Roosters coach’s brave admission despite costly fine for wild presser

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has made a stunning revelation after an explosive press conference cost him big time in fines.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson revealed he wouldn’t change a thing about his explosive press conference from last Friday. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has sensationally doubled-down on his explosive press conference after the Chooks’ defeat to South Sydney last Friday night, declaring he wouldn’t change a thing he said.

Robinson teed off at the bunker for its lack of action after the Rabbitohs’ Latrell Mitchell landed a dangerous hit that left Roosters centre Joey Manu hospitalised with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone.

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During the game, Mitchell was only sent to the sin bin, when many believed he should have been sent off.

Robinson labelled the bunker’s decision to allow play to continue “laughable,” and received a $20,000 fine from the NRL for his comments.

Despite the five-figure fine, the three-time premiership winner wouldn’t sway from what was said in the fiery post-match presser.

“I fully understand where the fine comes from,” Robinson said.

“I know there’s some language that you can’t use.

“But I would sit in there and deliver the same post-match press conference that I delivered.

“And that doesn’t mean a disrespect to the NRL, I understand their position.

Robinson cut a frustrated figure in his post-match press conference last Friday night. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

“But they’ve also got to understand my position, and I stand behind that.”

The Roosters ended up on the losing side of a 52-14 scoreline, as well as losing Manu for the rest of the season.

But for Robinson, he believes there were silver linings to take comfort in.

“There was a lot of things I was really proud of the other night in the way that we handled things,” Robinson said.

“There’s also some lessons there.

“It’s happened, but let’s go. Let’s keep moving forward.

“Naturally people want to swing it in a way but no one wins in these situations.”

The horrific facial injury to Manu had fans wincing, but Robinson provided a positive update on how the New Zealander was doing.

“He’s recovering from surgery,” Robinson said.

“He’s still quite swollen, but he’s in good spirits.

“He’s back around playing his music and supporting the guys.

“He’s still obviously a little bit sore.

Joey Manu is out for the season after a major facial injury. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

“But he’s good, the face recovers quickly, surgery’s done with and he’s ready to get recovered.”

Luckily for the Roosters, they have a ready-made replacement who just so happens to be one of the best centres to have ever played the game.

In the same week he announced his retirement from rugby league once the season is completed, veteran star Josh Morris makes his comeback from injury.

Robinson hailed the 35-year-old, and was delighted at how timely the return of Morris and a number of other stars to the starting line-up was.

“He’ll (Morris) be remembered as a prototype centre,” Robinson said.

“The way that he’s played that centre role and dominated that centre role in both attack and defence over such a long period of time.

“He’s been so hard to attack against for such a long period of time, and he’s done it until he’s 35.

“To get Jared back, to get Angus back, to get the back rowers back in and Josh and Adam Keighran, (it) allows those edges to form some consistent shape and Matt Ikuvalu coming back on the wing gets the balance right.

“Now we need to drive home those combinations tomorrow night.”

The Roosters round out the regular season with a tasty match against the Canberra Raiders on Thursday night, as big ramifications for both clubs hinge on the result.

The Raiders are fighting for a finals berth, and are level on competition points with the Cronulla Sharks, who sit in eighth but are ahead via points differential.

The Chooks sit in sixth, but share the same points total as the Sea Eagles and the Eels, who are fourth and fifth respectively.

With a raft of stars returning from injury for Trent Robinson’s side, they’ll no doubt look to finish the season on a positive note going into the finals series.