Rugby league: This time the final belongs to us say Roosters

SYDNEY - They're not quite crowing, but the Sydney Roosters are quietly confident they are the NRL premiers-in-waiting.

The parade route through Bondi Junction might not be mapped out yet, but the survivors of the 2000 grand final loss to Brisbane believe they will never have a better chance to add a 12th title to the club trophy cabinet when they face the Warriors tomorrow.

Retiring hooker Simon Bonetti admitted they were beaten before the kick-off two years ago and he felt the side were "just making up the numbers" against the raging hot favourites, who won 14-6.

"I know I felt that way and a lot of the other guys got over-awed by the whole week. This time there's a feeling we can win it.

"There's a general confidence in the team that we're going to give it a real shake."

Second-rower Bryan Fletcher, who ends an eight-year career with the club tomorrow, considered the Roosters of 2000 felt they played the final a weekend before Brisbane fronted up.

The Roosters beat Newcastle in the preliminary final, overhauling a 16-2 halftime deficit, and the players never lifted from that achievement.

"We went back to the club and there were about 4000 people there. We went on stage and got presented with T-shirts.

"I got caught up in it and even Freddie [captain Brad Fittler] got caught up in it. The emotion of that Newcastle game, purely the second half, we never got over it.

"We didn't really talk about it at the time, but I don't think we had the confidence to beat Brisbane that year.

"We got touched up by Parramatta in the first semi, then we played Canberra, who were under-strength, and then we weren't even in the game against Newcastle at halftime."

Fletcher, a veteran of 123 games, said the feeling was different this year and the lessons from 2000 had been absorbed.

"This year we're a better team and more focused ... I'll be disappointed if we don't come away with a win."

- NZPA