Roosters’ production line paying dividends after a slew of injuries

Matt Ikuvalu’s selection to face the Broncos on Friday raised some eyebrows — but not those who understand the work Roosters coach Trent Robinson has put into building a system that nurtures talent.

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Matt Ikuvalu could have expected to find himself in reserve grade after Parramatta powerhouse Maika Sivo trampled him not once, but twice, earlier this year.

Called in to replace injured winger Brett Morris, Ikuvalu had a forgettable night in the Sydney Roosters’ 32-18 round-three win over the Eels.

Apart from the Sivo serve, Ikuvalu made numerous handling errors and struggled under the highball in only his fourth NRL match and first since July last year.

Not Trent Robinson.

Matt Ikuvalu will get another shot under Robinson. Image: AAP Image/Craig Golding

Centre Joseph Manu told The Daily Telegraph that the Roosters coach went out of his way to reassure the side that the 25-year old is up to the task at the elite level.

“Robbo knows who he can trust,” Manu said.

“The week after the Eels and just before our next game against Brisbane … Robbo just said to all of us he has got no doubt about putting Matt back out there because he believed and trusted in him.”

Ikuvalu has more than repaid the show of faith from the coach.

The former shoe salesman has scored three tries, made four line breaks, 21 tackle busts and is averaging 142 metres per game in the six games he has played since.

Robinson know he needs a large resource pool. Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Ikuvalu’s success as Morris’ replacement is no accident.

Roosters veteran Mitchell Aubusson believes the culture Robinson has created at the Bondi club is the reason players like the Erina Eagles junior flourish at the NRL level when called on.

“Over the last few years we’ve had guys out, guys picked through Origin and we still want to be strong during those periods and that’s no excuse for us,” Aubusson said.

“We all train as a group of 30-odd blokes and we all know the structures and we all know the routines.

“We all train as hard as each other so when someone does go down that next person up … we know they have done the work and we trust them to do the job.”

Boyd Cordner has been ruled out after a head knock. Image: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

It’s a system that has served the defending premiers well so far in season 2019.

Injuries at different stages to Morris, Luke Keary, Cooper Cronk, Jake Friend, Isaac Liu, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have forced Robinson to rely on some of the less experienced players on his roster.

According to Fox Sports Lab, the premiership winning coach has used 24 players so far this year.

Only bottom sides New Zealand (27), Penrith (25) and Titans (25) have used more players over the opening nine rounds.

Frontrunners South Sydney (21) and Melbourne (21) have used the least of any side in the competition.

Boyd Cordner is the latest to join the casualty ward at the Roosters. The skipper failed to pass the required HIA protocol and will miss Friday night’s game against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Supersub Aubusson will replace Cordner in the back row.

Winger Daniel Tupou and centre Latrell Mitchell have been named to take their respective places on the left edge.

Tupou was stretchered off the field on Sunday against Canberra but scans cleared him of a serious neck injury. New South Wales Blues star Mitchell will also line-up after suffering a groin injury scare against the Raiders.