2021 NRL Round Seven, Roosters 34 Dragons 10 – Report

Craig Cauchi reviews the traditional ANZAC day clash between two of the competitions fiercest rivals. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

3 pts – Sam Walker (Roosters)
2 pts – Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters)
1 pt – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)

MATCH REPORT

1st Half

Both sides traded errors in the opening two minutes of the game followed by a missed penalty goal for the Roosters off the back of a high tackle. Jack Bird was awarded a try, which was taken off of him after the bunker found a double knock before Bird put it down. The Dragons built pressure after the disallowed try, earning two repeat sets. Off of their third set they crossed the line through Tariq Sims, crashing over the line from a short pass from dummy half. The Roosters were awarded a penalty from a shoulder charge by Ravalawa and they took full advantage of their field position. Josh Morris turned his centre inside out and threw a lovely ball over the top for Tupou to score. The Roosters held much of the advantage for the first half but were unable to cross again for much of the half. It changed in the shadows of halftime, with the Roosters coming up with a great play down the right side of the field, stopped by some scrambling defence by the Dragons. The play was brought back for a high tackle on James Tedesco with Jordan Pereira being sent to the sin bin. It took one set for the Roosters to take advantage of the extra man with Sitili Tupouniua scoring after the Roosters kept the ball alive on the last tackle. They Roosters marched down field and young half Sam Walker took the Dragons line on, offloading for Nat Butcher to score as the half time siren sounded.

HALF-TIME: eg. Sydney Roosters 16 St George Illawarra Dragons 6

2nd Half

The Roosters turned it on at the start of the second half with the Dragons defence tiring. Ben Marschke was sin binned for the Roosters but it didn’t halt their momentum with Sam Walker extending their lead off the back of a Periera error. A great kick from Drew Hutchinson gave the Roosters the opportunity for a repeat set and they scored with Lindsay Collins crashing over from a short pass from Sam Verrills. The Roosters kept the pressure piled on and after a few repeat sets, Joseph Manu brushed through some tired defenders to score. The Dragons ran the ball on the last, Clune connecting with Dufty who passed out for Ravalawa to score out wide.

FULL-TIME: Sydney Roosters 34 St George Illawarra Dragons 10

Injuries

James Tedesco (Roosters) – failed HIA

Match Review Committee

Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea $1350 fine.
Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons) – Grade 2 Shoulder Charge – Early Guilty Plea 2 match ban.
Jordan Pereira (Dragons) – Grade 3 Careless High Tackle – Early Guilty Plea 3 match ban.

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