No.9 now Verrills' to own at the Roosters

Trent Robinson has declared the Sydney Roosters' No.9 jersey is Sam Verrills' to keep as the Sydney Roosters prepare for a new dawn on Anzac Day. Verrills will make his long-awaited return from a knee injury against St George Illawarra on Sunday, after going down with a torn ACL against the Dragons in round seven last year. The Roosters team Verrills returns to after several setbacks is very different to the one he left last June. Young gun Sam Walker is now his halfback, while concussions forced Roosters legend Jake Friend to retire, opening up the hooker role for Verrills. "It's definitely his jersey. It's good to have his voice back and precision back as well," coach Robinson said. "Especially with Jake and his retirement. Jake and Sam have been together trying to finish a career and also bring a young player on to be our No.9. "It's nice to see him wear that No.9 and then get back into the role we want him to perform for many years." Since Friend's retirement the Roosters have got by with Freddy Lussick and Ben Marschke filling it at dummy-half, still sitting fifth on the ladder despite their troubling injury list. Meanwhile Robinson said injured props Siosuia Taukeiaho (rib) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (shoulder) would need until an hour before the match to prove their fitness. Likewise, the Dragons won't know until at least Saturday if Ben Hunt will recover from a fractured leg in time to return.