how to control the middle.
"It's not about one week. It's about habits we've formed habits over a long period of time based around those things. That's what you've got to rely on.
"You can't have one good week of video or a session and then say 'Okay we've got it'. You have to have been doing it for months and months and that's what we'll put into practice."
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The Roosters are after a fifth straight win. Their last loss was by a point (Storm 9-8) in round 16. A bye the next weekend and the Roosters haven't looked back since.
"We wanted to improve a few months ago and we've been on a path to improvement since then.
"We've been really good but still not our best.
"Since our break we've been number one in attack over that time and also in defence. But we want more out of ourselves and the next chance is tomorrow night.
"It's going to take improved defence and attack from us to get what we want out of tomorrow night."
Dylan Napa in just his second week back is likely to get more minutes, after just 25 minutes last week against the Cowboys. Rookie half Sean O'Sullivan may again be left on the bench for the entire 80 minutes.
"He's there for coverage. It's the only position we probably can't cover. He's a good young player but when Luke [Keary] is in there that's a natural position coverage," Robinson said.
He acknowledged the good feeling around the team from the initiative by major sponsor Steggles to have the name of a female family member or partner on the jersey front to commemorate the Harvey Norman Women in League round.
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"There's more being done by the NRL and with us with Steggles… taking their name off the jersey and putting some of the women in your life that have made an impact to add to the character you are today.
"So it's been a really good week of thankfulness, to stop and pause and say 'Thanks' in that way. Off the field there's been some good character things and I've also seen it at training. I can't wait."
Robinson is at ease with South Sydney's 'Book of Feuds' and the 'Forever In Our Shadow' banners and T-shirts expected at ANZ Stadium.
"We are entertainment. We want passion in our game and that's really good. It creates an atmosphere around the game," he said.
"Our role as coaches and staff, the role of players is to perform consistently well every week no matter the circumstances."
