Trent Robinson calls in Adrian Morley to fire up Roosters ahead of Rabbitohs showdown

Rather than play down the emotion and fiery history between bitter rivals South Sydney and Sydney Roosters, coach Trent Robinson is leaning right into it.

In a week where the NRL issued a warning over high shots, the Sydney Roosters have called on one of the most intimidating hit-men in the club’s history to rev them up before facing fierce rivals South Sydney on Friday night.

Rather than play down the emotion and fiery history between the two sides, Roosters coach Trent Robinson is leaning right into it and had club great Adrian Morley fire up his troops ahead of the Accor Stadium clash.

For Robinson, there is no better preparation for this grudge match than to draw on Morley and his infamous aggression and intimidation factor.

Morley was an honorary guest at Roosters training at Moore Park on Thursday, when he spent time speaking to the players.

On the agenda was the Englishman’s bruising display in the Roosters’ grand final win over the Warriors in 2002.

Adrian Morley to rev-up Roosters ahead of Rabbitohs showdown

Warriors forward Richard Villasanti had launched head first into Brad Fittler, almost knocking out the Roosters captain.

Morley took the incident personally and went on a rampage, putting Villasanti in his sights and soon after put a huge hit on him in one of the great grand final square ups.

“He talked about the red mist,” Robinson revealed.

“He talked about his journey over here, his love of the Roosters and what it meant to him and how it changed his life.

“But also the way that he played in games … he played over 100 games at the Roosters, he sat out quite a few and (that) made him unique.

“And the contest … he was the one that stepped forward first.

“We spoke specifically about the ‘02 incident (Villasanti), where it was game on.

“He’s a man of few words but his actions in that next set, set up for the grand final (win) and it could have gone either way.”

Despite the NRL putting clubs on notice over illegal tackles and foul play this week, both Robinson and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett have refused to demand their players temper emotions.

In the past six encounters between the bitter rivals, 12 players have been sent to the sin bin. A record breaking seven players were sin binned in a spiteful finals encounter in 2022.

Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell, who will play his first game this season, has also been a lightning rod for controversy in the game’s oldest grudge match. He copped a six-game ban in 2021 for a brutal head high shot on Roosters centre Joey Manu.

Asked whether a ‘red mist’ descending on Mitchell was a thing of the past Bennett said: “I didn’t say it (red mist) was a thing of the past, we are going to have to wait and see,” Bennett said.

Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco share a moment in their 2024 meeting. Picture: Getty Images

“I don’t want him in the sin bin, I don’t want him sent off. But I don’t think that is going to happen, I don’t see any reason why that would happen.”

When told Bennett had no plans to rein in the 27-year old, Robinson welcomed the challenge of taking on a fired up Mitchell.

“Yeah, hopefully (the red mist) turns into a fog,” Robinson said.

“We’ve always had players that play on the line. You want them to go to that line and not over it, sometimes they do but that’s what makes them unique.

“I understand that, our job is to make sure that ends up in our favour.”

Robinson had a similar message for firebrand forward Spencer Leniu, who found himself in a running battle with Titans big man David Fifita last weekend.

“Nah, let him play,” Robinson said when asked if Leniu’s emotions would boil over.

“I’ve had to coach those players before that are on the edge and let them find their way, there is no sitting down in an office and talking to them about how to regulate that.

“The more games they play, they know what’s right and wrong.

“But you want them to push it as well. If someone is talking about (Leniu’s aggression), he’s had an effect and I want him to do that.”

Originally published as Trent Robinson calls in Adrian Morley to fire up Roosters ahead of Rabbitohs showdown