Roosters coach Trent Robinson isn\u2019t dreaming about making history as the first team outside the top four to win a title in the NRL era, but the ongoing reconstruction of the famed Bondi Wall could turn it into a reality in just a few weeks.<\/p>\n
A spot in the top eight seemed unlikely when the Roosters lost 34-30 to the Storm in round 21, capping a rough month where they conceded 119 points in four games.<\/p>\n
But something clicked that night and they\u2019ve allowed just 28 points in their past three matches to surge up the ladder on the back of three-straight wins. <\/p>\n
Defence has been the key to Robinson\u2019s success over the years, but he insists that while the foundation has been laid, it\u2019s going to take a few more bricks to declare the Bondi Wall is officially back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to have the desire to build that. The desire is there, but there\u2019s a lot of work to be done,\u201d he said ahead of Saturday\u2019s showdown with the Eels.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been some things that we\u2019ve needed to improve from a structural point of view about how we\u2019ve formed our line and in some of the technical parts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a never-ending puzzle for you to finish off, but there\u2019s also a mindset about how we attack those changes that we want to make.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing new, but it\u2019s the first time in a long time that I\u2019ve seen them love that side of the ball, and we\u2019re in the middle of creating a habit. But it\u2019s going to take a few weeks of really high desire to get that done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Star forward Victor Radley doesn\u2019t think there was a specific moment where their defence clicked into gear, but he knew something needed to change after a couple of uncharacteristically loose performance. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just mentally getting up for each game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel we weren\u2019t completely mentally there for the Cronulla game a month ago, and that was our biggest achilles heel coming in and out of games.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about making sure that regardless of what the media said, we play with the same mindset every week.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t change your mindset week in, week out, especially this time of year, so we\u2019ll keep going after it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Roosters can move four points clear of the chasing pack if they win and the Sea Eagles defeat the Dolphins on Saturday, but a fourth premiership with the club isn\u2019t on Robinson\u2019s radar right now.<\/p>\n
History suggests you have to finish in the top four and be one of the top-two defensive units to win the competition, but the Roosters and Panthers have the talent to defy past results. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not past Saturday. The belief is really, really high and I believe in them on Saturday night,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t get dreamy about what\u2019s going to happen in the future. We need to earn the right, and that\u2019s all that matters. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can get dreamy in whatever walk of life you\u2019re in or whatever job that you\u2019re in about what\u2019s next, but the dreams (here) haven\u2019t got past the weekend each week for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s burn the boats and let\u2019s go on Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n