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The Sydney Roosters are aiming to become the NRL's top defensive unit within three years - but insist they haven't earned the tag just yet.
The Roosters' premiership charge is being built on a ferocious defensive mentality, which was on display in the past fortnight in victories over Manly and North Queensland in which they conceded just one try in each game.
Through 10 rounds, the Roosters have conceded just 94 points - 24 less than the second-most miserly defence, which is owned by the Sea Eagles.
But prop Martin Kennedy says any crowning of the Roosters as the game's premier defenders this season is premature.
"I think it's a pretty reluctant reputation that we've developed," Kennedy said on Wednesday.
"We're not even halfway through the year yet and people are trying to crown us as the best defensive team in the comp.
"We could concede 30 points for the next four games in a row. Who knows where it's going to lead us?
"All we know is that we've been happy with where we've been going defensively the last few games.
"If we can keep that up and keep improving, we'll be happy with that."
What the Roosters want is to be unquestionably at the top of the tree defensively within the next three seasons.
Under new coach Trent Robinson, the Roosters have been analysing the way the game has changed in the past five seasons in an attempt to work out how they can get to the top.
"We've been looking forward and we're asking 'where's the next progression going to be in the NRL? Where are (the best) defensive teams going to be in say two or three years time, and how can we take ourselves to that level?'," Kennedy said.
"There's always those little things that we're always working on.
"We're always disappointed with certain aspects of our game. No matter if we win by four points or 40, we're always looking to improve our game.
"We've got a fantastic coaching staff here and they're always onto us about the little things like that which keeps us really grounded as well."
The Roosters' title ambitions will get a legitimate test on Saturday when they host defending premiers Melbourne, who started the season with seven straight victories but have been winless since.
The Roosters still believe the Storm are unquestionably the benchmark in the competition, despite their recent slump.
"I don't know if there's ever a good time to play Melbourne," Kennedy said.
"They're just one of those teams, where it doesn't matter if they're down by 20 with 10 (minutes) to go or they've lost three in a row ... There's never a good time to play them.
"We're not going to be thinking we've got any advantage whatsoever this week. It's just going to be a tough game.
"They're just such a fantastic team.
"We're really going to have to be on the ball this week if we want to come away with the two points."
http://www.nrl.com/roosters-want-to-.../72443/default
The Roosters' premiership charge is being built on a ferocious defensive mentality, which was on display in the past fortnight in victories over Manly and North Queensland in which they conceded just one try in each game.
Through 10 rounds, the Roosters have conceded just 94 points - 24 less than the second-most miserly defence, which is owned by the Sea Eagles.
But prop Martin Kennedy says any crowning of the Roosters as the game's premier defenders this season is premature.
"I think it's a pretty reluctant reputation that we've developed," Kennedy said on Wednesday.
"We're not even halfway through the year yet and people are trying to crown us as the best defensive team in the comp.
"We could concede 30 points for the next four games in a row. Who knows where it's going to lead us?
"All we know is that we've been happy with where we've been going defensively the last few games.
"If we can keep that up and keep improving, we'll be happy with that."
What the Roosters want is to be unquestionably at the top of the tree defensively within the next three seasons.
Under new coach Trent Robinson, the Roosters have been analysing the way the game has changed in the past five seasons in an attempt to work out how they can get to the top.
"We've been looking forward and we're asking 'where's the next progression going to be in the NRL? Where are (the best) defensive teams going to be in say two or three years time, and how can we take ourselves to that level?'," Kennedy said.
"There's always those little things that we're always working on.
"We're always disappointed with certain aspects of our game. No matter if we win by four points or 40, we're always looking to improve our game.
"We've got a fantastic coaching staff here and they're always onto us about the little things like that which keeps us really grounded as well."
The Roosters' title ambitions will get a legitimate test on Saturday when they host defending premiers Melbourne, who started the season with seven straight victories but have been winless since.
The Roosters still believe the Storm are unquestionably the benchmark in the competition, despite their recent slump.
"I don't know if there's ever a good time to play Melbourne," Kennedy said.
"They're just one of those teams, where it doesn't matter if they're down by 20 with 10 (minutes) to go or they've lost three in a row ... There's never a good time to play them.
"We're not going to be thinking we've got any advantage whatsoever this week. It's just going to be a tough game.
"They're just such a fantastic team.
"We're really going to have to be on the ball this week if we want to come away with the two points."
http://www.nrl.com/roosters-want-to-.../72443/default
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