Sydney Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner’s warning for NRL title rivals: ‘We can beat anyone’

MELBOURNE and Brisbane might seem like the two clear title contenders but Boyd Cordner believes the Roosters can beat any other team in the competition on their day.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — AUGUST 19: Aidan Guerra (R) of the Roosters is congratulated by Blake Ferguson (C) and Jakob Friend of the Roosters after scoring a try during the round 24 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

THE Storm and the Broncos are runaway contenders for the title but Roosters captain Boyd Cordner has a warning for the frontrunners and for anyone already writing them off.

“We can beat anyone”.

Cordner concedes Melbourne and Brisbane are the competition’s benchmark teams but he says trailing them on the ladder only makes the Roosters want to step up their game.

“It makes us want to be better,” he said.

“I don’t think there is too much of a gap. I believe if we bring our best game we can beat anyone on their day and that’s the most pleasing I can take out of this end of the season.”

The Roosters needed a late winner to get past the Tigers.

The Roosters will get a taste of finals footy on Saturday night when they take on a team they haven’t beaten since 2014.

Cronulla have got the better of the Roosters in their last six encounters and handed them a 44-12 drubbing in round 17, their biggest loss for the year.

“They always seem to turn up to play well against us, especially at Shark Park,” Cordner said.

“Coming at this stage of the season, it’s a good test for us.

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“They are the reigning premiers and we know how dangerous they are when they play well.”

The Roosters have been guilty of fading out during games this season and have struggled to put together a complete performance.

They looked to be in cruise control against the Wests Tigers on Sunday after they streaked away to a 16-0 buffer at halftime before coughing up the lead and then escaping with a four-point triumph on the back of a late try to Latrell Mitchell.

“I think there has been only a handful of games this season where we have played our best,” he said.

Despite their talent, the Roosters have struggled to put together consistent performances.

“I think it started against the Storm, although we lost that game it didn’t really feel like that.

“We played some really good footy and we need to use that as our benchmark moving forward.”

The Blues captain, who had been under an injury cloud since the start of the State of Origin campaign, is fully fit and feeling refreshed after returning to NRL action in round 23.

“After Origin III, I had a niggling injury of my knee, but with where we were on the table I didn’t feel rushed,” he said.

“The medical team and (coach Trent Robinson) was really good with getting my body right and after that pretty tough Origin series, I feel really refreshed and ready to go.”