Jake Friend would never admit it, but he must be getting tired of making tackles. Usually in numbers which are talked about as records. And nearly every week.
His teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was asked during the week if he feared the nuggety No.9 - nicknamed exactly that - would burn out one day after he made 65 tackles against the Sharks last week, even considering his side spent half the day standing behind their own tryline.
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Roosters dispose of Rabbitohs
The Sydney Roosters have defeated arch rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs 14-12 at Allianz Stadium to consolidate their spot in the top four.
He told the story of Friend seeing the big screen flash up a stat about him making more than 8000 tackles in his career a few weeks ago and wondered how he had done it.
But the Roosters, as Waerea-Hargreaves relayed, just expect it of Friend every week.
Which is why if Cameron Smith was to fall over and break a leg tomorrow, there should be no debate about who would be the heir to that mighty Queensland No.9 throne.
Friend made his tackles again. In huge numbers. He notched up 62 this time according to Champion Data. The next best player on the park was Aidan Guerra with 35.
But it was what he did on the other side of the ball which told most as the leader of a team missing a whole host of them somehow helped the top four hopefuls beat the Rabbitohs 14-12Â at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
"He doesn't say too much and he says what he needs to say and then actions do the rest," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said. "That's what happened. He works pretty hard and it's really rewarding for a captain on a night like tonight to win that game."
Friend set up both of the Roosters' tries - one by foot and other with sleight of hand - as the minor premiership chasers almost put an end to the enigmatic Rabbitohs' season. And didn't they enjoy it.
Robbie Farah was almost as impressive, scoring South Sydney's first try and then promptly making way for Damien Cook a couple of minutes later.
Yet even Bryson Goodwin's late swerving effort wasn't enough to save Michael Maguire's men, who have just about fallen off the finals tightrope they've been walking for weeks.Â
The Roosters were missing NSW skipper Boyd Cordner, Mitchell Pearce, Blake Ferguson and Queensland firebrand Dylan Napa against a representative-less Rabbitohs, but there was still plenty of starch in the most storied rugby league feud. And they came out on top.
"I was really, really proud of them," Robinson said. "It was the Roosters style where everyone stuck to their task to the end. We needed to get our lessons [from last week] which we did.
"With a few guys out we needed to play a style we wanted to be proud of, but also one that we thought was going to get us towards the victory tonight. All 17 guys stuck on task and they kept on going and kept on going. It's the best we've played for six or seven weeks I'd say."
The Rabbitohs would have fancied themselves on the back of one of their best displays in years last week with the Origin player drain squarely in their favour.
But they quickly found themselves in the same 8-0 hole they spectacularly blasted out of against the Panthers. Only this time they couldn't muster a response before the break - or bridge the gap after it.
"It's all about the pressure game and gaining momentum," Maguire said. "It was a close game and it comes down to one or two plays. We probably didn't do a few things we set out to do and that cost us the game."
Throw in Friend too. Leading a patched-up Roosters with 24-year-old journeyman Mitch Cornish the Roosters held firm when most thought they wouldn't - even after Michael Gordon exited with a pectoral injury late in the piece. Nobody deserves a rest during bye week more than their skipper.
"We knew this period was coming," Friend said. "I think everyone here at the Roosters is doing everything they can to get us on the field in the best shape we can each week. I'm ready to play each week and that's because of the professionalism we have around the club. It's a pretty good win for us."
Sydney Roosters 14 (Joseph Manu, Aidan Guerra tries; Michael Gordon 3Â goals) defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 (Robbie Farah, Bryson Goodwin tries; Adam Reynolds 2 goals) at Allianz Stadium. Referees: Ashley Klein, Dave Munro. Crowd: 16,245.
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