Trent Robinson has opened up on Sam Walker’s replacement after he suffered a category one concussion that will rule him out until the final round in the Roosters’ 30-10 loss to the Eels.
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Walker went off early with a category one concussion that will rule him out of next week’s clash with the Storm, with the Roosters needing to win at least one of their final two games to guarantee a finals berth.
However, Robinson wasn’t using Walker’s injury as an excuse for the loss.
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“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.
“And 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.”
Robinson was pressed on Walker’s health post match.
“Not sure to be honest he was doing his test as we came back in,” Robinson said.
Robinson revealed Sandon Smith will miss NSW Cup on Sunday to prepare for the Storm clash.
“Sandon’s a very good player,” Robinson said.
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“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.”
Robinson put the shock loss to the Eels down to poor discipline and errors at crucial moments.
“It started with our discipline there, the weight of possession was sort of in their hands right from the start,” Robinson said.
“It was discipline errors and then last plays. They ended up scoring all of their tries off kicks, except for the intercept try there.
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“And then there was a good opportunity. 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.”
Skipper James Tedesco admitted it was a disappointing performance, but it is not panic stations yet for the eighth placed Roosters, who still have their destiny in their own hands.
“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 said.
A crucial call went against the Roosters on half-time with Mark Nawaqanitawase scoring a try on the bell that was denied due to a Tedesco knock-on.
“I wasn’t sure if I touched it or not,” Tedesco said.
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“It could have went either way I thought. I wasn’t sure if he touched it first or I touched it.”
Despite the loss Nawaqanitawase was brilliant coming up with two freak try assists for Tedesco and his flick to Robert Toia will be on highlight reels for years to come.
“We can all be excited by the art of the game, but it doesn’t override the team result,” Robinson said.
“But he obviously got the one on half-time there with the contest and he’s creative and he practices that. I think that’s the thing.
“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.
“Obviously grip, bruise, thumb and fingers are placed on the ball and how he can move it and bring it back and flick it. That’s really high skill, so hopefully he creates more players like that in the game.”
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