Ruthless Roosters chasing a dynasty

THE foundations for the Sydney Roosters' premiership defence surprisingly started with a pep talk from coach Trent Robinson well over a year ago in which he urged the players to create their own legacy and become a dominant force in the NRL.

The Roosters will take their first step to becoming the first team in the history of the NRL -- which began in 1998 after the Super League war -- to win back-to-back titles when they face South Sydney in the opening game of the season at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night. Utility player Daniel Mortimer said Robinson told the players when he first joined the club from Catalans Dragons that they had been guilty of inconsistency and needed to turn that around if they wanted the same respect as a Melbourne or Manly.

Mortimer added that was already a motivating factor for players for this season and should ensure they give the premiership another mighty shake.

"The Roosters have a bit of history of being successful and then having a disappointing year," Mortimer said. "That's something we want to wipe out and definitely be more consistent like Manly and Melbourne. They might not have won every comp but they're always up there for a crack.

"That's something we want to have in our culture: be a consistent team that constantly makes the top eight and contests the finals.

"That's something 'Robbo' brought up when he first came here last year. That won't change and we'll look to create a legacy here by being up there and challenging for a finals spot."

Mortimer said he understood how difficult it was to sustain success based on his experiences with his former club, Parramatta. The Eels contested the 2009 grand final but the following year finished a disappointing 12th.

The Roosters' utility obviously has faith in the direction the club is heading after he rejected an offer last year for a starting spot with the Gold Coast Titans to remain on the bench at Bondi Junction. His faith was later rewarded with a new two-year deal. "I think we have to go to another level otherwise we won't reach the heights of last year," Mortimer said.

"Obviously it was a great year and we can reflect on the good times but this year is a new year and we have to go back to what wins footy games which is hard work and dedication at training. That's something the coach has definitely made us aware of. We feel like we're starting from scratch again, which is a good feeling."

The Roosters will take some reasonable form into the season opener after disposing of Wigan in the World Club Challenge. While it was far from their most convincing performance, the Roosters were impressive in the 36-14 win.

Mortimer said the win capped off a hectic pre-season, which started late for some players who were involved in last year's World Cup and also included the inaugural Auckland Nines tournament.

Centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall agreed that the dreaded premiership hangover would not hit the Roosters and that players were just as driven for more success.

"We know we've got a target on our head this year and we know we're going to have to get better again to play well each week and live up to that standard," Kenny-Dowall said. "There's a lot of hunger within the group and 'Robbo' really makes sure everyone is doing everything they can to be at their best."

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