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Nick Politis has ridden the giddy, stomach-churning corkscrew rollercoaster of Roosters chairmanship for more than three decades – but he has "never been prouder of my club" even if their season continues to crumble.
Politis' team is one-and-seven. Crisis? What crisis?
"I've never been prouder of how the club has stuck solid during this period," says the Pacino doppelganger. "If it was any other club that was 1-7, they'd be wanting to sack the board, sack the coach. But we have shown a lot of loyalty to each other. We are all working hard, and nobody is working harder than Robbo."
He's talking, of course, about cranky coach Trent Robinson, who went nuclear after the Chooks' narrow loss to the Dragons on Anzac Day when he went after referee Ben Cummins and The Bunker, which will soon need to become a Cyclone Shelter in the face of vicious criticism.
Always emotional when it comes to his club, Politis also squared up NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg when the pair crossed paths after the match. We're told the confrontation could've been hotter if not for nearby television cameras.
Politis' defence of his team is legendary. NRL chief executives over the years have often felt the wrath down the phone line while the multimillionaire businessman watches in frustration.
I once copped a call from Politis, who was angry about something. The sound of waves gently lapping the shore was in the background.
"Nick, where are you?"
He was in Greece, on a beach, but his mind was on football and his club.
Politis is right when it comes to the apparent malady facing his club. There is no panic. Until Anzac Day, Robinson had been as serene as the Dalai Lama.
These comments on the eve of the match said much about the coach's sense of perspective: "If you get into coaching for money or to hold a profile you're in it for the wrong reasons. If you're in it for teaching players to improve because you enjoy the techniques and tactics ... you enjoy that part of coaching.
"The club has been strong and we all feel like we're the reason we're in this position – and we're the reason we'll get out of it. Anything's possible when there's time."
That's why I'm not buying the idea that Robinson's post-match attack is a sign he's under pressure.
Instead, it reeked of a wily coach's ploy to not just deflect criticism from his losing team but also send a message to the playing group that he's in their corner. To play for him.
Jack Gibson, Bob Fulton and Wayne Bennett were and are grandmasters in this dark art. Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson seemingly did it every time his side lost.
Says one Roosters player of Robinson: "We appreciated him standing up for us. We're ready to run through a brick wall for him."
To that end, the Roosters are expected to cop the $40,000 fine they received from the NRL for their post-match behaviour.
For Politis, $40K is ashtray change. In the context of the season, it could be the wisest money he spends.
As for this bitter fallout between Robinson and Dragons counterpart Paul McGregor, as we understand it not only did the pair talk after the game but had a healthy conversation a few days later.
Nick Politis has ridden the giddy, stomach-churning corkscrew rollercoaster of Roosters chairmanship for more than three decades – but he has "never been prouder of my club" even if their season continues to crumble.
Politis' team is one-and-seven. Crisis? What crisis?
King Rooster: Nick Politis. Photo: Dallas Kilponen
He's talking, of course, about cranky coach Trent Robinson, who went nuclear after the Chooks' narrow loss to the Dragons on Anzac Day when he went after referee Ben Cummins and The Bunker, which will soon need to become a Cyclone Shelter in the face of vicious criticism.
Always emotional when it comes to his club, Politis also squared up NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg when the pair crossed paths after the match. We're told the confrontation could've been hotter if not for nearby television cameras.
Politis' defence of his team is legendary. NRL chief executives over the years have often felt the wrath down the phone line while the multimillionaire businessman watches in frustration.
I once copped a call from Politis, who was angry about something. The sound of waves gently lapping the shore was in the background.
"Nick, where are you?"
He was in Greece, on a beach, but his mind was on football and his club.
Politis is right when it comes to the apparent malady facing his club. There is no panic. Until Anzac Day, Robinson had been as serene as the Dalai Lama.
These comments on the eve of the match said much about the coach's sense of perspective: "If you get into coaching for money or to hold a profile you're in it for the wrong reasons. If you're in it for teaching players to improve because you enjoy the techniques and tactics ... you enjoy that part of coaching.
"The club has been strong and we all feel like we're the reason we're in this position – and we're the reason we'll get out of it. Anything's possible when there's time."
That's why I'm not buying the idea that Robinson's post-match attack is a sign he's under pressure.
Instead, it reeked of a wily coach's ploy to not just deflect criticism from his losing team but also send a message to the playing group that he's in their corner. To play for him.
Jack Gibson, Bob Fulton and Wayne Bennett were and are grandmasters in this dark art. Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson seemingly did it every time his side lost.
Says one Roosters player of Robinson: "We appreciated him standing up for us. We're ready to run through a brick wall for him."
To that end, the Roosters are expected to cop the $40,000 fine they received from the NRL for their post-match behaviour.
For Politis, $40K is ashtray change. In the context of the season, it could be the wisest money he spends.
As for this bitter fallout between Robinson and Dragons counterpart Paul McGregor, as we understand it not only did the pair talk after the game but had a healthy conversation a few days later.
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