Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is in pursuit of his own slice of history as he seeks to match the coaching feats of Clive Churchill during Sunday’s NRL grand final.
Robinson’s Roosters head to ANZ Stadium against Canberra as raging hot favourites to record back-to-back premierships.
Under the 42-year-old’s watch over the last seven seasons, the Roosters have transformed into a powerhouse of the competition and are chasing their third title in that time frame.
According to Fox Sports Stats, no coach has won three grand finals in their first seven seasons in the coaching game since Churchill was victorious with South Sydney from 1968-70.
Robinson could also become just the 10th coach in premiership history to win three or more grand finals, joining an elite club which features the likes of Wayne Bennett, Jack Gibson, Craig Bellamy and Norm Provan.
After a brief playing career, which included just four NRL appearances for the Wests Tigers and Parramatta, Robinson cut his teeth in the Super League before being plucked from relative obscurity to take over the Roosters as a 35-year-old.
“I started young, I had a good basis for coaching, learned along the way and stayed true to my style,” Robinson said.
“If you stand still and don’t pick up lessons along the way, then you end up out the back door pretty quickly.”
Robinson has imposed his own style on the club – it is disciplined, focused and process-driven.
Robinson is renowned for being secretive and keeping information out of the public eye – such as the mystery surrounding Cooper Cronk’s shoulder injury in the lead up to last year’s grand final.
He revealed on Thursday that he has remained in contact with the “coach whisperer” Bradley Stubbs during the finals series.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters was criticised for using Stubbs during this year’s State of Origin series, but Robinson has previously said he helps extract that extra few per cent out of him.
“It never gets easier,” Robinson said of navigating the side through a finals series.
“The fight and struggle that you need during the season to get in this position … the contest that goes on in each week of the finals is tough and exceptional and enjoyable all at once.
“If you relax you won’t be there. But you do get experiences and understand how to treat things differently,” he said.
Meanwhile, Robinson has promised to keep his cards close to his chest over the fitness of hooker Jake Friend and wouldn’t reveal until kick-off whether he would return from a calf strain.
BEHIND THE CLIPBOARD
Coaches with three or more NRL grand final wins
* Wayne Bennett – 9 grand finals, 7 wins
* Jack Gibson – 6 grand finals, 5 wins
* Ken Kearney – 5 grand finals, 5 wins
* Tim Sheens – 5 grand finals, 4 wins
* Craig Bellamy – 8 grand finals, 4 wins
* Clive Churchill – 5 grand finals, 4 wins
* Norm Provan – 5 grand finals, 4 wins
* Jack Rayner – 4 grand finals, 3 wins
* N.G ‘Latchem’ Robinson – 4 grand finals, 3 wins
