Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is unperturbed by his side’s run to September after they once again lapped their opposition in a 34-12 NRL win over St George Illawarra.
The Roosters are unbeaten over the last six weeks and have won by a cumulative 224-64 in that period.
And while they have established themselves as the team to beat – as they seek to become the first back-to-back premiers in a united competition since 1993 – some have questioned the strength of the Roosters’ draw.
They have faced just one current top eight team – Canberra – during their run of six successive wins.
Newcastle, Canterbury, Gold Coast, Warriors and Dragons have all proven cannon fodder for the Roosters and sit in the bottom six spots.
Robinson’s men do have a couple of tougher tests on the horizon; they face Penrith – who are just one point outside the eight – and top four contenders South Sydney in the final fortnight.
The coach dismissed the suggestion his side wasn’t being tested in the run to the finals.
“When we came out of Origin (some of those sides) were finals-bound, a few of them,” Robinson said.
“I’d like to think we’ve played a part (in them bowing out of finals contention).
“The balance of the draw, of the top teams I think we’ve played almost everybody twice.
“To be honest I don’t care. We can only play what’s in front of us, we don’t decide the draw.
“I think we’re playing good. We got bagged for a game we played against Canterbury we won 20-12 and they’ve won four in a row since then.”
Like they have for most of the year, the Roosters blew the Dragons off the park in a short spurt before taking their foot off the pedal.
They led 28-0 at halftime and 34-0 at one point but did not trouble the scoreboard after the 52nd minute.
“That was a disappointing way for us to come out. We definitely played the scoreboard and not our style,” Robinson said.
Robinson said Latrell Mitchell – who missed the match because of a calf strain – would be back next week while Boyd Cordner (calf) ran strongly on Saturday and was a chance to make his return against the Panthers.