Sydney Roosters giant Kane Evans says there won’t be a repeat of his infamous shoulder charge when he goes toe to toe with Canterbury enforcer Sam Kasiano on Friday night.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be fireworks.
After Kasianso wasn’t charged by the match review committee for his contact on St George Illawarra playmaker Gareth Widdop’s head on the weekend, it set up a tantalising return bout with Evans.
When Kasianso and Evans, who tip the scales at a combined 235kgs, last collided, they provided one of the flashpoints of the season.
As the Bulldogs forward Kasiano charged off his line during the round 21 clash, Evans laid him out with a shoulder charge that prompted the NRL’s crackdown on the tackle.
Evans isn’t naive enough to think he could get away with it again, but he predicts sparks will fly during their rematch.
“I think with finals footy every team is trying to get on top of the opposition, Evans said.
“It’s going to be a big one for our forwards.
“They’re forward are dominant and they’re all good quality players.
“It’s going to be a big job for us but we just have to knuckle down and do what we have to do.”
Not only is Friday’s sudden death clash at Allianz Stadium an acid test for the Roosters forwards against a strong Dogs pack, it’s also a chance to atone.
On Monday, many members of the Tricolours’ pack were still stinging after Melbourne got the better of them in their qualifying final on Friday.
After 12 straight wins, the Roosters came crashing back down to earth but not out of the premiership race having earned a second chance after finishing with the minor premiership.
Back-rower Boyd Cordern said the setback had allowed the side to refocus on what was important and provided them with extra drive.
“Especially being sudden death now, you haven’t got that second chance,” Cordner said.
“You get up for any game you play in the NRL and especially finals time.
“It’s not where we wanted to be, we wanted to win last week. But it wasn’t to be and that’s the beauty of finishing in the top four, you get that second chance.
“We’re coming up against a pretty classy Bulldogs team.”
