Shannon Meyer reviews the Sydney Roosters keeping their season alive with a win at the SCG.
Result
Sydney Roosters 26
Tries: (5) Daniel Tupou 18th, 38th; Joseph Manu 22nd; Billy Smith 52nd; Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 66th,
Goals: (3) Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 19th, 23rd, 40th
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 16
Tries: (3) Josh Schuster 63rd; Brad Parker 73rd; Tolutau Koula 78th
Goals: (2) Reuben Garrick 11th, 64th
Report
One of the big talking points going into the game was Matt Lodge facing off against his old team mates at the Roosters – especially the heavyweight clash against Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – but it was a damp squib when Lodge limped off after seven minutes and little fireworks prior. Eventually the point scoring got underway a few minutes later through a penalty goal for Manly after a Roosters drop out went over the sideline.
After the first 20 minutes saw more penalties than points, the first try of the game came through Daniel Tupou, who took a perfect cross-field kick from Luke Keary. A few minutes later, the Roosters doubled their try scoring when Joey Manu provided a glimpse of his skills and strength by powering through the Manly defense. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii converted both from either sideline to lead 12-2.
The penalties continued for the rest of the first half, but the Roosters managed to sneak in one more try before half-time, and it was Tupou securing his second try of the match: this time Luke Keary and Billy Smith were involved in the lead up. Suaalii converted his third sideline kick and the Roosters had a comfortable 18-2 lead at the break – a worry for Manly who have won just one of their last six second halves.
The Roosters came out the better of the two sides after the break and eventually capitalised on a Manly error in their own half; within a few tackles Billy Smith pushed his way over the line with a giant fend to score the Roosters’ fourth try. Suaalii missed his first conversion for the night, but they led 22-2, a very coincidental scoreline at the SCG, the home of Richie Benaud…
Eventually, Ashley Klein was tired of blowing his whistle and waving ruck infringements, so he sent Toafofoa Sipley to the sin bin just before the 60th minute, a move which wasn’t going to help the already struggling Manly team. On the back of a Drew Hutchison 40-20, Sia Wong looked to have scored a try on his run-on debut but was overruled eventually by The Bunker.
Sensation not long after that as Roosters forward Nathan Brown was sent off for a high shot on Ben Trbojevic that led to a decent scuffle between the sides. Manly took advantage of the player numbers evening up from the penalty when Josh Schuster chip and chased for himself 10 metres from the line to score under the posts. The Roosters still led 22-8 but would have to survive the last 15 minutes of the game with a player down.
Before the Manly player returned from the sin bin the Roosters extended their lead when Suaalii scored in the corner from a midfield scrum. He failed to convert his own try, but the margin was out to 18 points. Manly reduced that to 14 points with six minutes to go when Schuster laid on a perfect kick for Hank Scorpio-lookalike Brad Parker to score.
Despite having chances to make the game interesting, Manly could only muster a consolation try in the last minute when Tolutau Koula benefitted to score from a powerful Haumole Olakau’atu run. That left the score 26-16 and the Roosters had held on despite being a player down in the last 15 minutes.
It’s possible neither of these teams will make the finals, and based on the game on Thursday night that’s probably not a bad thing for the neutrals. Manly do remain one competition point ahead of the Roosters, but both remain outside the top eight. The win did mean the Roosters are unbeaten against Manly on a Thursday. It also continued Manly’s dreadful away record on a Thursday, with just one win from eight matches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – James Tedesco (Roosters)
2 – Joey Manu (Roosters)
1 – Luke Keary (Roosters)
