How the Roosters fans will drive their team’s will to win against an oncoming Storm

This Monday’s game against the Melbourne Storm is a must win for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Roosters will be in front of their home fans. This should be enough motivation in itself.

State Of Origin I - NSW v QLD

This Monday’s game against the Melbourne Storm is a must win for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Roosters will be in front of their home fans. This should be enough motivation in itself.

Secondly, the tricolours need to exact some revenge after losing on the bell in controversial circumstances against the Storm only a matter of weeks ago. The Roosters walked away thinking they were hard done by, and many agreed.

In my previous column I expressed my displeasure of the split round system in the NRL during the State of Origin period. If the latest round of footy didn’t justify this then I am a Souths supporter.

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Boyd Cordner gets the Maroon treatment in 2015 State of Origin I. Picture: Brett Costello

Apart from a high scoring thriller in one game, the other matches were as exciting as the bocce world cup. It showed how much teams are affected in a salary cap era without their best players.

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With most teams so evenly matched, the loss of one or two star players can severely handicap a team. I have been encouraged by the coverage this problem has received in the press and on talkback radio. Us fans need to let the powerbrokers know how bad this system is.

In my previous column I pointed to the round 14 clash against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland as a classic example. These two teams always seem to rise to the occasion, possibly due to the high representation of Kiwis in the Chooks’ line up.

It is just wrong, pure and simple, that the Roosters will be without Pearce, Jennings, Cordner, Guerra, Tupou and possibly Napa for such a big game.

Daniel Tupou is tackled by Greg Inglis during State of Origin I at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

While we know their replacements will give their all for the colours, we will certainly be up against it over there. These two points could be vital later in the year.

We haven’t discussed penalties for a few weeks so I’ll bring it up again. If you didn’t already know, the Roosters actually won the penalty count against the Bulldogs!

And here’s another astonishing statistic regarding the injustice the Roosters endure regarding penalties.

Since round one, 2014, the Roosters have gone 37 consecutive matches without receiving seven or more penalties in a match. The next ranked team has only gone two consecutive matches.

Incredible, I know. If that statistic does not make your blood boil then nothing will.

Easts to win.