For the second year in a row, Roosters coach Trent Robinson gave away his premiership ring
Trent Robinson masterminded the Roosters claiming the premiership two years in a row, but the Tricolours coach doesn’t have a ring to show for it.
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Premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson has put his players and fans before himself in two incredible acts of selflessness following his side’s controversial 14-8 grand final victory over Canberra on Sunday night.
As the double decker bus carrying Sydney Roosters players pulled out of the Hordern Pavilion after Monday’s fan day, it did so without one very important passenger in Robinson.
With his players eager to start celebrating their historic back-to-back titles, Robinson told the bus driver to leave the precinct without him.
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The loudest cheer of the day was reserved for Robinson and he wanted to repay the loyalty of his supporters.
Robinson did so by staying back for almost two hours to meet and talk to every fan who wanted a small bit of his attention.
He signed every jersey, flag, hat and even a stuffed toy Rooster for a young fan who declared: “I’m a new Rooster, I used to go for the Dragons ... can you sign Rocky?’”
Robinson said: “I get to coach rugby league as a full-time job. These people are the reason I get to do that.
“They come out in their colours, they come out and support us each week, they buy the merchandise, they buy memberships and do everything for us.
“So we don’t get the opportunity that much to say thank you. So if we are going to turn up today, then I want to say thank you.”
Robinson also gave away his premiership ring to Zane Tetevano after being forced to cut the forward from his final 17 for the grand final.
Cutting Tetevano was one of the hardest decisions Robinson has had to make in his time as Roosters coach.
Tetevano was a cornerstone of the Roosters’ pack this year and only missed three games, including the grand final.
However, the return of veteran hooker Jake Friend from injury to the bench meant someone had to miss out, and Tetevano was the unlucky player.
Robinson made the same gesture after last year’s grand final victory over Melbourne when he gave his ring to Lindsay Collins, who like Tetevano missed out on playing in the decider.
“It’s the worst part of the week,’’ Robinson said. “I enjoyed every part of that week except for sitting down in my office with Zane.
“The way he plays, the intensity he plays with, the physicality he brings but also the blind loyalty he has for us ...
“It’s the first real time I’ve had to say you can’t play and it’s not because he wasn’t playing well enough. It was because we had everybody on board.
“He deserves that ring more than I do.”
It was a touching gift for Tetevano, who gave away his 2018 premiership ring in emotional circumstances.
Tetevano’s grandfather was buried with the ring when he died as a way for the forward to acknowledge the influence he had on his life.
There was also a premiership ring scare for the retiring Cooper Cronk.
The halfback lost his during Sunday night’s celebrations and sent Roosters staff into panic mode.
However, after a frantic search for the precious piece of jewellery, the ring was located in the unlikeliest place — the bottom of an Esky in the dressing room.
The ring slipped into the drinks Esky when Cronk went searching for a much-deserved beer.
Originally published as For the second year in a row, Roosters coach Trent Robinson gave away his premiership ring
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