NRL 2020: Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs, New rules, isolation have Tricolours crowing after results turnaround

Author: Alicia Newton NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Mon 15 Jun 2020, 10:56 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic that put a halt on the 2020 NRL season has ignited a fresh flame at the Sydney Roosters.

Trent Robinson explained their incredible start to the resumption of the competition should be put down to the forced break.

The Tricolours remain the team to beat after turning around a 0-2 start to the year with a third polished performance in a row since returning from a two-month hiatus.

Their status as favourites for a three-peat appeared over in March when they slumped to losses against Penrith and Manly.

However, Robinson's men have taken just three weeks to turn the screws to send out yet another warning to NRL rivals – none more so than ladder leaders Parramatta leading into Saturday night's clash.

"I would say we got our lessons out of isolation, everyone in life got lessons into what was important and what isn't," Robinson said after Monday's 42-6 over the Bulldogs.

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"We gave them space, they came back in physically very good and are very clear they want to play as a team and we've started that way. It's a good start to the resumption."

Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner is among the beneficiaries of the competition's two-month delay with the inspirational leader given extra time to recover from years of hard toil.

Promising halfback Kyle Flanagan is another relishing from the extended break with the playmaker's form reaching new heights after five games into the ex-Sharks playmaker's time at the club.

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And there's no questioning the fresh purple patch of form from James Tedesco, who has appeared to be the big winner with the six-again rule complementing his game to a premium.

"I think for me it was about having a new routine and getting away from the busy life of footy," Tedesco said.

"The last few years playing every game up until the grand final and rep footy it's a bit hard to find time away from it and have a few weeks off.

"I had about six weeks of going at my own pace and getting away from footy life and working on things individually. I found the break good.

"When we have training it's all day, it's full on, we have videos and we're in the gym whereas I was going at my own pace. It took me back to when I was a kid doing things in the backyard by myself."

Canterbury coach Dean Pay conceded the side didn't help their cause as Tedesco hit the go button within three minutes to set up the first try to Angus Crichton in simple fashion.

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"They're a quality side and they're going to hurt you," Pay said.

"There's a distinct play-the-ball speed from ours to theirs and that's what they earn. They earn that, especially defensively, they fight hard and earn their time on the ground.

"And on the back of that you've got Tedesco and [Luke] Keary … so they're a quality team. We're disappointed with our start, the first 16 sets they had 12 of them. We didn't physically match them."

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Pay was hopeful Aiden Tolman could be cleared to return sooner than the 14-day quarantine period, while English recruit Luke Thompson is in isolation at a Melbourne hotel for the next fortnight before he'll be available for selection.

"I can't wait for him to get here, he's going to be a fantastic addition for us," the Bulldogs coach said.

"He'll get through the next couple of weeks in isolation and come out ready to rip in."