Smith: We’ve one more shot

Sydney coach Brian Smith says he hopes his players can score their maiden victory over St George this season, and bag an NRL premiership at the same time.

Smith, who joined the Roosters last year, could be the first coach in over 70 years to guide a team from wooden spooners to premiership winners in one season.

The former Bradford, Newcastle and Parramatta boss admits he never dreamed that it would be possible, but is quick to heap praise on the players and board members.

“To presume it would happen this quickly… no, I’m not that bigger dreamer,” Smith admits.

“I felt very confident that this was a great move. From the first time I met Nick Politis and Steve Noyce, and every day since.

“I’m the lucky one, I just lobbed into a place where everyone wanted change and everyone wanted things to be done differently. I hope I can say that some way down the track when I’m finished here, I can say ever day has been a positive for me,” he said.

Smith points to Braith Anasta‘s golden point field goal against the Tigers as a signal of how far the club has come.

But he admits the players need to turn around their played two lost two record against the Dragons to make their dreams come true.

He added: “We’ve lost to the Dragons twice this year, we’ve got one more shot.”

“Resilience and a desire to right whatever’s not quite right has been really strong this season. We have to show that one more time.

“We’ve got a final shot at them, one more shot to rectify (that record).”

Roosters team to face St George in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday:

1. ANTHONY MINICHIELLO
2. JOSEPH LEILUA
3. KANE LINNETT
4. SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL
5. SAM PERRETT
6. TODD CARNEY
7. MITCHELL PEARCE
8. JASON RYLES
9. JAKE FRIEND
10. FRANK PAUL NUUAUSALA
11. NATE MYLES
12. MITCHELL AUBUSSON
14. BRAITH ANASTA

INTERCHANGE:

MARTIN KENNEDY
JARED WAEREA- HARGREAVES
DANIEL CONN
JAMES AUBUSSON
NICK KOUPARITSAS
TOM SYMONDS
LOPINI PAEA
PHIL GRAHAM

(FOUR TO BE OMITTED)