Following the Bulldogs' huge 40-12 win over the previously unbeaten Storm last week, Roosters utility Dan Mortimer says the blue-and-whites look to be entering scary form.
Mortimer's Roosters face off against the Bulldogs in a Friday night blockbuster to open the Round 5 Men of League Heritage Round, and Mortimer told NRL.com both sides would be looking to improve on their slow starts in Round 4.
"They've got a lot of danger on the field, a lot of combinations are starting to turn on with them. Which is scary but we'll look to defend like last week," he said.
The Roosters’ 8-0 defeat against Manly was the first time the Tricolours had been held scoreless in two years, since their 18-0 loss to Penrith at Allianz Stadium in Round 2, 2012.
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"We have done some work [on our attack], there were a few disappointing areas in offence, I think ball control and obviously penalties is a massive one and when you only complete 60-odd per cent you don't give yourself much of a chance, especially against a side like Manly," Mortimer said.
"The Dogs will be the same; we'll have to work on our attack and defence and the transition from attack to defence because it's all one big goal at the moment, you can't really have great defence without putting pressure on in attack and vice versa."
"He always seems to turn it on for us against the Dogs too which is nice, so fingers crossed he can do that again this weekend, " he said.
"He'll be great, back to his spot in the second row there and Mitch Aubusson playing that impact role again. We've got a lot of depth in this side and that's one of the keys to why we've been successful."
Asked about his own family history – Father Peter and uncles Steve and Chris Mortimer played in four grand finals together in the Bulldogs' dominant team of the 1980s – Daniel said there is "always something special about playing the Dogs".
"There's something about the blue and white jerseys that I watched as a kid for so long. Pretty much all our contests have been close and great battles too, even when I was at the Eels we had some great tussles with the Dogs and I expect no different this Friday," he said.
Mortimer's Roosters face off against the Bulldogs in a Friday night blockbuster to open the Round 5 Men of League Heritage Round, and Mortimer told NRL.com both sides would be looking to improve on their slow starts in Round 4.
"They've got a lot of danger on the field, a lot of combinations are starting to turn on with them. Which is scary but we'll look to defend like last week," he said.
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The Roosters’ 8-0 defeat against Manly was the first time the Tricolours had been held scoreless in two years, since their 18-0 loss to Penrith at Allianz Stadium in Round 2, 2012.
More Roosters news here
"We have done some work [on our attack], there were a few disappointing areas in offence, I think ball control and obviously penalties is a massive one and when you only complete 60-odd per cent you don't give yourself much of a chance, especially against a side like Manly," Mortimer said.
"The Dogs will be the same; we'll have to work on our attack and defence and the transition from attack to defence because it's all one big goal at the moment, you can't really have great defence without putting pressure on in attack and vice versa."
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He added having former Bulldogs Sonny Bill Williams back from a three-match suspension would be a huge boost for the side."He always seems to turn it on for us against the Dogs too which is nice, so fingers crossed he can do that again this weekend, " he said.
"He'll be great, back to his spot in the second row there and Mitch Aubusson playing that impact role again. We've got a lot of depth in this side and that's one of the keys to why we've been successful."
Asked about his own family history – Father Peter and uncles Steve and Chris Mortimer played in four grand finals together in the Bulldogs' dominant team of the 1980s – Daniel said there is "always something special about playing the Dogs".
"There's something about the blue and white jerseys that I watched as a kid for so long. Pretty much all our contests have been close and great battles too, even when I was at the Eels we had some great tussles with the Dogs and I expect no different this Friday," he said.
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