“Then you’ve got forwards like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is a hard man with experience, Brandon Smith … all over the park, they are very strong.
“It’s very early in the piece. You only need to win three or four games and you’re in the top four. You just can’t panic. It matters when it matters.
“Everyone is used to the Roosters being there or thereabouts. I’m pretty sure no one at the club will be panicking.”
A host of issues has conspired against the Roosters during their slow start to the season. Angus Crichton started his campaign late due to a mental health battle, injuries have struck some of the club’s biggest names, Sam Walker has been dropped to work on his game, Victor Radley’s ill-discipline has resulted in another stint on the sidelines, the tug of war for the services of assistant coach Jason Ryles and rising star Joseph Suaalii have become unwanted distractions, and big names, including James Tedesco and Smith, have been below their best.
Some pundits have even called for the injured Smith to be shifted from hooker to lock, a suggestion ridiculed by his agent, Stan Martin.
“I get a bit annoyed about all this talk that he is a lock,” Martin says. “The whole team is not performing and you can’t lay the blame at Brandon’s feet.
“He was selected as the Dally M hooker of the year in 2021. You don’t get that if you’re not a hooker.”
The situation leaves little margin for error as the Roosters attempt to avoid a four-game losing streak against Canterbury in Gosford on Sunday. Statistically speaking, the Bondi Junction outfit is down this year in several key metrics, including completed sets (ranked 17th in 2023) run metres (16th), line breaks (16th) and offloads (14th).
Roosters great Anthony Minichiello believes there is still plenty of time to salvage the season.
“Oh, there’s no doubt about it,” Minichiello says. “I think if you look at all the points and the ladder, it’s so congested, isn’t it. Two or three wins together, and you’re fighting for a top four spot.
“They’re not where they want to be at the moment, but they’re working hard to improve that. You find a bit of form at the back end of the season and you find yourself back up there.
‘Anyone who writes them off is a fool.’
Sonny Bill Williams
“Once they find a bit more confidence and their combinations stick, hopefully, look out.
“As a player, you can’t listen to the outside noise and what people say, you just get in the four walls and do your job and work hard, improve where you’re at.
“You can’t really listen to the paper talk with the media or social media … otherwise it gets in your head, it’s not good.”
As a champion former Roosters custodian, Minichiello is eminently qualified to comment on the form of Tedesco. The NSW captain has copped criticism for trying too hard and overplaying his hand, particularly in the opening State of Origin fixture. However, Minichiello laughed off calls for him to be dropped from the Blues.
“How many metres did he make, 200? He definitely deserves his spot,” Minichiello says. “Some of the media like to jump on things and especially on the socials. He’s been there countless times.
“It’s pretty hard to play with all the social media, the media, when you do anything slightly wrong.
“There’s no doubt about it, he will work hard on bettering himself.”
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At the same point last year, the Roosters were in seventh spot (with a plus-47 points differential). In 2021, they were fifth (plus 147). This year their differential is 67 in the negative.
However, SBW believes there is still time to make a run.
“Anyone who has been around the game knows you can’t write off the personnel that are there because there are some brilliant players there,” Williams says.
“They will be there at the business end when it’s time to win a premiership.”