Blog with James Hooper below from 2pm AEST.
The Canberra Raiders have tipped the final make-up of the top four come September upside down with a bitter fallout to the Green Machine’s gutsy win over the Sydney Roosters.
The Raiders deserve enormous credit for the way they’ve staged back-to-back upset wins over heavyweight title contenders the Roosters and triple premiers Penrith but the storyline is the war of words in the aftermath.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has taken aim at Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead after the English international was sin binned for a tackle that’s left Brandon Smith with an ACL injury.
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While Robinson refused to accept Whitehead’s apology Kiwi Test hooker Smith has relayed a message to the England forward letting him know there’s no hard feelings.
Raiders fullback Jordan Rapana — also a Kiwi Test teammate of Smith’s — also suffered a fractured eye socket in Canberra’s upset win.
Roosters hooker Smith telephoned Rapana to check how he was doing and also reiterated he didn’t think Whitehead’s tackle was deliberate.
In fairness to the Raiders captain Whitehead he’s never been a dirty player and you could see from the way he reacted to Robinson’s snubbing he was genuinely shocked.
Robbo opens up on confronting Whitehead | 08:04
His match review committee charge sheet shows he’s now been charged with four hip drop tackles but it’s a stretch to suggest the tactic is premeditated.
The even bigger picture issue for the Roosters is they’ve now lost two crucial members of their spine leading into the business end of the season with halfback Sam Walker and hooker Smith both gone for up to nine months.
Does coach Robinson go with Sandon Smith in the halves? Or there’s options in the form of Joey Manu and Connor Watson.
Although NSW Blues utility Watson may well need to move into the dummy-half role with no Smith.
The Roosters now look likely to face the assignment of the Panthers in Penrith in week one of the finals — which is a major problem given the Tricolours’ recent record against the 2021, 2022 and 2023 premiers.
The Roosters are none from nine against the Panthers dating back to the beginning of 2020 and with no Walker and no Smith facing Penrith at home becomes a far more difficult scenario.
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It’s a brutal reality but with Victor Radley’s season now also facing a question mark with a scapula injury it’s all gone pear shaped at the worst possible time for the Roosters.
And with the list of players departing at the end of the season the Chooks will be well-aware of the window of opportunity that’s currently open.
The Melbourne Storm and Penrith are now sitting pretty one out and one back with only one more round of the regular season until we’re into then finals.
Roosters carnage as Raiders secure win | 02:56
As good as those two clubs look it’s still got the feeling of a wide open competition where a side from outside the top four could go on a roll and defy history to claim the title.
Manly losing Tommy Turbo for a week is costly but you’d be brave to question whether the Sea Eagles can beat Cronulla at Four Pines Park in Round 27.
Especially given the carefree and confident form of young gun Lehi Hopoate who’s come through the northern beaches junior system as a fullback.
And we’ll get a true read on the Bulldogs with captain Stephen Crichton back when they take on North Queensland in another game where the semi-finals have arrived a week early.
What were your likes or dislikes from Round 26?
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