Roosters could welcome back SKD

The Sydney Roosters could welcome back Shaun Kenny-Dowall as early next week after all but securing their third straight NRL minor premiership.

Kenny-Dowall was amongst a plethora of Roosters talent watching on from the sidelines during their 46-10 thrashing of Manly at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.

The Roosters made a big statement about their title aspirations – even without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Mitchell Pearce and Michael Jennings – as they racked up their 11th win on the trot.

Kenny-Dowall is on personal leave from the club as he fights 11 domestic violence charges brought against him by his his ex-girlfriend.

After being released from hospital for mental treatment, the 27-year-old returned to training on Thursday and on Friday night was on the sideline to support his teammates for the first time since he stood down in mid-July.

Robinson could not give any guarantees about when he would return to the field but said he was in a positive head space.

“He’s just got back to training yesterday so he’s good,” Robinson said.

“He’s in a good frame of mind, he’s training with us.

“We’ll take each week and assess where he’s at.

“Hopefully he has a good weekend and he’s ready to go in the next few weeks.”

The return of the New Zealand Test winger would be a massive boon for the Roosters ahead of their last round showdown with rivals South Sydney.

Two points against the wounded Rabbitohs would secure Robinson’s side their third straight minor premiership.

They would be the first side since the Manly teams of 1995-97 to finish top of the ladder three years in a row.

Manly coach Geoff Toovey captained those Sea Eagles teams and believes the Roosters’ achievements under Robinson shouldn’t be understated.

“Winning the minor premiership is a massive achievement, I believe,” Toovey said.

“We finished equal first last year but missed out because of for-and-against.

“It is a big achievement. To win it, I think, is underestimated by many people.”

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