“The footy can be improved a lot,but the spirit that we played with,that was top end,” said Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
“There were lots of reasons not to win that game. The more chaos that got created in that game,the more the players grew.”
Having qualified for the playoffs after a slow start – by eliminating great rivals South Sydney in the process – the season was no longer a bust. But after conjuring a miraculous win to take their streak to six,there are hopes that the pre-season expectations – many pundits tipped them for the premiership – may yet come to pass.
The Sharks were left to rue missed opportunities. On countless occasions they were thwarted by the video referee or an errant pass that went to ground rather than hand. After being bundled out in straight sets last year,they will now go at least six years without a playoff win.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s men enjoyed a late-season revival,sparked by Hynes. The skipper laid on two tries with sublime passes;the first was a perfectly weighted floater,the other a reflex catch-and-deliver effort to put his side in front.
When he brought down Billy Smith with a classic covering tackle,it seemed he had played a winning hand. However,the Roosters’ revival continues.
“Some fine margins,some moments,some decisions,” Fitzgibbon said. “But from where we were at the midpoint of the season to how we have ended up to this point - I’m obviously disappointed by tonight - we’re starting to grow up as a footy team.
“The things that people have been criticising us about,we’re starting to address those.”
This was the hardest ticket in town to get. A packed house full of vocal locals,a southerly making a chilly night colder still,a series of close misses ratcheting up the intensity of an already tight encounter. In other words a typical Saturday night at Shark Park.
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This is why the Sharks had no interest in taking the game out of the Shire,particularly if it meant going to the home ground of their lower-placed opponents. It meant some fans were locked out,but those who attended made their presence felt. They were unable to cheer their side home.
When Siua Wong scored,after a ricocheted Sandon Smith kick fell into his arms,a leg injury hobbled Walker and Smith was forced to take the conversion. He duly stepped up to level the scores,setting up Walker’s late heroics.
Just before kick-off,there were reports linking Angus Crichton to a possible switch to rugby. Asked if he could shed any light on the matter,Robinson said:“No,I cannot.
“I know that he’s played really well tonight and will be playing next week. That’s as much as can clarify. I don’t know anything about it.”