Even with Todd Carney’s return to the NRL, it was not enough to ensure that the Roosters came away with a victory, as they went down 18-4 to the Cronulla Sharks at Shark Park.
Carney, who was playing his first game in the last few weeks, due to a suspension, was attacking, but he lacked the spark that we are accustomed to seeing him with, and the Roosters, ultimately, lost.
The Roosters currently sit in 14th position, and despite having won 2 of their first 9 games, coach Brian Smith is not about to panic.
“I think this is where we differ to you (journalists) … panic is great for you guys, and panic is definitely not great for us, so we won’t be panicking,” Smith said.
He did however admit that for the Roosters to make a run towards the finals, that Carney has to step up his game, and produce some sublime footy, much like he did in 2010.
Despite their struggles to penetrate the Sharks solid defensive line, Smith was pleased overall with the performance of Carney, saying it was a decent return.
“(It was) encouraging,” he said.
“I thought he moved really well and conditioning wise I was a bit surprised really that he was still playing at the end of the game as much as he was.
“Logically you’d look for improvement in his touch and his combinations with other players as the next couple of weeks go by.
“When we pinned them in that second half and got lots of good ball, lots of opportunities … I thought that’s when we just lacked that little bit of quality. And when Todd’s at his best he certainly offers that to us.
“It was the same last year for him, he got better from about the mid-point of the year and we rode off the back of that.
“That’s not to say it’s all about Todd today with us losing, nor was it when we were winning, but he is an important part of that attacking jigsaw for us.”
For the Sharks, despite their win, their captain and NSW and Australia lock Paul Gallen will not train, after picking up minor arm and leg injuries in the clash.
“It’s probably the sorest I’ve been after a game this year but I will be right in a couple of days,” Gallen admitted.
“I’ve got a really big cork on my shin and a big hit on my funny bone (which) has made my fingers a bit numb … It’s nothing that’s going to stop me doing anything (in State of Origin).
“Maybe (I won’t be ready for training on) Tuesday, but I’ll be right after that.”
He praised his team-mates efforts both in attack and defence, but especially for only conceding one try for the entire match.
“It’s what we had to do. Our season was on the line and we came up with the goods,” he added.
3 Isaac Gordon
2 Paul Gallen
1 Ben Pomeroy