Sydney Roosters premiership skipper Anthony Minichiello would have no hesitation in throwing Jake Friend into the cauldron of an NRL grand final despite his lack of game time.
With six grand finals under his belt Minichiello says that experience trumps all else, which is why he would rush the hooker back into the line-up to take on Canberra at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.
Only managing five games for the season, Friend hasn’t played since fracturing his arm in round 18 although it’s a calf injury that has put him in doubt for the title decider.
Minichiello, who led the Tricolours to the 2013 title, said if fit the co-captain should play ahead of 20-year-old Sam Verrills, who has worn the No.9 jersey for much of the year.
“If he’s fit I would 100 per cent play him,” Minichiello said of the 29-year-old, who has played 243 games including last year’s grand final triumph.
“Experience counts for a lot in big games and he’s got a lot of experience so no question I would play him.”
The Roosters completed their final training run behind closed doors on Saturday although Friend arrived with boots in hand and looked flushed in the face and sweaty on his departure, signalling he’d taken to the field.
The Roosters will have to squeeze out a player to make room for either Friend or Verrills on the bench, with backrower Nat Butcher in the firing line for the second year after missing the 2018 grand final cut in his rookie season.
They will reveal their line-up an hour before kick-off.
Raiders assistant coach Andrew McFadden said on Saturday that Verills would still pose a challenge.
“Jake’s a lot different to young Verills but the kid’s done a great job for them this year,” McFadden said.
“He provides a very different style but I’m sure Friend, whether he starts or is off the bench, will have an impact.”
Roosters’ coach Trent Robinson showed last year he was a gambling man, opting to play Cooper Cronk in the decider despite the halfback being hampered by a fractured shoulder blade.