But where does all the pressure really lie ahead of Sunday’s grand final?
asserted
pressure → lie → final
Is it with the Knights, who will be playing their first decider in a quarter of a century, or a Roosters side returning after a comparatively short seven-year absence?
asserted
who → play → absence
Trent Robinson’s response to that question after last Friday’s preliminary final raised a few eyebrows.
“It’s mostly internal.
asserted
It → raise → eyebrows
It always is,” the Roosters coach responded when asked if he’d felt that pressure since the club’s last title in 2019 and the Panthers dynasty that followed it.
asserted
that → respond → it
Robinson laughs and taps his temple when you double-check whether “internal” means inside his own head.
asserted
internal → laugh → head
That’s as opposed to internal pressure emanating from inside those red, white and blue walls adorned with the famous Roosters motto “we play for premierships”.
asserted
we → ’ → premierships
There should be pressure to deliver at one of the game’s genuine powerhouses, Robinson believes.
asserted
Robinson → deliver → powerhouses
Billionaire chairman Nick Politis told this masthead in 2024 that “‘Robbo’ will be here long after I’m dead.”
asserted
I → tell → 2024
Club director Mark Bouris sings a similar tune: expectations will always remain high, but no pressure has come the coach’s way from above – something not all of Robinson’s predecessors can say.
“What’s important about Robbo is he puts the pressure on himself,” Bouris says.
asserted
Bouris → sing → himself
“He’s a high achiever, extremely intense and intelligent as well, and he likes to be a winner.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
It’s one of the reasons we love him, and it’s why he’s our longest-serving coach.
asserted
he → ’ → him
“We like the fact he accepts the pressure … he’s a cool cat, and he doesn’t let it overwhelm him.
asserted
it → like → him
“It’s been a long time since we’ve won a grand final,” Angus Crichton says.
asserted
Crichton → win → final
“I had that success in my first season here, and it’s seven years later still chasing the next one.
asserted
it → have → one
We’re still chasing that every single day, chasing that success every single game.”
For more than a decade now, Roosters players have spoken of Robinson the thinker and tinkerer.
asserted
players → chase → Robinson
A character and a mind that has never quite fit the NRL coaching norm – he’s a fluent French speaker with a passion for NFL fantasy football (and taking cash off his players in the club’s annual in-house competition).
asserted
he → fit → competition
The insights Robinson offers into this season’s tweaks and changes – and they are only that, because the Roosters have never been too far away these past seven years – are instructive.
But only when couched in the faith his players have in him, with Robinson’s stay at the Roosters (since 2013) now trailing only Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy (2003) as the longest-serving coach at one club.
asserted
stay → offer → club
“He’s inquisitive, Robbo, no doubt about it; he always looks at an experience wondering what he can learn from it,” says Victor Radley.
asserted
Radley → ’ → it
“I’ll always be indebted to him because of how much he’s shaped me into who I am today.
asserted
I → shape → me
And to be honest, the only reason I’m still at the Roosters is because of Trent.
asserted
I → ’m → Trent
“I’m stoked we have got a good relationship.
asserted
we → ’m → relationship
Because if we didn’t, I’d be stuck in Salford.”
asserted
I → do → Salford
Radley is referring to Politis’s well-publicised desire to sack him over the alleged drug-supply drama involving former teammate Brandon Smith last year.
asserted
Radley → refer → Smith
Robinson and general manager Mitchell Aubusson fronted the Roosters board and successfully argued for Radley to be retained on one last chance.
asserted
Radley → front → chance
The ball-playing lock repaid his coach with his best performance of the season in the 36-20 preliminary final win over the Dolphins.
asserted
lock → play → Dolphins
That seven-tries-to-four triumph was far more comfortable than a couple of late consolation tries to the home side made it seem.
asserted
it → make → side
But only after the Roosters won a tough, tense opening exchange that summed up the shift Robinson has seen in the NRL over the past few seasons, and to where he has subtly shifted the Tricolours’ own structures.
asserted
he → win → structures
There are the obvious additions of an evergreen Daly Cherry-Evans to partner Sam Walker, Reece Robson to shore up their middle and Rob Toia, Salesi Foketi, Naufahu Whyte and Siua Wong emerging as some of the best young talent in the game.
asserted
Toia → be → game
Less obvious, but tucked in the coach’s back pocket since Magic Round, is faith in the Roosters’ ability to defend like demons on their goal line when it matters most – finals games.
asserted
it → tuck → line
Because between rounds 4 and 11 (when the Roosters went 6-1), they didn’t concede a point in the 10 minutes after halftime, and let in just one try in the last 10 minutes of those seven games.
asserted
they → go → games
“You need to have proof during the season,” Robinson said on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy, when quizzed about the Roosters defensive resolve by Phil Gould.
“We were the number one defensive team in that second block of the season …
asserted
We → need → season
And then you need to grab it again just before the end of the year.
asserted
you → need → year
You can’t just find it or make it up.
asserted
You → find → it
“In years gone past, you needed it for 24 rounds.
asserted
you → go → rounds
The competition has gone to something where you don’t need it for 24 rounds.
asserted
you → go → rounds
You need it for periods of the season, and then we’ve been able to grab it.”
asserted
we → need → it
Along with the obvious six-again influx and faster game speed, Robinson has seen the NRL become more of a genuine balance between attack and defence than a decade ago.
asserted
NRL → see → attack
As a coach and a team building their game throughout a season, one will probably have to develop at the expense of the other at various times.
asserted
one → build → times
A premiership can no longer be won solely by building an impenetrable defensive wall, like the Roosters did in 2013.
asserted
Roosters → win → 2013
Planning, and Lady Luck will all play their part.
asserted
Planning → play → part
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
