Trent Robinson has declared the Sydney Roosters ready to prove themselves as premiership heavyweights as they plot a preliminary-final upset against Melbourne.
Written off in recent weeks with the title race widely considered to be between Penrith and Melbourne, Robinson admitted on Thursday he felt his team had been looked down upon by critics all year.
But Friday night at AAMI Park now represents the Roosters' best chance to prove otherwise, against the ultra-impressive minor premiers.
"(Melbourne) have earned the right (to be hyped up)," Robinson said.
"But I also feel like I wouldn't say we've had a lot of positivity all year around the way that we've played.
"We're really steely in our approach to how we want to go about each game.
"We've worked really hard this year, and that's not usually the case where people will view it that way, but we know what goes into our games.
"It's up to us to go down there and say: 'Look, this is proof that (we've) earned the right to play the following week'."
The Roosters have seemingly grown more and more aware of the critics in recent weeks.
They were largely decried as title contenders since losing halfback Sam Walker and hooker Brandon Smith to ACL ruptures last month.
Senior players have refused to buy into the idea of a premiership window closing with the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii leave at year's end.
And questions have also been asked of their 1-20 record against the Storm and Penrith, with James Tedesco stating last week he was "sick and tired" of the scepticism.
In Robinson's mind it is simply irrelevant ahead of Friday, while also believing his side is a much better one than the injury-depleted team beaten at the death in last year's semi-final in Melbourne.
"That (record) is definitely there and in the past," Robinson said.
"That won't make any difference at all tomorrow night. The time is coming, and we need to make sure that is tomorrow.
"We're a much better team this year. I think we've proven that on performances with belief in our game style.
"We're really settled in that, and that's why it's really key for us to be really confident in what we're going to do tomorrow night."
After wiping past Manly last week, the Roosters are at least on paper a legitimate force headed into Friday night.
They have 12 players who have played State of Origin for a tier-one nation, compared to Melbourne's six.
The biggest gap remains in the halves with Dally M favourite Jahrome Hughes against Sandon Smith in his first finals series.
But Robinson was confident the 21-year-old had taken lessons from his tough outing against Penrith a fortnight ago, with the team clicking better against Manly.
"It's really simple for us, there is huge belief in him. We've proven that, and we've shown that to him and outwardly as well.
"We just want him to do his role and do his incremental progressions.
"(Assistant coach) Justin (Holbrook) has been doing a good job. Luke (Keary) has been doing a good job. Cooper (Cronk), myself, there's a crew there.
"Sandon's got everything he needs right there, right now. He just needs little cues here and there from the guys around him.
"But he doesn't need to do anything different. He's ready to play."
