Roosters using camp to turn their fortunes
Jason Ryles believes Brian Smith's decision to take his players to camp on the NSW Central Coast last week can be the key to getting the Sydney Roosters back to winning ways.
With just two wins in the last 10 games, Smith is under huge pressure to turn things around less than a year after taking the club to the NRL grand final.
Veteran prop Ryles denied reports the players had lost confidence in the experienced coach.
"We went to camp in Wyong earlier in the week, it was a pretty good couple of sessions, it was good to get out of Sydney," Ryles said.
"Basically it was a little camp, some training and the chance to spend some time together, it was very productive."
Smith has been criticised for the Roosters' under-achievement this season and defeat to Canberra at the Sydney Football Stadium on Monday would increase the heat.
However, former NSW and St George Illawarra star Ryles says the players need to take some of the blame for the team's poor campaign.
"We can't go blaming him for what goes on on the field, he prepares us as well as he can," he said.
"He is under a fair bit of pressure, the buck stops with him, but we can't go blaming him, he has a lot of experience, and we have a lot of faith and a lot of trust in him.
"Hopefully we can get a win on Monday and get our season back on some sort of track."
Ryles also denied that the players have been unable to perform because Smith's tactics are too complex and said last year's stellar campaign has raised expectations.
"It is easy to say for an outsider looking in because we are under the pump ... but we have a simple game plan every week and when things don't go our way we have to stick to it and not too much changes when we go into the game," he said.
"It is down to the players to take some accountability and ownership of the game plan because it is a pretty simple one.
"The criticism we are receiving is part and parcel of not having a good season.
"There is a massive level of expectation that goes with having such a good year last year, but it is unfortunate that things haven't gone to plan.
"It's hard to put a finger on it, it would be great to have a magic wand and put it all right, but we have to keep working hard."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.