A defiant Trent Robinson earnestly believes the Sydney Roosters can still win the premiership despite languishing in 12th spot with the worst attacking record in the NRL.
The Roosters are averaging only 16.4 points per game and again came up short in a 20-18 home loss to Canberra on Sunday night, leaving Robinson's struggling outfit probably needing to win six of their remaining nine matches to make the finals.
There was enough defensive steel and grit for Roosters fans to like as the Tricolours rallied from 18-0 down after 29 minutes at Allianz Stadium.
But with the glaring exception of 2022 Golden Boot winner Joey Manu, the Roosters seem too badly lacking in strike power to be ready to challenge the heavyweights for the title.
Robinson, however, strongly disagrees and says the Roosters' misfiring attack is not far off clicking.
"Look, I think we're getting closer to nailing it. We've identified what we think it is," said the triple premiership-winning coach.
"If it was completely clear, we would have had it fixed by now. But we're working on some things to open that up.
"There were just a few timing issues with some of our plays that we talked about and it's just out of sync, which is costing us. It's cost us (all) year but I know it will open up.
"I've watched these guys work hard, I know it's going to open up, so we've just got to keep belief in the way that we're training, the way that we're preparing our system.
"And then, as I said to the guys, just loosen the grip. I feel like we're choking the club at the moment trying to get it right."
Despite also being hit hard by injuries in 2023, and now losing Test star Angus Crichton for four to six weeks with a torn MCL, Robinson said "there's no excuses from us" and that the Roosters' best was yet to come.
He maintains the Roosters - many pundits' pre-season picks as premiers - can "definitely" win a fourth title in a decade, especially in a year when only four competition points separate first and 12th position on the ladder.
"If you've got someone sitting here and they're going to put their hand up and say the competition's not up for grabs, then you shouldn't be in the job," Robinson said.
"We'll keep fighting internally first, just to get the best out of ourselves, and then we want to attack this competition. We really want to go after it.
"But we need to start with ourselves. But it's certainly sitting right there for a lot of teams.
"Our season, you can see it sitting there and we'll get there."
