Trent Robinson paid tribute to skipper James Tedesco and Mark Nawaqanitawase after the pair blitzed the Rabbitohs to lead the Roosters to a 36-6 victory to seal a finals berth.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >

Tedesco continued his charge to the Dally M Medal with 164 run metres, five tackle busts, two linebreaks, four linebreak assists and four try assists to lead his team to a huge win.

The Roosters captain lost his NSW and Kangaroos jerseys to Dylan Edwards, but could get one back for the Ashes series after arguably the best season of his career in 2025.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

Tedesco has taken his passing game to greater heights this season, highlighted by a one arm flick try assist against Souths, but Robinson believes that is nothing knew for his captain.

“I think he’s been clear for a long time, he’s been playing amazing footy year on year for the Roosters and at all levels,” Robinson said.

“But he’s the best ruck fullback in the game. He’s changed the way that fullbacks attack the ruck and the way they address the line, and then he also plays the traditional fullback that everyone else is playing, which is the combination plays, and he’s nailing them.

“His combination, his timing, his confidence in playing that play and it’s really hard to find someone with the balance between a system type player and then an instinctive, intuitive, freedom type player at the same time.

MORE NRL NEWS

TRACKING TEAM’S EXITS: Manly farewell five stars; Cowboys’ seven man clean-out

FINALS FIXTURES: Top eight teams locked as details of week one match-ups revealed

FINALS SCENARIOS: Why Panthers’ win could make title bid harder in jostle for spots

James Tedesco and Trent Robinson.Source: FOX SPORTS

“Usually the intuitive player doesn’t want to work, don’t touch me, let me just let me do my thing, where as Ted does all the work, works harder than anybody else, runs the system, believes in it, drives it.

“But then has the ability to move to the intuition and freedom on the back of it. It’s an incredible balance to do both.”

Tedesco preferred to deflect praise to his teammates for his form, but admitted he has done the work for those plays to come off.

“I don’t think it’s changed too much for myself, I’m always looking to improve and get better, but it’s just about combinations and connections with the team, with my edges,” Tedesco said. “I feel like on that right side with Hugo and Bobby and Mark, we’ve just got a great connection at the moment.

Chooks down Bunnies to lock in top 8 | 02:28

“We’re practising our plays every day of training, and then on the field as well. We’re just putting that practice into execution, our plays where we need to be, our skills, and then we’re going out and trusting that and playing footy.

“So I don’t think my game’s really never wavered too much over my career, but I’m always looking to improve on every aspect really.

“And then again, the guys in and around me, the guys in this team have been playing awesome footy and that allows me to be at my best.”

After scoring four tries last week Nawaqanitawase backed it up with a hat-trick against Souths to take his tally to 24 tries from 23 appearances to lead the NRL in 2025.

“I don’t think it’s surprising him scoring the tries, we sort of saw that, his ability, their combination and being able to score those,” Robinson said.

“It’s been his desire to pick up the whole game of rugby league. I mean, rugby league people I like to think we’re unique and we’re tougher than the other sport and all of that.

Bennett reflects on Souths’ tough year | 04:11

“But I mean, this guy has come across and it’s a credit to him. There’s some things that we can learn from the freedom of their play.

“And if any of them want any other ones want to come over, then they’re more than welcome because I do think we get to exhibit the skills that they get to practice sometimes a bit more. “But he’s been able to do the attrition part and then he’s been able to do the freedom part.”

The Roosters started the season slowly, with plenty of experts writing their chances off, but in this form, they are a real dark horse for the title.

“I think a couple of people thought we could do something this year and we’re improving,” Robinson said.

Humphreys binned for ‘dangerous’ tackle | 00:36

“We haven’t got to the top of the mountain yet on where we want to go. I feel like we’re physically in good shape. We know our style.

“I think I’ve said often that we’re searching for our style this year. We know our style and now we’re continuing to improve on that.

“We keep talking about improvements. We’re not trying to hold on to anything. We are putting the foot down and we’re trying to get to our best footy this year.”