Robinson: Injuries won't derail us

The other 15 NRL clubs may think the Roosters' run of injuries could bring them down a few pegs but coach Trent Robinson has no intention of letting that happen.

The season-ending ACL injuries suffered by lock Victor Radley and hooker Sam Verrills and rib injury suffered by forward Isaac Liu in last Friday's win over the Dragons has been seen by many as a great leveller for the competition.

"They [outsiders] can think what they want. And that's good there's commentary out there but we'll deal with it in our own way.

"We know what our squad is capable of. We understand we've lost two really good players – good people – but that won't stop us.

"We'll keep moving forward and developing our game over the course of the next few months."

Radley and Verrills have their knee reconstruction surgeries on Friday.

"They'll be holding hands going through Friday and Saturday for quite a while to come," Robinson said. "They're in good spirits and want to start the first step on Friday.

"We've got Nat Butcher and he's a top-end player who's proven that over the last couple of years," Robinson said of Radley's replacement to facet the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.

As for a hooker to give Jake Friend a break if needed, Robinson said Mitch Aubusson has played some No.9. Freddy Lussick is also in the mix.

"We'll play other people in that position as well," he said without giving any details.

We understand we've lost two really good players ... but that won't stop us

Roosters coach Trent Robinson

A familiar Roosters face does return this week in forward Poasa Faamausili, who is back after a four-match secondment to the Australian-based Warriors. Robinson doesn't expect any readjustment jitters after being under a different structure.

"Po has been with us for six years so he's an SG Ball player, won that competition in 2014, won the 20s in 2016 so four weeks away over a six-year period ... he's one of us," Robinson said.

"I was really proud of what he did and I know the Warriors were very thankful for that as well. He gave his all for the club but now he's back home."

The Roosters have won five in a row since returning from the COVID-19 shutdown but face top-four side the Storm on Thursday.

The Storm have a new halves combination in Ryley Jacks and Jahrome Hughes after the loss of Test five-eighth Cameron Munster to a knee injury.

"They've obviously played quite a bit for them at different times. They are not young; they're not new to their system," Robinson said.

"We've still studied them and what they're going to play, their style of play, and how they’re going to fit into their system and then what we want to do to defend and pressure that."

Storm and Roosters games have a certain presence about them these days. The two clubs have won five NRL premierships between them over the past seven years.

But this will be the first game in two years with no Cooper Cronk (retired) facing the club he learnt his craft at.

"It's the history. We've played in big games and been in big games together, so I think that's the external view," Robinson said.

"For us, we understand the opponent that we're playing but we'll attack them as if we're playing any of the other 14 teams. And we want to go at them in our style – in a Roosters style."

Robinson also has great respect for opposing coach Craig Bellamy, and why his name is bandied around when either a club is struggling or the 61-year-old's contract is nearing an end.

He also thinks it's only proper his assistant Craig Fitzgibbon is also mentioned in those kinds of conversations.

"He's a high-quality coach and there's no doubt that people will come and ask that question," Robinson said of Fitzgibbon's head coach aspirations.

Fitzgibbon has said this week he wants to complete his time at the Roosters.

"I think he knows he's going to get offers in the future but he also feels he gave his word and his word is very important to him," Robinson.

"Fitzy is ready if it's a head coaching role. The guy has played enough rep footy and representative coaching – he's also done that. He leads well – he's ready."