Roosters wary of Turbo threat

Sports

HALFBACK Lachlan Lam says the Sydney Roosters are aware of the threat that Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic poses ahead of their do-or-die National Rugby League clash in Mackay on Friday (7.50pm kick-off).
The Tricolours survived a late Gold Coast scare to progress to week two of the finals while the Sea Eagles copped a 12-40 hiding at the hands of minor premiers Melbourne Storm, but top-four Manly have the benefit of a second chance.
“He is definitely a quality player,” Papua New Guinea international Lam said yesterday.
“We’ve seen what he has been able to do this year.
“Him going great for Manly is good for them going forward.”
The 23-year-old played his first finals match in the 25-24 win over the Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday. “We had a good win against them,” Lam said of the Roosters’ 46-4 round-one win over Manly.
“We’ll be looking to put in another good performance and hopefully get that result again.”
The Clovelly Crocodiles junior said they were hopeful of hooker Sam Verrilis securing a downgrade to his high tackle charge, given the Roosters were already down on troops.
Verrills has entered an early guilty plea for a careless high tackle charge by the match review committee but is seeking a downgrade of the charge to receive a fine of A$1,150 (K3,000) and escape suspension.
If he is found guilty, Verrills will be sidelined for two matches and he would need the Roosters to qualify for the grand final in order to play again this year.
“He is definitely an important member of our team,” Lam said.
“He is a key member of our spine, so we’re going to need him.
“He is normally a pretty good boy, so it’s different to see him in troubled waters. But fingers crossed he can get out of that.”
Meanwhile, fellow Papua New Guinea international Justin Olam’s Storm have a week off as they prepare for the winner of the clash between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next Saturday (4pm).