Roosters coach Trent Robinson insists Sonny Bill Williams is in good form and his chief game breaker knows what is required to make a mark in big matches.

Robinson said his players were calm and focused as they prepar to take on Penrith in Saturday’s NRL qualifying final at Allianz Stadium.

Dual international Williams, who will shortly return to rugby union, and former NSW Origin halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney are three of the Roosters’ main orchestrators.

Williams stepped up in last year’s grand final against Manly and while his form hasn’t regularly scaled those heights this season, Robinson felt the gifted New Zealander was still going well.

“Sonny is in good form, he’s worked hard and he knows what it takes around these games,” Robinson said on Friday.

“So allowing him to flourish will be important for us over the next couple of weeks.”

Maloney and Pearce struggled for form earlier in the campaign and were left out of the NSW team, but have lifted in recent weeks.

“We were going through some average periods, whether we were winning or losing, but as we were going through those periods, they copped a lot of criticism,” Robinson said.

“They worked hard for many months, they trained well before the form started and now they’ve started to play well.

“The combination has been there, the spring in their step, they are healthy.

“They’ve been training like that for quite a few months and that takes some time to come out and now it’s come out.”

Robinson is well aware of the capabilities of new Penrith five-eight Will Smith having been at Newcastle as the youngster was emerging.

“He’s a very good support player and quick. He’s very sharp, he’s been a good player for a long time,” Robinson said.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary felt Smith was ready for finals action after little more than a handful of first grade games.

“Every game he’s played has been a big game and it doesn’t seem to worry him,” Cleary said.