The Sydney Roosters produced their most aggressive performance of the year, defeating the Bulldogs 32-12 at ANZ Stadium.
Sonny Bill Williams showed his class on the night, scoring two brilliant solo tries and setting up another with an exquisite pass as the Roosters showed intensity and desire in defence the entire eighty minutes.
Nene Macdonald made his NRL debut on the night and showed why he is a potential star of the future, leaping through the air remarkably similarly to another young winger who will make his NSW debut on Wednesday night.
In a night of highlights for the club, Remi Casty also made his debut, the French national captain showing why he was so highly sought after by Head Coach Trent Robinson.
The Tricolours looked to have scored early only for the video referee to rule no try, with debutant Nene Macdonald ruled to have knocked on in the air.
Minutes later the favour was returned when Moses Mbye was ruled to have knocked on by the video referee as he reached out to touch down.
If you didn't know anything about debutant Macodnald prior to the game you do now.
The flying winger leaped on to a Maloney bomb, out jumping his rival winger to touch the ball down, a perfect start to his NRL debut.
Sonny Bill Williams was the next to score, something he seems to do regularly against his former team.
The backrower easily stepped the opposition defender and palmed off the next defender to slide over and extend the lead to ten.
The Bulldogs hit back when a sharp back line movement was well finished off by Mitch Brown, the winger stepping inside to avoid three cover defenders, putting the Dogs to within four.
It was all about defence for the remainder of the half, the Tricolours holding strong despite repeated penalties and some questionable Bulldog tactics.
A scuffle late in the half saw the home side awarded a penalty with Inu stepping up to convert and put the Dogs within two at the break.
The Tricolours came out firing and it was a brilliant around the corner offload from Kenny-Dowall that set up the Roosters next try.
His beautiful pass enabled Minichiello to touch down, putting the Tricolours a converted try in front.
The Bulldogs then built up some good field position, coming to within two when the Tricolours didn't clear up a grubber in the in goal, gifting Brown his second of the night.
Williams then pulled out his second piece of pure class, passing to Kenny-Dowall in what looked like a non-existant gap, enabling the Kiwi to touch down.
Mitchell Pearce then produced a brilliant 40/20 kick on the very next set, Tim Lafai being sin binned as a result with the centre blatantly preventing the quick tap.
The Tricolours took full advantage of the overlap, Williams monstering three defenders over the line two score his second of the night.
Captain Anthony Minichiello sealed a great result for the Tricolours scoring the final try of the match.
