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THREE years ago Trent Robinson arrived at the Sydney Roosters as a relative unknown. Today the 38-year-old is chasing NRL coaching history.
After winning a title in his rookie year, Robinson can wrap up consecutive minor premierships with a win over South Sydney on Friday night.
That would make it 12 straight victories for the competition favourites heading into the finals, the club’s best winning run since they won 19 straight under the great Jack Gibson in 1975.
And after that, Robinson and the Roosters will then have the chance to do what no coach or no team has done before.
Fox Sports Stats show that in records dating back to when compulsory grand finals started in 1954, the longest streak to a grand final win was 11 straight.
That was done by Souths (1955) and Manly (1972).
For the Roosters to go unbeaten for the rest of the season, they would require 15 straight wins.
A rugby league record.
Can it be done?
On Monday, the TAB offered up $4.75 odds that the Roosters can go unbeaten to claim the title.
“The Roosters are easily the best-backed team to win the premiership and it’s hard to see who will beat them,” TAB’s Matt Jenkins said.
As it stands, they are $1.35 favourites to beat the Rabbitohs on Friday night and $3.50 favourites to win the premiership. And while everyone always talks about their quality roster, the players believe the coach deserves much of the credit for the “culture change” at Bondi.
Asked on Monday what it was that makes Robinson the coach he is, Blake Ferguson explained: “He is a people’s person.
“He knows how to get the best out of you.
“He treats you with respect. He treats you like a man.
“He is not two faced.
“He just tells you straight down the line. You know where he is coming from.”
Michael Jennings says the secret to Robinson is not just his football knowledge, but his ability to understand individuals.
“For me personally, he is really balanced,” Jennings said.
“He is really good at what he does and he is really balanced, as in giving leeway with players and understanding players.”
Whatever he is doing is certainly working because even without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitchell Pearce in recent weeks the Roosters haven’t missed a beat.
There last loss was against the Sharks way back in round 13, and this season they are yet to lose by double digits.
“I have never played in a team like this,” Ferguson added.
“I have played in some really exciting teams attacking wise but not defensively.
“Our defence is second to none. And why it is so good is because everyone works for each other and everyone respects each other.”
Which is obviously passed down from the coach, who has won an incredible 55 from 77 games for a strike rate of 71.4 per cent.
“He came three years ago and from day one what he wanted is what he is getting,” Jennings said.
“He changed everything.
“To be a part of that (culture change) has just been amazing.
“What he has done at the club, there is no words for it.”
After winning a title in his rookie year, Robinson can wrap up consecutive minor premierships with a win over South Sydney on Friday night.
That would make it 12 straight victories for the competition favourites heading into the finals, the club’s best winning run since they won 19 straight under the great Jack Gibson in 1975.
And after that, Robinson and the Roosters will then have the chance to do what no coach or no team has done before.
Fox Sports Stats show that in records dating back to when compulsory grand finals started in 1954, the longest streak to a grand final win was 11 straight.
That was done by Souths (1955) and Manly (1972).
For the Roosters to go unbeaten for the rest of the season, they would require 15 straight wins.
A rugby league record.
Can it be done?
On Monday, the TAB offered up $4.75 odds that the Roosters can go unbeaten to claim the title.
“The Roosters are easily the best-backed team to win the premiership and it’s hard to see who will beat them,” TAB’s Matt Jenkins said.
As it stands, they are $1.35 favourites to beat the Rabbitohs on Friday night and $3.50 favourites to win the premiership. And while everyone always talks about their quality roster, the players believe the coach deserves much of the credit for the “culture change” at Bondi.
Asked on Monday what it was that makes Robinson the coach he is, Blake Ferguson explained: “He is a people’s person.
“He knows how to get the best out of you.
“He treats you with respect. He treats you like a man.
“He is not two faced.
“He just tells you straight down the line. You know where he is coming from.”
Michael Jennings says the secret to Robinson is not just his football knowledge, but his ability to understand individuals.
“For me personally, he is really balanced,” Jennings said.
“He is really good at what he does and he is really balanced, as in giving leeway with players and understanding players.”
Whatever he is doing is certainly working because even without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitchell Pearce in recent weeks the Roosters haven’t missed a beat.
There last loss was against the Sharks way back in round 13, and this season they are yet to lose by double digits.
“I have never played in a team like this,” Ferguson added.
“I have played in some really exciting teams attacking wise but not defensively.
“Our defence is second to none. And why it is so good is because everyone works for each other and everyone respects each other.”
Which is obviously passed down from the coach, who has won an incredible 55 from 77 games for a strike rate of 71.4 per cent.
“He came three years ago and from day one what he wanted is what he is getting,” Jennings said.
“He changed everything.
“To be a part of that (culture change) has just been amazing.
“What he has done at the club, there is no words for it.”
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