ALTONA Roosters have coughed up top spot in the Victorian Rugby League first grade after a 24-14 loss to Waverley-Oakleigh Panthers at Loft Reserve on Saturday.
It was the Roosters’ first defeat since June 1, snapping a six-game winning streak that included a forfeit against Craigieburn Phoenix.
The Panthers are proving a real threat in a four-horse race for the premiership.
“It’s really tight at the top of the comp,” Roosters captain Ben James told the Weekly.
“There’s four really strong teams in the comp and anyone can win on their day.
“They got us this time so we’ve got to fix up the areas that we were poor in and make sure we’re ready for them in the semis.”
The most troubling aspect for the Roosters was not the 10-point defeat but the injury toll to come out of it. Two of their star players, Aiden Hema and Jonathan Toetu, limped off the field with ankle injuries.
They will have two weeks to recover, with the Roosters having the bye this weekend.
On a bright note, young Roosters half-back Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad continues to make an impression upon return from Melbourne Storm duties in the national under-18 SG Ball competition.
A lightly framed teenager, Nicoll-Klokstad makes up for
this with his courage and smarts on the ball.
“There’s not much of him, but he puts his body on the line, which all the boys appreciate,” James said.
“He’s hard to handle in attack so it’s good to have him on our side.
“He also offers us a bit of direction.
‘‘He brings those structures and disciplines he’s learnt at the Storm back to club footy which is a plus for us.”
