Trent Robinson hailed his Sydney Roosters players after they made history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the World Club Championship and the NRL Premiership.
Robinson’s side underlined their status as the world’s best team with a 20-12 win over Super League champions St Helens in an absorbing and bruising encounter at Totally Wicked Stadium.
The Roosters were forced to dig deep and hold off the desperate Saints who dominated for large periods of the game in front of a raucous crowd of 16,000 in the Merseyside town.
“We love this game and we really wanted to win a title,” Robinson said.
“That was a full stop on 2019 but we want to start 2020 on the right way as well and we did that.
“It wasn’t perfect but it was a great start.
“It showed who we are as a Roosters team and that is great credit to the players.”
The match was played with a finals-like ferocity as the Canterbury-bound Luke Thompson, Alex Walmsley and Matt Lees led the way as the Saints took it to the Roosters’ much-vaunted pack.
Thompson gave a glimpse of what the Bulldogs can look forward to next year with an early try to give St Helens the lead.
Robinson said the contest is the perfect way to prepare for the round one NRL clash against Penrith on March 14.
“It was tough and physical,” he said.
“There was a great middle contest there, they all went after each other and the backs decided to move ball a bit and see who could get the execution right.
“We did that a couple of times and I know Saints missed a couple of opportunities they would have liked again but I was delighted with how we hung in there.”
Halfback Kyle Flanagan had an encouraging debut for the Roosters after his move from Cronulla in rainswept conditions and had a hand in two tries.
“He had some nice kicks and had to defend well out on that edge as there were some quite testing players coming at him,” Robinson said.
“He then had two really nice touches for tries.It was a pretty good start for a guy who has played nine NRL games.”
New Zealand Test centre Joseph Manu crossed twice, however, it was a night of disappointment for Angus Crichton on his debut as a centre with the NSW back-rower forced out of the match with a heavy concussion.
“Angus got his head in the wrong position,” Robinson said.
“He is OK now and is talking but he doesn’t remember much about that contact.
“We are going to have to be careful with him over the next couple of days.
“I thought he carried strong, he locked down that edge defensively but didn’t get the free roaming opportunities that Joey got on the other side.”
Nat Butcher, who finished the match despite appearing to have suffered a knee injury, will be assessed by team medicos before the Roosters fly back to Sydney on Monday.
