Robinson desperate to wheel out his big guns

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson insists it’s necessary for him to see his full-strength team, including star recruits James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk, before the NRL season begins.

With Tedesco floored by the mumps, the Roosters fielded just a handful of their first-grade regulars in a 30-18 pre-season loss to Penrith on Saturday.

However, Robinson is likely to field his best 17 in next week’s final trial against Manly on the Central Coast, including the possible return of five-eighth Luke Keary.

Keary appeared to be in doubt for round one after breaking his jaw at training in late January but could be a late inclusion to get some game time against the Sea Eagles.

“He’s training, so we’ve just got to see whether we give it an extra two weeks or not. The plate strengthens it enough so you can play, but the crack’s still there behind it,” Robinson said.

“It still does take six weeks for the bone to heal, so therefore it’ll be a doctor’s decision.”

A rested Cronk was watching from the stands against the Panthers, while Tedesco was quarantined from the team after joining Mitch Aubusson in catching the mumps.

Asked about their status, Robinson said: “They’re good. They’ll be right next week.”

The high-profile recruitments mean the Roosters are set to the start the season as premiership favourites, but Robinson said it is still vital for him to see his team build chemistry in Gosford.

“The combinations at training are the crucial ones because they’re the ones that you see, but you want to have a run before the comp starts,” he said. “That’s what we want to see next week but we just have to see with Luke.”

Criticism is music to Broncos halfback Kodi Nikorima’s ears. But it seems the knockers may soon be silent if the playmaker’s inspired display in the Brisbane’s 38-10 trial win over Gold Coast at Toowoomba is any guide.

Nikorima was under pressure before even running out against the Titans on Saturday night in their opening trial. Broncos great Gorden Tallis had called for skipper and fulllback Darius Boyd to be slotted into the halves at the Kiwi international’s expense this year.

However, it was water off a duck’s back for Nikorima who showed why coach Wayne Bennett has entrusted him with the No 7 jersey in 2018 with a sublime 60-minute display in front of 8056 fans.

Nikorima did not expect the critics to stop complaining any time soon over his elevation to Broncos halfback this year after Ben Hunt’s lucrative move to the Dragons. In fact, he looked forward to it.

“Every year, there is always something to prove; there’s always critics and doubters,” he said. “I guess that’s what drives me every day. When I wake up in the morning, I just want to keep proving people wrong.”

Veteran Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday had complained before the match that Nikorima wasn’t given enough credit for what he had already achieved at halfback.

Brisbane won 11 of 13 games with Nikorima starting at halfback in 2017.

Asked what he had to work on after his long-awaited injury return, Johnathan Thurston didn’t mince his words.

“Everything,” he said. But a rusty Thurston was simply happy to emerge unscathed in North Queensland’s 30-16 trial loss to the new-look Wests Tigers in Cairns.

Cowboys coach Paul Green was happy to give Thurston the all clear after the eventful clash, along with fellow co-captain Matt Scott on his comeback from a serious knee injury.

Playmaker Thurston, after an eight-month recovery from shoulder surgery, played the first half, while test prop Scott was given just 20 minutes.

However, Thurston admitted his game needed a dramatic improvement before North Queensland’s NRL season opener against the Cronulla Sharks on March 9.