Sydney Roosters have returned home to Allianz Stadium in style, downing the New Zealand Warriors 20-12 in an inspiring performance on Saturday afternoon.
The 16,267-person crowd who braved the 30-degree heat were treated to a show, with Jaxson Paulo bagging his fifth career double, while Sam Walker nailed four goals, including two penalty goals, to help the Red, White and Blue secure their first win of the season.
The Roosters dominated the opening three minutes, as Sam Walker forced the Warriors to concede a goal-line drop-out. Maintaining possession as they approached their try-line, the Tricolours were granted three back-to-back set restarts following ruck infringements and an offside call.
A fourth minute cut-out ball courtesy of captain James Tedesco sent winger Jaxson Paulo over in the corner to open Easts’ account. Sam Walker nailed the conversion from touch to keep his 100 percent goal-kicking percentage for the 2023 season.
Paulo Strikes First
Sydney Roosters were given another penalty in the 11th minute, after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was obstructed in the kick-chase. Sam Walker slotted the penalty-goal from long range to extend his teams lead eight points.
Inspiring play from Tedesco held the Warriors from scoring just seven minutes later, with the fullback racing across the field to shut down a right edge overlap that opened up for Edward Kosi. Luke Keary assisted his captain to shove the winger into touch and get possession back.
Tedesco Stops the Try
After Suaalii was placed on report for making a late tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, New Zealand skipper Tohu Harris made use of his teams’ strong field position to set up a switch play off the first receiver.
Passing to his right, Harris sent Shaun Johnson through a hole in the Roosters defensive line. Tedesco, however, was there once again, but the Warriors found their way over through Wayde Egan who followed the veteran halfback in support, receiving an offload before diving over undefended. Johnson added the extras to reduce the deficit to two in the 26th minute.
Prop forward Lindsay Collins produced a magical chip-and-chase as the Roosters stormed towards their try-line. The 26-year-old hunted down his own kick, forcing the Warriors into their second goal-line drop-out.
Errors in the ruck crept in for both teams as the scorching 30-degree heat began to take its toll as half-time approached.
The Roosters coughed up possession in back-to-back sets at the beginning of the second half, but the match review committee called the play back to an earlier set, where Paulo was hit high by Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya.
In the resuming play, the Red, White and Blue ran 50-metres towards their try-line with the fifth tackle kick bouncing awkwardly for Nicoll-Klokstad, causing him to lose the ball.
Joseph Manu gifted Paulo his second try of the day, through a no-look flick pass that left him on the wing alone. The Warriors reinforcements rushed in on Paulo, but he made no mistake when it came to grounding the ball, securing his fifth career double. Walker converted the try to extend the Roosters lead to eight.
Paulo Doubles Up
Keary provided the spark in the 57th minute, faking a pass to his right before sending Suaalii through the scattered New Zealand defensive unit. The 19-year-old centre bumped off two Warriors in his sprint towards the line, before offloading to fellow young gun, Sam Walker, who snagged the four-pointer in the corner. Walker was unable to convert his own try from the sideline, leaving the score at 18-6.
The Warriors clawed one back five minutes later after second-rower Marata Niukore broke the Sydney line, passing to lock forward Addin Fonua-Blake who crossed under the uprights. Johnson converted the try from in-front, making the difference six.
Walker added another two points to the tally in the 73rd minute after the Warriors imposed on the Roosters kick-chase, securing the home-ground victory.
Sydney Roosters 20 (Jaxson Paulo 2, Sam Walker Tries, Walker 4 Goals) def New Zealand Warriors 12 (Wayde Egan, Addin Fonua-Blake tries, Shaun Johnson 2 Goals)
