NRL 2025 coach ratings: How Trent Robinson overcame unprecedented adversity to make finals

While other rival coaches have procured more wins this season, few, if any, have been forced to overcome the raw adversity that’s confronted Robinson.

And Robinson has his Roosters airborne heading into Saturday night’s elimination final against Cronulla at Sharks Stadium.

It’s easy succeeding when everything falls into place but only the finest prevail when tremors become earthquakes.

Let’s take a forensic look at what Robinson had to overcome, and overpower, this year.

After last season, four star players exited Bondi - Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Joey Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary. The club then lost Sitili Tupouniua and Terrell May, while Dom Young was released mid-season, as was Brandon Smith to South Sydney.

Quite possibly Robinson’s largest impediment was playing the opening 18 rounds without his star halfback, the inventive Sam Walker.

He may not have publicly shown it but I reckon Robinson would have felt suffocating pressure given the vast amount of quality players that left the club.

This is the Roosters … they don’t fail. As their motto says: ‘We play for premierships.’

But we all feel anxiety.

Walker was unavailable through an ACL with the Roosters beginning round one with Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend as the halves. Untried Hugo Savala was named as 18th man.

Robinson’s ace, Walker, didn’t return until a round 19 game against St George Illawarra. Imagine being without your first-string starting halfback for the first five months of the season?

“It has been an outstanding result to finish up in the eight,” said Roosters chairman Nick Politis. “There have been a lot of obstacles.”

Through this unrest Robinson found replacements for the departed big four.

Some suggest Naufahu Whyte has become one of the NRL’s best props since substituting for Waerea-Hargreaves, the Roosters’ physical and emotional leader.

Mark Nawaqanitawase was plucked from rugby union to replace Suaalii while Savala emerged from nowhere for Keary. Robert Toia, after two knee reconstructions, swaggered into Manu’s place and ultimately played for Queensland.

This was a personal triumph for Robinson.

Robinson won’t win coach-of-the-year. Ricky Stuart win claim that honour in a canter, as he should given Canberra’s truly remarkable season. Craig Bellamy has done what Craig Bellamy does annually – take Melbourne to the top.

Cam Ciraldo continues building Canterbury into a premiership powerhouse while Brisbane’s Michael Maguire has bounced back after a shaky start the season.

What some would have seen as turmoil, Robinson identified as a challenge. Possibly the biggest of his 13-year NRL coaching career.

And his players are staunch.

Back-rower Angus Crichton: “’Robbo’ has got the best out of these young guys. He’s made some big and bold calls and they have paid off.”

Five-eighth Huge Savala added: “’Robbo’ has filled me with heaps of confidence.”

And centre Billy Smith declared: “’Robbo’ has instilled belief in us.”

The Roosters are surging and poised to go deep into the finals.

I spent a week with the Roosters in Los Angeles last year as they prepared for the Las Vegas season opener.

Robinson invited me into team meetings and private forums inside UCLA, where the team trained. It was all off-the-record so I won’t betray his trust but watching him operate was fascinating.

The complexities of his approach coupled with his calming mannerisms were engrossing. The on-field calls were theme based and Robinson knew when to hand over the meeting to his assistants and then the players.

There was even a separate team meeting where players asked the media questions.

One player manager said: “My client (a leading player) wouldn’t be where he is today if not for Robinson and the Roosters’ systems. He needed to be educated.”

Robinson claimed grand finals in 2013, 2018 and 2019 but this just might be Robbo’s finest moment.

WILL MORE TRAINER DRAMA RUIN FINALS?

What the hell is going on here and why is this trainer on the field with an active player just two metres away?

My goodness I have genuine fears these reckless trainers will somehow, some way have an impact on the looming finals.

This happened with ten minutes remaining in Gold Coast’s win over Wests Tigers last Saturday at Robina.

I thought my eyes were playing tricks when Titans orange shirt Andrew Lowndes ran virtually next to Gold Coast fullback Keano Kini, who was in possession at first receiver.

I think even Kini was shocked to receive the ball and see Lowndes so close.

This still-frame appears to show Kini ready to pass the ball only to have Lowndes in the way.

It would have been the ideal chance for referee Chris Butler to show some courage by stopping the game and sending Lowndes from the field.

And what about the Manly blue shirt scurrying away from Daly Cherry-Evans when the Manly skipper was taking a field-goal attempt against the Warriors last weekend?

He was hovering close to DCE - for no apparent reason - and then bolted when he saw the ball coming towards the now ex-Sea Eagles champion.

Enough is enough. We have all a gutful of these rash trainers.

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The fed-up NRL has promised during the off-season to end this charade of trainers being on the field more than some players.

And the NRL’s action against trainers cannot come quick enough.

Woe betide if one of these serial pests causes drama during the finals.

Originally published as NRL 2025 coach ratings: How Trent Robinson overcame unprecedented adversity to make finals