The 2022 Representative Round allowed a number of players the opportunity to proudly don the colours of their State or Country, and the Roosters' contingent sure made their presence known across the weekend.
Elias-Fenech Shield: King and Friend Guide Cedars to Victory
The round began on Wednesday night with the inaugural Elias-Fenech Shield played between Malta and Lebanon at Belmore Sports Ground.
The Cedars ran away with a 30-14 victory, and while there were no contracted Roosters on the field, Matt King took the reins as Lebanon's caretaker with head coach Michael Cheika unable to attend the match.
Alongside the Roosters' Assistant Coach was Club Legend Jake Friend who was a member of the coaching staff, with the duo well in the plans for Lebanon's upcoming World Cup campaign.
Women's Under 19s Origin: Jada Taylor Stars for NSW
Few may have heard of electric fullback Jada Taylor, but her name is now well known across the Rugby League following her scintillating two-try performance in the Women's Under 19s Origin match at Leichhardt Oval.
Taylor was joined by four of her Tarsha Gale Premiership-winning teammates in sky blue - Captain Tayla Montgomery, Leilani Wilson, Iesha Duckett and Anneka Wilson - while Tarsha Gale Coach Blake Cavallaro took up the clipboard, and barnstorming back rower Otesa Pule lined up for Queensland.
Jada Taylor Wins 2022 Nat Dwyer Medal
But it was Taylor who starred in the 22-6 victory for New South Wales, scoring the side's second try before a memorable 109-metre effort which saw her scoop the ball from her own in-goal to streak away and seal the result.
Her incredible performance earned her the Nat Dwyer Medal as Player of the Match to no one's surprise, with the fullback gracious in her acceptance of the award.
“We had a special week in camp so it was very important for us to get out here and put on a really good performance for our state, our families and all of the crowd,” Taylor told NSWRL.
“It’s very important and very special to receive it, but I definitely think it’s off the back of a lot of hard work – of my team, not me.”
U19s Womens Origin: Jada Taylor's Incredible 109 Metre Try
Men's Under 19s Origin: Future Roosters Get Taste for Rep Football
In the Men's Under 19s match afterwards, there were a number of strong performances from the SG Ball Grand Final side for both states, as NSW made it two from two with a 32-4 win.
Queensland Captain Xavier Va’a was instrumental for his side, taking the lead with 140 metres in a strong display on the big stage with the Maroons affected by injuries throughout.
Match Highlights: 2022 Men's U19s Origin
Roosters and Maroons teammate Robert Toia asked plenty of questions of the Blues' defence and was dangerous alongside winger Xavier Chatfield-Mooka, while NSW hooker Tyler Moriarty's strong passing game was critical in his side's ability to lay on the points in a dominant win.
Women's Origin: Kelly Steals the Show
In one of the most intense matches of Womens' State of Origin, it was big-game player Isabelle Kelly standing up for the Sky Blues, claiming the victory with a late try at the death.
Isabelle Kelly's 2022 State of Origin Performance
Kelly topped the running metres for the match with 190, which included 78 post-contact metres and a whopping 13 tackle breaks in an almighty effort that saw her claim the Nellie Doherty Medal.
Her centre partner Jess Sergis had a trademark performance with 123 metres and a linebreak, while Sarah Togatuki and debutant Olivia Kernick had plenty of impact from the interchange bench.
New signing Destiny Brill opened the scoring for Queensland with a classic barge over try, topping the tackle count for her state, but it was Kelly's four-pointer in the 67th minute that proved to be the difference as NSW took a 20-14 victory.
Women's Origin: New Signing Brill Opens the Scoring
New Zealand vs Tonga Women's: McGregor Leads Ferns to Half Century
The Kiwi Ferns put in a dominant eleven-tries-to-two display against Tonga in Saturday's first match at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland as New Zealand claimed a 50-12 win, with Roosters NRLW halfback Raecene McGregor at the forefront.
McGregor scored a four-pointer, set up another and had a big say in the Kiwi's strong display, while Roosters teammate Mya Hill-Moana had a typical powerhouse display with 106 metres and 15 tackles with no misses in 35 minutes.
Womens Pacific Test: McGregor Races In
Young front rower Pani Hopoate had a big stint off the bench for Tonga, playing 56 minutes and punching out 90 metres from nine runs, as well as amassing 26 tackles in a strong outing for the young prospect.
New Zealand vs Tonga Men's: Marathon Manu Breaks Running Records
We all know the damage that Joseph Manu can do from fullback, and it was no surprise to see his numbers hitting the stratosphere in New Zealand's convincing 26-6 win over Tonga in the showpiece international of the weekend.
Pacific Test: Manu's Marathon Performance
The fan favourite amassed a record-breaking 401 metres with the ball in hand, with 112 post-contact metres as well as a linebreak, a linebreak assist and seven tackle breaks in one of the finest displays from a Roosters player on the international stage.
Incoming Rooster Brandon Smith put in a strong shift for the Kiwis with 30 tackles, while front rower Siosiua Taukeiaho was inspirational in his first match as Captain for Tonga with 144 running metres and 28 tackles.
Pacific Test: Tupouniua and Manu Come Together
Sitili Tupouniua was the only member of Tonga's forward pack to play the entire 80 minutes, and averaged over 10 metres per run and put on a bone-rattling shot against his Tricolours teammate in the process.
Fiji vs Papua New Guinea Men's: Naiqama Strong but Lam has Last Laugh
Two Roosters went head-to-head in the second Test Match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday night, but it was Lachlan Lam who took the spoils over Kevin Naiqama as Papua New Guinea claimed a 24-14 win over Fiji.
Pacific Test: Naiqama Scores From a Miracle Kick
Naiqama was a constant force for the Fijians in a strong performance as skipper which saw him engineer the game's opening try with a deft kick and chase, but Lam hit back in a long-range effort soon after.
The two combatants went tit for tat before the Kumuls extended their lead heading into the final quarter with Lam setting up captain David Mead, before he sealed the win five minutes from fulltime with his second in classy effort, claiming Player of the Match honours as well.
Pacific Test: Lam Gets His Second
Men's State of Origin: Tedesco Leads Blues to Perth Drubbing
The NSW Blues kept their series alive with a dominant 44-12 win over the Maroons at Optus Stadium in Perth, and it was no surprise to see Captain James Tedesco at the forefront.
In another stellar performance from the Blues' skipper, Tedesco was a man on a mission and marked the night by notching his 3307th metre, claiming the all-time running metres for the state in a well-deserved personal milestone.
Origin Game II: Crichton Scores Maiden Blues Try
His charges through the middle of the field allowed his side to dominate through the ruck, which eventually saw the Blues break clear from a 14-12 scoreline as Daniel Tupou touched down in the 50th minute.
From there it was all one-way traffic as Tedesco topped the run count with 265 metres - the most of any player and more than double Queensland's highest - while back rower Angus Crichton scored his maiden Origin try to bring the Blues to 40 points.
Tupou kept himself busy as he topped 200 metres, while Maroons front rower Lindsay Collins put in a solid 28 tackles in a side starved of possession and territory.
Origin Game II: Tupou Scores From a Harbour Bridge Pass
