Sydney Roosters veteran Anthony Minichiello says infighting isn’t to blame for the side’s disastrous NRL season – just poor performances.
Talk of frustration within the Roosters playing group and disenchantment with coach Brian Smith has heightened as the season lurched from bad to worse for the eastern suburbs-based club.
Smith touched on rumours his relationship with halfback Mitchell Pearce has soured when he spoke following their loss to Penrith on Sunday of the “angst” and “mistrust” that had permeated the club, during a season which has produced just six wins and only one victory in their past nine matches.
But Minichiello denied the Roosters were wracked by inner turmoil.
“We are disappointed where we are sitting on the ladder because we believe we are a really good squad that could have been competitive and done something this season but we have not been playing well,” Minichiello said on Monday.
“That’s the frustrating thing because we know we are better than we have been going.”
Minichiello acknowledged the continued talk surrounding the club and their poor performances was having an affect on Roosters players including Pearce.
“Everyone is frustrated at how we are going and no one more than Pearcey,” he said.
“He is the halfback and he runs the side. He has been working hard to get himself into form. The relationship between him and Brian and the coaching staff is a good one and we are all on the same page.
“He (Pearce) is just frustrated with all the paper talk. People believe what they read and obviously they come up to you, they come up to me, they come up to him and ask you about it.
“It’s not true. We are a close group we are just frustrated we are not going well on the field.
“We go to lunches together, we are a close knit side. We are a young team and it’s a massive learning curve for us.”
Minichiello said the Roosters could still salvage something from the year despite the prospect of a second season in a row where they will miss the finals after their 2010 grand final appearance.
“We finished off last season on a good note and hopefully we can start sooner and hopefully win all our games,” he said.
