NRL: Perrett happy to live off scraps

Sam Perrett scores against the Panthers. Photo / Getty Images

Of all the impressive statistics Shaun Kenny-Dowall has assembled during an eye-catching National Rugby League season, it is the one unflattering number that probably stands out for Sydney Roosters teammate Sam Perrett.

Kenny-Dowall has been a revelation as the 2009 wooden spooners reinvented themselves into genuine premiership contenders under new coach Brian Smith - the 22-year-old is arguably the form centre of the competition, no mean feat considering Jamie Lyon, Greg Inglis and Israel Folau were among his rivals.

Lyon, Manly's co-captain, was named in the NRL's team of the year at centre before the finals series though Kenny-Dowall continues to mount a strong case.

One of the most improved players in the competition, Kenny-Dowall leads the NRL stats for centres in tries scored (21), tackle breaks (163), line breaks (20) and total metres (3382).

But there is one area where Kenny-Dowall isn't quite fulfilling his job description on the right edge for the Roosters - until last weekend's 34-12 elimination of the Penrith Panthers, Kenny-Dowall had only recorded one try assist, an anomaly for a centre.

Kenney-Dowall improved that facet of his game 100 per cent at the Sydney Football Stadium last Saturday, much to winger Perrett's relief.

Kenny-Dowall's pass put Perrett over in the 47th minute, better late than never for the Kiwis wing that has scored just seven tries in 25 games this season.

"I think every now and then he might be able to slip me one," Perrett said, describing life outside one of the competition's lost lethal finishers.

"He gave me one (against the Panthers), but he still owes me a fair bit."

Ideally the payback process continues in Brisbane on Friday night where the Roosters or Gold Coast Titans will advance to the October 3 Grand Final against St George Illawarra or the Wests Tigers.

But if Perrett is left out on a limb again, a spectator at the latest "SKD" show, the 25-year-old won't be complaining.

"Skitty's been outstanding. His attacking ability's ridiculous," Perrett admitted.

"I really enjoy watching him and I think we're getting better as a combination."

Perrett and Kenney-Dowall have been fixtures in the Roosters backline since their debuts in 2004 and 2007 respectively though they have only really been able to mould a partnership this season.

"We've been on and off, swapped around through the years," Perrett said.

"We had a word at the start of the year and decided we really wanted to solidify ourselves as a combination.

"As any player knows the longer you playing next to someone the better you get to know him."

And while Kenny-Dowall has been almost scoring at will and Perrett is regarded as one of the best dummy half runners in the competition, the wing said he took most satisfaction from the duo's defensive work.

"We've been awesome there," he said.

"I'm really confident with him and I hope he's confident with me as well."

Perrett is preparing for another tough defensive examination at Suncorp Stadium where Titans playmaker Scott Prince marshals a backline with the experience of Mat Rogers and former Kiwis centre Clinton Toopi and the youthful exuberance of a Kevin Gordon.

"They've got a lot of experience and their young guns are exactly that, they're guns," he said.

"They're fast, they really performed well in the (under) 20s comp in previous years. It's going to be a good challenge."

Regardless of whether the Roosters make the title decider for the first time since they were beaten by the Bulldogs in 2004, Perrett believes the future is bright for a club that was floundering on the eastern suburbs beaches a year ago.

"We've built and we've learnt and we're still learning," he said.

"This is our first year under Smithy. When you look at some of the other teams that have been together for a few years, they've progressed. We can still get better over the years."

- NZPA