Injury-hit Roosters count cost of thrilling finals win

Trent Robinson is confident that missing up to 1000 games will not be an excuse against Melbourne after Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii became the second Sydney Roosters player to be ruled out of the decider.

Officials were left counting the cost of the Tricolours’ 13-12 victory over Cronulla on Sunday morning, fresh off one of the bravest wins in recent Roosters history.

The Roosters’ season appeared to be over a month ago, but they are suddenly one of the competition’s top sides, with six straight wins heading into next week’s semi-final.

But it will not be simple.

Following a recurrence of Joey Manu’s hamstring injury and Suaalii’s concussion, the Roosters will be without their two striking weapons on the left edge.

Roosters officials were investigating the event that injured the winger on Sunday morning, but they suspect Suaalii’s head made contact with the ground during a tackle.

Suaalii failed a brain injury examination after medical staff detected concussion symptoms at halftime.

If he recovered successfully, he could be able to petition for an exemption to play.

However, a concussion sustained in training in late June means he will be ineligible, and Roosters officials admit Suaalii will be unavailable to face the Storm, adding to an already overcrowded hospital department.

Winger Daniel Tupou (knee) is out, while Jaerea-Hargreaves is suspended for the season and Sitili Tupouniua (neck) is also out.

Others missing coming into the finals included Paul Momirovski (shoulder) and Connor Watson (knee), as part of a casualty ward that now totals 1009 games of experience.

Robinson admitted on Saturday night that his staff may have made a mistake with Manu’s hamstring after the centre re-injured the same left leg in his return against Cronulla.

“Of course it is a blow,” Robinson remarked.

“And so are Joey, Jared, Sitili, Connor, and everyone else.” The number of players who played this year and are no longer playing, yet we’re in the finals.

“We’ll have 17 guys who want to play better footy next week and we’ll have the spirit we had today.”

Corey Allan, Jaxson Paulo, and Drew Hutchison are all possible backline alternatives.

The Roosters aren’t the only team dealing with injury concerns before of Friday’s match; the Storm will be without Ryan Papenhuyzen and winger Xavier Coates is questionable.

However, with one fewer day to recover than Melbourne and following a more difficult encounter, the Roosters start the week on the back foot.

They will be inspired by their performance against the Sharks.

On Saturday night, the Roosters were down to 12 players after James Tedesco was sin-binned, with two temporary centres, a fill-in fullback, and a teenage winger playing on the opposite side of the field.

Suia Wong was a Roosters hero, filling in at center for Manu in the second half and scoring a match-tying try as well as vitally picking up a late lost ball.