By any statistical measure, the Sydney Roosters are putting together a dominant 2024 season as they emerge as the biggest threat to the Panthers' quest for a fourth straight premiership.
Sitting third with an 11-6 record heading into a Round 20 blockbuster against first-placed Melbourne, Trent Robinson's lead the NRL for tries scored (91), points scored (522), line breaks (105) and tackle breaks (700).
Winger Dom Young has more line breaks than any other player with 21 and fullback James Tedesco tops the tackle break tally with 112.
All of which should have Robinson rubbing his hands with glee but there's one stat causing him some sleepless nights with seven games to play in the regular season - most penalties conceded this season (124).
JWH is sent to the bin
With Jared Waerea-Hargreaves about to start a four-game ban for a Careless High Tackle as Joseph Joseph Sua'ali'i returns from four games out for his Origin high shot on Reece Walsh, the Roosters mentor has pinpointed discipline as the key focus for his team in the run home.
"For whatever reason, wherever it is coming from, if we can improve our discipline with where we are already sitting then I feel like we can dominate this competition," Robinson told media on Thursday.
"That's on us to take lessons out of that. We'll play our style but if we can improve our discipline... there has been some lessons there where that hasn't been the case and we've been punished.
Young on the run
"Obviously Su (Sua'ali'i), and obviously Jared, there has been different ones at different times, but in game if we improve our discipline then we feel like, and it's on us, we feel responsibility towards that, then we can continue to improve in this competition.
"If we don't hit guys in the head, we don't get penalties, we don't get suspensions, we get more possession of the ball, and when we do that we'll win more games, so let's do that."
Arriving at AAMI Park on the back of a four-game winning streak the Roosters will fancy their chances of overturning a poor recent record against the Storm, who have won nine of the past 10 clashes between the sides.
The 2018 grand final combatants have already square off once this season with a late Xavier Coates try getting the Storm home 18-12 in Round 7 but Robinson says belief is high among the group.
Roosters v Storm - Round 7, 2024
"We've had some really tight tussles over the years, we were close last year in the semi-final and then again here [in Round 7] but that's not enough," Robinson said.
"We are really clear on our footy, nothing is imperative, bit our belief in what we can achieve on Saturday is really clear so let's go after it."
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