Luke Keary explains why the Roosters can succeed where South Sydney could not

Luke Keary believes the Roosters haven’t fallen into the trap of losing the hunger to go back-to-back premiers in season 2019, unlike South Sydney in their title defence in 2015. Here’s why.

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Luke Keary believes the Sydney Roosters have the desire to win back-to-back premierships — unlike South Sydney in their title defence campaign in 2015.

No team has won back-to-back premierships since the Brisbane Broncos in 1992-93 and NRL titleholders are often accused of losing the hunger required the following season.

But five-eighth Keary, who lifted the Provan-Summons Trophy for the first time back in 2014 for the Rabbitohs, said the Bondi club hasn’t fallen into that familiar trap.

“I don’t understand it,” he said. “I don’t feel it, I don’t feel it here and I haven’t seen any signs of it. We’re very present in what we are doing and we are still trying to get better and we’re not worried about the result at the end.

“We just know if we can play our play our best footy every week we are going to give ourselves a chance.”

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Luke Keary celebrates during the lap of honour after winning the 2014 grand final with South Sydney. Picture Gregg Porteous

The playmaker conceded a lack of experience on his part and a dip in motivation hampered the Redfern club’s ability to rise to the challenge again in season 2015.

“I can definitely see where that comes from and I probably experienced it a bit younger. It all happens so quickly for you and I can see how people get into that [state of mind] and I can see where it comes from. They’re [titles] hard to get. I have experienced both sides of it... obviously the highs and then not being there. You want to be on one side of it, I can tell you that much,” Keary said.

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“But if you do everything you possible can off the field and on the field to give yourself a chance then the footy gods will decide the rest.”

While the Roosters boast a star studded line-up filled with household names like James Tedesco, Cooper Cronk and Boyd Cordner, forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said a title push in 2019 would not be possible without Issac Liu and Sio Siua Taukeiaho — the ‘unsung heroes’ in the side’s engine room.

Luke Keary during Roosters training. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“They’re quiet achievers. We call Issac ‘Mr Details’ because he doesn’t miss a beat. He’s all about preparation and he does all the little things and he does them well. He goes above and beyond. Those guys go about their business but they are the glue [in our side], they’re he ones we need,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

Off the field, coach Trent Robinson is also making sure his side in primed for the finals at the right time.

He rewarded players with three-straight days off during the week ahead of Sunday afternoon game against the New Zealand Warriors at the SCG.

“He’s [Robinson] probably got all his stuff in the background that he’s doing. But he’s given us a freshen up. We’ve been training really hard and working really hard to get our combinations in our game and our defence in order,” Keary said.