EXCLUSIVE: Billy Slater urges Roosters to 'settle down' as key injuries strike before finals
Billy Slater has urged the Sydney Roosters to "settle down" and show more "patience" with the ball as they prepare for a finals series without a handful of marquee names.
Serious knee injuries to halfback Sam Walker and hooker Brandon Smith have forced the side into key personnel changes just before the post-season, while back-rower Victor Radley is also unlikely to feature again this year due to a fractured shoulder.
In their absence, Sandon Smith came into the side in the No.7 jumper at the weekend, while utility Connor Watson is expected to play an increased role at dummy-half.
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The side did enough to win against arch-rivals South Sydney in round 27, despite resting a few more players on top of their casualty ward, but Slater believes there were some worrying signs that need to be addressed imminently.
Sandon Smith burst onto the scene last year. Getty
"It was tough to get a gauge on the Roosters on the weekend because they rested so many players," he said on Nine's Billy Slater Podcast.
"We still don't know fully how they are going to perform. I would have liked to see a little bit more consistency and a little bit more patience in their game.
"It was like they were trying to win the game off every play and score off every play.
"I think they just need to settle down a little bit and get into the cycle of the game and build some rhythm."
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Fill-in playmaker Smith, who has major raps coming out of Bondi, finished with a try assist and 60 run metres in a composed display alongside veteran Luke Keary.
Trent Robinson is expected to welcome back Dom Young, Daniel Tupou, Nat Butcher and Lindsay Collins for the qualifying final against Penrith, while experienced prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has one more week to serve in his latest suspension.
Slater believes while the jury is still out on their premiership credentials, it would be foolish to write off the Tricolours given the stack of elite players at the club.
"I'm sure they are going to be a different team in the finals … and to a certain degree, they are a little bit more dangerous now," he said.
"A couple of weeks ago, everyone was saying that the Roosters were one of the teams to beat and now they've all got a line through them. I certainly don't have a line through the Roosters, they've got too much quality in their team and too much strike.
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"If they get it right, they can still beat anyone on their day. There's no Sam Walker and Brandon Smith, but they still bring quality into the team.
"Sandon Smith is not a reserve grader, he's a first grade footballer and he played really well on the weekend, and Connor Watson is an Origin player.
"It's not like they are replacing these stars with reserve graders, they are ready to go."
Slater's comments come off the back of Phil Gould declaring the Chooks can still win the competition with plenty of rep-level talent at their disposal.
