Boyd Cordner says the Sydney Roosters pack can match it with anyone in the competition

The Sharks have the NRL’s most experienced pack and it’s no secret they’ve found a way to ruffle the Roosters’ feathers in recent years

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — SEPTEMBER 03: Boyd Cordner look son during a Sydney Roosters NRL training session at Kippax Lake Oval on September 3, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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BOYD Cordner doesn’t hide from the fact Saturday’s showdown against Cronulla is the perfect chance for the Sydney Roosters’ forwards to finally silence their many critics.

Despite finishing the regular season as minor premiers, many still believe that if the star-studded Roosters have a weakness heading into the finals it is their pack, especially with hitman Dylan Napa suspended.

The Roosters are without Origin prop Dylan Napa. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

In comparison, the Sharks have the NRL’s most experienced pack and it’s no secret they’ve found a way to ruffle the Roosters’ feathers in recent years.

In fact, while Trent Robinson has an overall 62.6 per cent success rate coaching in the NRL, it dips dramatically to 36.4 per cent against Cronulla and Melbourne, winning only four of 11 games against both clubs.

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It’s probably no coincidence that these are the two teams best known for testing the boundaries and patience of referees.

With talk the refs might be told to put their whistles away this week that could prove significant on Saturday.

Cordner said it doesn’t bother him if people outside the club don’t rate his pack because he does.

“It’s fine with me,” Cordner told The Daily Telegraph. “I am very confident and know what we can produce at our best. Although Dylan is a big loss for us we are very confident in the players we have that can replace him.”

He agreed this was the perfect chance for his forwards to stand up and show what they are capable of.

Cordner believes the Roosters forwards can match it with anyone. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

“Every game from here on in is going to be tough,” Cordner said. “But the form the Sharks have been in, I think they are most people’s pick of late. It is going to be a massive challenge for us against their forward pack with a lot of experience there.”

The Sharks have by far the most experienced starting pack in the NRL, with a phenomenal 1,317 games between them, just shy of 500 more games than this weekend’s rivals (819).

The Roosters pack has been copping it ever since Jared Waerea-Hargreaves came out and challenged Jason Taumalolo before last year’s preliminary final and Taumalolo went on to steamroll North Queensland to a stunning upset victory.

The Roosters stormed into the minor premiership. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

While Cordner said claiming the minor premierships was “a good feather in the cap”, he added: “In the long run it doesn’t really mean much at all. It is all about that trophy at the end of the finals. That is what we are aiming for.”

The Roosters scored a convincing 28-10 victory in their only clash against the Sharks this year back in round five with the forwards leading the way and Cordner making a game-high 174m.

“It is always a tough game when we play them,” Cordner said. “We will be expecting no different. We are not content where we are as a team and are always looking to improve.

“We believe that we still have a bit more left in us.”

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Originally published as Boyd Cordner says the Sydney Roosters pack can match it with anyone in the competition