Coach Trent Robinson admits Sydney Roosters’ patchy start to the season may have contributed to some of his stars missing out on State of Origin selection.
Robinson and his Roosters’ playing squad weren’t content with their Origin representation after Blake Ferguson was dropped by NSW and Jake Friend was overlooked in favour of Andrew McCullough for the vacant Queensland hooking spot.
Luke Keary was also passed by NSW in favour of Penrith halves James Maloney and Nathan Cleary.
But while in his mind both deserved to be there, Robinson admitted they couldn’t demand selection on an indifferent run, which sees them in sixth with eight wins after 13 rounds.
“We talked about how a few of these guys were pretty close,” Robinson said.
“But I don’t think we’ve put ourselves in a position enough to demand that players that we think should play are in there.
“That’s disappointing for those guys who have been playing really well.”
Following Sunday’s 16-14 NRL win over the Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium, NSW winger Ferguson told Triple M NRL that he was disappointed at being dropped from Origin and having not received a phone call from Blues coach Brad Fittler to tell him he’d been axed.
Robinson was energised by his side’s ability to hold off a fast-finishing Tigers who set up a grandstand finish after tries to Tim Grant and Josh Reynolds in the final 20 minutes.
Winger Daniel Tupou – making his first appearance in 10 weeks because of a torn pec – pulled off a gutsy try-saver on Corey Thompson as he turned him on to his back on the line.
“That was probably the play defensively for us,” said Robinson, whose side were without stars Boyd Cordner, Dylan Napa, Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco.
“Toops is known for catching and finishing those tries but he’s also a very good back-field carrier and defensive winger as well. He had to be on that play.
“There was inches in that play and he had to have his techniques about him to roll him over and he did.”
Ferguson had a rocks-and-diamonds afternoon, however he put his body on the line and bundled a runaway Mahe Fonua over the sidelines on the last play of the game.
Robinson said that his side’s scramble in the final minutes demonstrated they’d turned a corner.
“You often see if a side is confident going after the play or whether you’re waiting for someone else to go after it,” Robinson said.
“I think you saw a lot of people move in that action, moving left, right and centre trying to finish it off.
“That’s when you see confidence in teams. That was an enormous sign for us.
“Are we where we want to be? No. Are we we heading to where we want to be? Yes.”