The Roosters’ injury-plagued squad is counting the cost of their thrilling finals victory.
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.
Paul Momirovski (shoulder) and Connor Watson (knee) were among others unavailable heading into the finals, as part of a casualty ward now totalling 1009 games-worth of experience.
Robinson conceded on Saturday night his staff had potentially erred on Manu’s hamstring, after the centre re-injured the same left leg on his return against Cronulla.
“Of course it is a blow,” Robinson said.
“So is Joey and so is Jared and Sitili and Connor, and all of that. The amount of guys who played this year and are not playing now, but 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 options to come into the backline.
The Roosters are not alone in their injury problems ahead of Friday night’s clash; the Storm will be without Ryan Papenhuyzen and have winger Xavier Coates in doubt.
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.
