The Sydney Roosters are turning winning ugly into an artform, but centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall believes it’s only a matter of time before the struggling outfit clicks.
The Roosters have won two of their opening three games to sit seventh on the ladder, but they have hardly set the world on fire in doing so.
Two tries in the final three minutes saw them overhaul South Sydney in remarkable fashion in round one, while they struggled to overcome an injury-depleted Canberra outfit last Sunday.
But as Kenny-Dowall – who played his first game of the season against the Raiders after suffering a lacerated kidney during the pre-season – can attest, clocking up competition points is all that matters.
“We take a lot of confidence out of that knowing that we can still win and we haven’t performed to the best of our ability,” Kenny-Dowall said.
“It’s encouraging knowing that we’ve got a lot of room for improvement.
“We can feel it as players, we know our potential and what we’re capable of, but we’ve got to improve.”
Kenny-Dowall knows the Roosters can’t afford to be off their game and hope to get the points this weekend, with Sunday’s opponents Melbourne opening the season in scintillating fashion.
Part of the Roosters’ problem is the lack of a pre-season for several key players.
Kenny-Dowall only returned on the weekend, while a back injury kept five-eighth and skipper Braith Anasta off the field until round two.
“We’ll definitely get better the more time we spend together on the training paddock and on the field,” Kenny-Dowall said.
“I think it’s going to take some time (to get back to full fitness). Hopefully within a few games, I get my form back and find my feet again.”
The Roosters will head to Melbourne without impressive back-rower Aidan Guerra, who damaged ankle ligaments in the win over the Raiders, with Boyd Cordner recalled to the starting line-up.