History against a Roosters GF win

THE Sydney Roosters will be forced to overcome one of the most confronting and baffling hoodoos in rugby league to claim this year’s NRL premiership.

No pre-season favourite in 20 years has been able to embrace the suffocating weekly pressure and claim the title.

The challenge has been set for the Roosters to become ’hoodoo gurus’.

Coach Trent Robinson’s side started this season outright $5 favourites but will have to defy the odds win the September 30 grand final.

Some of the finest teams of the modern era have been unable to handle the hype of being pre-season favourites.

Only Melbourne succeeded in 2007 – but that win was later stripped when salary cap rorting was revealed.

The Roosters have firmed in the market since Round 12 to win the premiership and now sit third on the ladder and behind only defending premier Melbourne in the betting.

The Roosters received mixed news yesterday with five-eighth Luke Keary ruled out for three to four weeks with an MCL strain from Sunday’s 36-18 win against St George Illawarra.