Lindsay Collins has spent a decade leading by example at the Roosters. On Friday night he\u2019ll officially lead them out for the first time.<\/p>\n
With James Tedesco and second-choice skipper Daly Cherry-Evans among nine players rested ahead of the finals, Roosters coach Trent Robinson has handed Collins the captaincy duties for Friday’s clash with South Sydney.<\/p>\n
The prop has steadily developed into a leader within the Roosters squad throughout the past few years and Robinson said it was a special moment telling the Queensland and Australian representative he would be leading the side.<\/p>\n
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Lindsay Collins Try<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been our vice-captain for a while there; he\u2019s been a leader in this club for many, many years and it\u2019s his first captaincy, so that was a really nice moment to talk to him about leading the team out,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does it already, but just that slight shift in leadership there is good, and Connor as vice-captain as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collins, now in his 10th season with the Roosters, will captain the side alongside vice-captain Connor Watson as Robinson gives a number of younger players an opportunity in the final round of the regular season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the fact that they get rewarded,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
The Roosters have already secured a top-four finish, allowing Robinson to make the call to rest nine key players before September football begins next week.<\/p>\n
It also means halves Hugo Savala and Daly Cherry-Evans will not get another opportunity to play together before the finals, with Robinson deciding both players would benefit more from a week off.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was either both play or both rest because I want them to spend a fair bit of time together and I decided to rest them both,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHugo hasn\u2019t played in the halves in the last couple of months, but he\u2019s also played a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Resting players ahead of the finals can divide opinion, particularly with Friday night\u2019s match against the Rabbitohs, one of the game\u2019s great rivalries.<\/p>\n
But Robinson said the decision was straightforward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was all really clear what was the best thing for us this week and what players have played Origin or a fair amount of time leading up to that game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the clear point and the clear belief in what we can achieve tomorrow night with the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robinson is confident the side selected can still deliver against the Rabbitohs, with the majority of the squad already having NRL experience.<\/p>\n
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Rex Bassingthwaighte Try<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all Roosters players and have been in our system for a long time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really value this game and I think we need to prove that tomorrow night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a future in what we\u2019re going to be playing out there as well. We\u2019ll have one debut, but the rest have played NRL.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what\u2019s right for the Roosters and I love this game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Roosters will enter the finals without star halfback Sam Walker, who underwent syndesmosis surgery on Sunday after suffering an ankle injury.<\/p>\n
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Sam Walker leaves the field with an injury<\/p>\n
While there is no exact timeline on his return, the club remains hopeful Walker could play again this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got operated on Sunday afternoon and he\u2019s just in the initial phase,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not much to do in that phase of recovery. They heal quite quickly, those injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s extreme disappointment and then you get on with what\u2019s next. That\u2019s the common thing in sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe timing of it is not ideal, but you get to, \u2018What can I do to get back as quickly as possible?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
There was better news for second-rower Angus Crichton, who remains on track in his recovery from an ankle injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cGussy is still progressing but on track, so that will be a next-week decision,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
Victor Radley is also expected to be available for week one of the finals after recovering from concussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be there week one,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n