‘These weeks are special': Roosters get sympathy for tough draw but senior leader is excited by Origin challenge
While others are questioning whether it's fair for the Roosters to have to play all three stand-down State of Origin matches, veteran Victor Radley is excited by the challenge and doesn't want people feeling sorry for the glamour club.
The Roosters have five players in the Origin teams for the May 28 opener and are set to be without their stars ahead of games two and three, with the club not having a bye before any of those matches.
The Bulldogs and Sea Eagles also have to play in rounds 12, 15 and 18, with fans of all three clubs entitled to feel hard done by given they will be missing key players.
But instead of debating whether it's fair or not, Radley and the Roosters welcome the challenge of lifting without their quality quintet for Saturday's showdown with the Sharks.
The Roosters will still have James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and other stars, with Radley recalling a similar challenge in 2017 when they outlasted the Rabbitohs despite being without key players because of Origin.
'I feel like it's so exciting,' he said.
'We came in yesterday (Monday) and straight away had the feeling that we're going to have young boys playing and we might have some guys making their debuts and starting for the first time.
'The excitement around the team is there.
'I remember in 2017 (going through something similar). I didn't actually play during that Origin period, but I remember coming into training thinking that I might get a shot.
'It's a really special time, and this club can be really strong with these young guys coming in. I'm really pumped for it.'
Robert Toia, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Connor Watson and Spencer Leniu will all be missing, but they should get Englishman Dom Young back for Saturday's clash, while their young forwards showed against Penrith earlier this year that they have the talent and the belief to get the job done.
'As an older guy, I can't wait to get out there with them,' Radley said.
'I can't wait to stand there and say 'let's go boys' as people walk out for their first game.
'It's what you play for. These weeks are special.'
Siua Wong has stepped up on the right edge this season and is backing other graduates of the Roosters academy to excel this weekend.
'The players that have developed through the academy are ready. I don't think they'd be here training with us if they weren't,' he said.
'Robbo (Roosters coach Trent Robinson) definitely won't have trouble finding guys to play these spots.
'A lot of the boys have the confidence in their abilities, and that comes from the hard work they've done over the years.'
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