Robinson expects cavalry back for finals

Roosters coach Trent Robinson, as he has all year, refused to blame missing players for a loss – but does expect most of his top-line players to be available for the qualifying final against Souths or Canberra next week.

Luke Keary (birth of child), Brett Morris (rested), Siosiua Taukeiaho (ribs), Mitch Aubusson (ankle) and Ryan Hall (knee) are all likely to be available after missing the 16-10 loss to the Rabbitohs on Thursday night, while Jake Friend (broken forearm) is also a chance.

Robinson was also hopeful Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Zane Tetevano, who were both placed on report, would not miss game time.

"We'll get a few guys back next week," Robinson said.

"B-Moz couldn't quite get there with a five day turnaround … Aubo with his ankle getting moving again, Siua with a rib will get assessed but we'll get enough of a group together next week."

Robinson was also unconcerned about a possible neck or shoulder issue suffered by Cooper Cronk right at the end of the game.

"I think he went in to get the ball out of that beautiful scrum at the end, he got his head down and he just got crushed a bit on there so he was fine there."

Of Tetevano being placed on report for hitting Adam Doueihi off the ball, Robinson said: "Zane's is a hard one, it looked like it was going to him and it went straight across his face."

Waerea-Hargreaves' shot looked ugly because after his arm made contact with a falling Liam Knight, Knight's head then collided with Lindsay Collins' head with both players getting split.

"Jazz, I don't know what he could have done," Robinson said of Waerea-Hargreaves.

"He couldn't take his arm off, it wasn't clenched. But they are penalties, you can't hit the head, I understand that but I don't know what else he could have done … It's a penalty without a doubt and I understand why he's one report."

The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Roosters but Robinson was not buying into the "loss they had to have" mentality. He was disappointed at the four or five bombed tries in the first half as well as allowing Souths a quick double-blow in the second half to claim a lead they never surrendered.

"I think we've been good with improving while winning," he said.

"You want to keep getting better and we've been trying to do that whilst winning but tonight we weren't close to where we want to be in that second half and we should have executed better in the first half."