Boyd Cordner runs in for a try against the Sharks on the weekend. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: Sam Ruttyn / DailyTelegraph
MOVE over South Sydney, the Sydney Roosters are the new premiership favourites - and it's the first time they have been on top of the NRL's betting market since Brad Fittler was captain way back in 2004.
In the wake of the Rabbitohs' shock golden point defeat to the Dragons and the Roosters 40-0 thumping of the Sharks, the TAB on Monday reacted by installing the Roosters as the new $3.50 favourites ahead of their arch rivals Souths who drifted to $3.75.
A lot has been said about the Roosters' star-studded roster and the arrival of Sonny Bill Williams this year, but the player who led the Bondi club to their last premiership reckons rookie coach Trent Robinson deserves plenty of credit for getting the players to buy into a culture where the team comes first.
"There is one direction,'' Fittler said.
"They have bought in (to the culture). You have to put it down to coaching. He has sold something that they trust.
"He makes it all about the team and it seems the players make it all about the team as well.
"Their footy seems to be the priority.''
Boyd Cordner runs in for a try against the Sharks on the weekend. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
Last year the Roosters were a rabble under Brian Smith - but in his first NRL season, Robinson has been able to transform the club into the toughest defensive team in the league.
When Fittler was skipper and Ricky Stuart coach back in the early 2000s, the Rooster built their success on defence and a decade on it's a case of back to the future.
Fox Sports Stats show the Roosters are way ahead of their top four rivals, conceding an average of just 11.6 points a game this year.
Manly are next best, conceding an average of 14.1, Souths 14.8 and Melbourne 15.7.
Teams that wins premierships usually concede between 12 and 14 points on average each match.
On top of that, the Roosters have also held five teams scoreless this year.
Fittler said they are also one of the best teams to watch, which makes them the complete package.
"They are fantastic to watch,'' Fittler said.
"They are playing really good footy and they have that little bit of flair which is entertaining, they are not boring.
"And to cap it off they have a lot of pride in their tryline.''
The Roosters odds have come in dramatically since the start of the season. They initially opened at $21 and started the season at $9 before blowing out to $13 after the first round loss to Souths.
TAB's Matt Jenkins said bookies have reacted to their rock-solid defence.
"When they won the premiership in 2002 they finished the regular season with the best defence in the competition, that will be what wins it for them this year,'' Jenkins said.
South Sydney's stumble on Monday night against the Dragons was the reason they have drifted.
"The absence of Greg Inglis and tough run home may see Souths fall out of favour with punters,'' he said.
But as good as the Roosters are going, Fittler reckons this Sunday's clash against the Knights represents a danger game for a team that has won its past four games.
The Knights have won three in a row and are now fifth on the NRL table.
"This is a big danger,'' Fittler said.
"(Newcastle) have experience, they are tough, and they will back themselves in the forwards. So if they keep up with the speed it will go down to the wire.''
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