The Sydney Roosters’ NRL finals clash with Brisbane may not be do-or-die stakes but coach Trent Robinson has declared his side must adopt a sudden-death mentality.
The Roosters received a big boost heading into Friday’s preliminary final clash with Brisbane after winger Daniel Tupou was cleared to return from a groin strain.
The winner will proceed through to week three of the finals while the loser will receive a second bite at the cherry.
However Robinson laid down the law to his side, saying losing in week one of the finals can be a potential death sentence to their premiership hopes.
In 2014 and 2015 the Roosters finished minor premiers but were forced into a sudden death play-off after losing to Penrith and Melbourne respectively.
Having been burnt by past experience, Robinson wants his side fired up and ready to move to within one game of the grand final.
“Week one, you’ve got to step up,” Robinson said.
“Two of the games are sudden death but the other two games are pretty important.
“You’ve got to get ready to play. You can’t get going as the finals go on. You’ve got to start from week one.
“They’re tough games, they’re physical games and the team that can handle it best can get through to that third week. The attitude is on and we’ve got to make sure we’re at our best.”
Robinson confirmed Tupou will take the field after missing the last four rounds with a groin strain while Dylan Napa and Aidan Guerra will return after being rested last week.
Brisbane will be without fullback Darius Boyd (hamstring) with diminutive half Kodi Nikorima to fill in at No.1.
Robinson hinted the Roosters were set to bomb Nikorima and test him out under the high ball.
“Height’s not a strength in their halves but speed and agility is,” Robinson said.
“They’ve brought (Nikorima) in quite a bit over the last couple of months, he’s been pretty important to the way that they’ve played.
“He’s played fullback before, he knows the position, it’s a good test for us and it’s a good test for him.”
“There’s going to be contests in lot of areas. We’re going to have some advantages over them and they’re going to have some advantages over us in different areas.”