In the final trial match ahead of the NRL Telstra Premiership season, the Roosters had a tough hit-out against the Manly Sea Eagles that was decided in the final minutes of the game.
The Roosters got off to a rough start with back-to-back penalties, a dropped ball and a conceded try in the opening five minutes.
Tom Trbojevic got the Sea Eagles on the board after finding the space out wide and muscling his way to the turf.
Just ten minutes later they found the line again through Curtis Sironen after being given a small gap to work with on the right edge.
After the Sea Eagles gifted the Roosters with good field position on back-to-back penalties, they got on the board through Daniel Tupou on the back of a perfect ball from Michael Gordon.
It would turn into back-to-back tries for the Roosters on the back of some brilliant team-work that was nicely finished off by Latrell Mitchell in the centres.
The Roosters were on fire after a slow start, and the flames grew higher when Blake Ferguson made a break out wide and passed inside for Connor Watson to score beneath the black dot.
Just shy of the break, Frank Winterstein barged his way over from dummy-half for the Sea Eagles to level the scores at half time.
Back-and-forth was the name of the game to start the second half, but a moment of brilliance from Daniel Tupou to offload to Latrell Mitchell for his double would see the Roosters gain the lead back early.
In the dying minutes, Dylan Walker found some space in the middle to put Manly ahead by two and seal the victory for the Sea Eagles.
It was a tough hit-out and the Roosters will look to improve on that performance heading into Round 1 against the Gold Coast Titans.
FULL RESULTS
NYC ROOSTERS- 28 MANLY- 12
WYONG ROOS- 16 SEA EAGLES- 40
NRL ROOSTERS- 22 SEA EAGLES- 24
