NRL great Willie Mason believes the Sydney Roosters still have enough quality to do damage in the finals despite copping a disastrous double injury blow.
Scans confirmed on Monday that Sam Walker had suffered a ruptured ACL after going down early in the loss to Canberra, requiring surgery.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Willie Mason backing Roosters to recover from ‘disaster’.
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Brandon Smith has also sustained ACL and MCL damage after being the victim of an Elliott Whitehead hip-drop tackle that prompted a post-match feud between Trent Robinson and the Raiders forward.
The only positive for the Tricolours is that second-rower Victor Radley will avoid surgery for a fractured scapula, and is some chance of returning late in the post-season.
Forward Nat Butcher should at least return for the finals, but will also miss Friday’s clash against South Sydney with concussion.
In the short term, the Roosters’ injuries threaten to stop the club’s charge towards their first premiership since 2019.
No club has won the grand final without their first-choice halfback available during the NRL era.
But Mason says if any club can do it, it’s the Roosters, given the depth of their squad.
“Losing those two key players within 10 minutes of each other is heartbreaking,” he told 7NEWS Sydney.
“To lose those two players, I don’t know how they are going to (cover them), but if anyone can do something, it’s the Roosters.
“It’s a disaster, you wouldn’t read about this.”
Mason then detailed the positional switches he would make, highlighting the quality they have in their squad.
“They’re very stacked, don’t get it twisted. You’re going to put Connor Watson in at No.9, Luke Keary plays No.7 and you’ve got Sandon Smith, who can play No.6 and you’ve still got Joey Manu out wide,” he said.
“They’ve still got some big name players, they can still get the job done.”
The third-placed Roosters finish the regular season against the Rabbitohs on Friday night and will face either the Panthers or Storm in their first final.
“We’ve got a squad for that reason,” Robinson said after the match.
“You guys don’t get to see them always, but you’ve got to believe in who’s coming next.
“So let’s go, let’s get excited about moving on to next week.”
Meanwhile, Mason nominated Herbie Farnworth for his prestigious Willy M Medal.
“His stat line is ridiculous. Over 200m, two tries, try assists, line breaks, 14 tackles, no missed tackles … against his former team at Suncorp. What a genius,” he said.
– With AAP