Trent Robinson has candidly discussed the impact of Sam Walker’s absence on the Sydney Roosters after the young halfback suffered a category one concussion. Walker’s injury, sustained during the Roosters’ 30-10 defeat to the Parramatta Eels, will keep him out until the final round of the season. This setback comes as the Roosters strive to secure a spot in the finals.
The Roosters’ loss to the Eels leaves them needing at least one victory in their remaining two games to ensure a place in the playoffs. Despite the critical nature of Walker’s injury, Robinson refused to use it as an excuse for the team’s performance.
“It’s happened before where you’ve got to be able to move your team around and we’ve got the players to do that,” Robinson said. “I think yardage errors or discipline is not going to go down to a halfback. Maybe not scoring as many points or flowing as much as possible. That’s going to happen at different times, but not some of the other things that we saw.”
Walker’s Replacement: Sandon Smith Steps Up
In the wake of Walker’s injury, Robinson confirmed that Sandon Smith would miss the New South Wales Cup on Sunday to prepare for the upcoming clash against the Melbourne Storm. Robinson expressed confidence in Smith’s abilities.
“Sandon’s a very good player,” Robinson noted. “We’re in this position this year because of guys like Sandon and there’s no choice. It’s pretty clear what position we’re in, what we need. Sandon has been here for a long time, he knows our footy, so it’s no choice.”
Discipline and Errors: Key Factors in Roosters’ Loss
Robinson attributed the loss to the Eels to a lack of discipline and crucial errors. “It started with our discipline there, the weight of possession was sort of in their hands right from the start,” he explained. “It was discipline errors and then last plays. They ended up scoring all of their tries off kicks, except for the intercept try there.”
Despite a valiant effort to fight back into the game, the Roosters were unable to maintain momentum. “We fought our way back in. I thought we wrestled it back whilst not playing our best to 20-10 and then I think we completed one from nine after that, so pretty disappointing,” Robinson lamented.
James Tedesco: Not Time to Panic
Roosters captain James Tedesco acknowledged the disappointing performance but emphasized that the team still controls its destiny. “It’s just disappointment this time of year, given how important this game is to put a game like that out, but we’ve got two more games to do or die for us, so we’ll just take our lessons and get ready to go for a big game next Friday,” Tedesco stated.
A controversial call against the Roosters at half-time, involving a denied try by Mark Nawaqanitawase due to a Tedesco knock-on, added to the game’s drama. “I wasn’t sure if I touched it or not,” Tedesco said. “It could have went either way I thought. I wasn’t sure if he touched it first or I touched it.”
Highlight Reels and High Skills
Despite the loss, Nawaqanitawase’s performance was a standout, providing two remarkable try assists. His skillful play, particularly a flick to Robert Toia, was noted by Robinson. “We can all be excited by the art of the game, but it doesn’t override the team result,” Robinson said.
Robinson praised Nawaqanitawase’s creativity and practice. “He obviously got the one on half-time there with the contest and he’s creative and he practices that. The short kick-off, catch away from the body and hands and obviously those flicks we see that, so it is practised, it looks risky, but for him it’s less risky because of the amount of times that he practices that and it’s ball control.”
The Roosters now face a critical period as they prepare for their remaining fixtures. With Walker sidelined, the team must rally around Smith and focus on tightening their discipline and execution to secure a finals berth.
