Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson believes his side will be hungrier following a "missed opportunity" this year as he prepares for life without Anthony Minichiello and Sonny Bill Williams.
Robinson extended his contract until the end of 2017 after a highly successful first two seasons at the helm in which they won a premiership in his debut year before collecting the 2014 minor premiership before being bundled out of the competition with a preliminary final loss to South Sydney.
"It's hard when you first start, you want to do a really good job," Robinson said. "You think you can coach but you want to work hard to do a good job. There's a lot of responsibility and a fair bit of nerves. I'm really happy with the last two years. I feel like we missed an opportunity last season which still hurts, but I guess the confidence you get out of the last two years and hunger of missing an opportunity I think that's what we're all feeling and that's the growth we look for. I don't think [the desire] was off. It just wasn't as good as Souths' in the end. That was the defining moment. They had to go on and define it again, for us it was it. I'm sure [the players will be hungrier].
"I've talked to a few of the guys. That time away freshens you up and then cultivates the hunger you have into the season."
Robinson confirmed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck would start the season at fullback with the likes of youngsters Jackson Hastings and Nene Macdonald also to spend some time there during the pre-season. The Roosters representative back-rowers of Boyd Cordner and Aidan Guerra will need to improve to fill Williams' shoes as will veteran Mitchell Aubusson. Robinson nominated under-20s graduates Willis Meehan and Vincent Leuluai as other back-row candidates.
Minichiello's captaincy spot won't be filled until deep into the pre-season. "They need to prove themselves," Robinson said. "That's the way we've gone in the past. Working with a few of the senior guys, also asking them to prove their leadership and show they want to be leaders. We do have that role vacant, we've been grooming some guys for a couple of years."
Robinson arrived at the club with three key messages: "culture, defence and a strong physical performance". Despite their meek end to their season, Robinson said it was a matter of fine-tuning the base he had spent during the past two seasons. "For us it's fundamentals," Robinson said. "The building blocks of rugby league doesn't change, it's how you use them which do. We're not turning things upside down. We've worked hard to build who we are and we are in a good position based on those things. We need to tweak a couple of things and keep on track."
The Roosters are luring Martin Kennedy back to the club after his one-season stint at the Broncos but are working out a release deal with Brisbane.
The squad returns to pre-season training on November 12 with the younger players and new recruits starting on November 3.
