Our chance to silence doubters: Roosters The Sydney Roosters know what the critics are saying - that their path to the top four has been forged by beating up on the NRL's lesser lights - and that Monday's clash with Manly is a chance to silence those claims. The Roosters came into this weekend's round nine with the best attack and defence in the competition and a 6-2 record with losses to South Sydney and Canberra. After some very astute off-season recruitment the Roosters have been one of the big movers of 2013 and have emerged as a genuine premiership contender. But critics of the eastern suburbs-based team claim they are yet to be truly tested with their six wins coming over the Warriors, Brisbane, Parramatta, Canterbury, St George Illawarra, and Penrith - all sides that sat outside the top eight at the start of the weekend. Prop Martin Kennedy moves into a starting position for the Roosters after an ankle injury to Sam Moa and the big Queenslander said the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval loom as the Roosters' biggest test of the season to date. "We are not deaf to what people have been saying that we haven't been playing the greatest football at the start of they year and this is a chance to step it up," Kennedy told AAP. If we don't we will be very sore losers on Monday. We have been working very hard. It is a big game for us ... a very big test. They have been a consistently good footy side over the last few years and have some very good senior players so we will have to be galvanised across the park. The Roosters have an atrocious record at Brookvale having won on just 11 of 45 visits. Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said the team knows a win over the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval will enhance their premiership aspirations. "We have played only two teams in the top eight so this Monday is going to be a great challenge for us," said Waerea-Hargreaves who played six games for Manly in 2009 before moving to Bondi Junction. It will be a great test of where we are at the moment and of where we need to improve. As a team we are all really looking forward to it. It is a great opportunity for us. Former New Zealand international Frank Paul Nuuausala comes into Kennedy's bench spot. For Manly, Jorge Taufua is likely to take Brett Stewart's (back) fullback spot with either Peta Hiku or Esi Tonga to play on the wing. Steve Matai returns from suspension for Manly and Sea Eagles back-rower Tom Symonds plays his first match against his old club in Anthony Watmough's 250th NRL game.