ALTONA Roosters are rueing the final 15 minutes of their season-opening showdown with Sunbury United Tigers in the Victorian Rugby League first grade.
Scores were locked at 24-all when the Tigers ran in two late converted tries to win a pulsating affair 36-24 at Loft Reserve on Sunday.
Former Roosters premiership-winning coach Frank Epere was an interested onlooker and said the fitness of the Tigers, topped up with eight Melbourne Storm-aligned under-20s players, was the determining factor in the game.
“It was evenly matched right up until the last 15 minutes,” he told the Weekly.
“Then the fitness of the Storm boys took over.”
The Roosters had a new-look combination after the defection of a number of players to rival clubs in the off season.
The new crop of players more than held their own against the defending champions.
Epere says it would be foolish for other clubs to count the Roosters out of the running for the premiership this season.
“You can’t write Altona off,” Epere said. “You can never write Altona off. Every club is aware of Altona when it comes to semi-finals and finals.
“I think we’re still a top-four team.”
The pick of the Roosters was Caine Sinclair, the experienced forward controlling the tempo of play in attack and making some bone-rattling tackles in defence.
“He really stood out,” Epere said. “His defence and his attacking play are phenomenal.”
Bradley Potae and Nick Gullo also had strong first-up games.
The Roosters will need to be at their best to beat talented expansion outfit North West Wolves at Loft Reserve on Sunday.
VRL SCOREBOARD
Altona Roosters 24 lt Sunbury United Tigers 36
