Phil Gould claims only the Roosters can "fix" Latrell Mitchell but Trent Robinson insists his gun centre isn't broken.
The 21-year-old Mitchell has been heavily maligned since his uncharacteristically modest display for NSW in the series-opening loss to Queensland last week.
Pundits have questioned his motivation and posited that off-field issues such as a breakdown with his management or the influences of people outside the football bubble are impacting his mental state.
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It was also suggested Sydney were frustrated with Mitchell after he failed to back up from Origin to play at club level.
But Roosters coach Robinson believes the damaging back's demeanour has not changed dramatically despite all the rumours.
"There's been a lot of outside talk but in here he's been the same," Robinson said.
"We've gone through what you do as a coach and a player and the support that a player needs at this time."
According to Robinson, the fierce reaction to Mitchell's quiet game for the Blues comes with being billed as a bona fide superstar.
And he actually sees the continued discussion about Mitchell as a positive.
"The criticism is a part of being a sportsman, a much-loved sportsman," said Robinson.
"My thing is to not ever will away the talk about you because it means that you're doing something right as well.
"People will have an opinion and are interested in how you're going."
The last-placed Canterbury Bulldogs loom as the punching bag for Mitchell to express any grievances when they meet the Roosters on Sunday.
Robinson has kept things simple for Mitchell during the week and just expects him to play his role.
"In the end, it doesn't matter what people say in between; it's what you do in that next 80 minutes," he said, perhaps foreshadowing a Mitchell masterclass.
"Our focus this week has been on a performance tomorrow and him doing his job."