Roosters Rise to Record Resounding Win

An early fumble gave the Roosters an opportunity to attack the Dragons’ try line in the first minute. A crash play from front rower Lafi Tuinauvai got the Tricolours on the scoreboard, with Tyler Colley converting from in-front to give his team a six-point lead.

The Roosters carried the ensuing set the entire length of the field, allowing Colley to poke a grubber kick into the in-goal, which was dived on by his halves partner Braith Alexander. Colley kicked the conversion to make it 12-0.  

An error from the Roosters coming out of their own end handed easy field position to the Dragons. As St George spread the ball out wide, winger Xavier Chatfield-Mooka read the play perfectly, flying out of the line and producing a jamming tackle which forced the ball free.

The Roosters were tasked with more defence in their own territory after making an infringement on halfway. The Dragons capitalised on this occasion, with Benjamin Johnson charging onto a short ball to break the line and beat the fullback to score. Ashton Ward converted the try, cutting the deficit to six.

The Roosters hit back just four minutes later, with a slick play out the back that found the hands of Colley and Tavita Henare-Schuster, who sent Guba over in the corner. Colley continued his perfect goal-kicking afternoon from the sideline, giving Easts an 18-6 advantage.

Dragons fullback Wesley Pring made a blistering line break down the middle before drifting out towards the right side where he sent winger Brock Sepulveda over on the edge, bringing the game back to 18-10.

The Roosters received a penalty deep in their own half, but a massive 50-metre kick for touch from Colley gave them an opportunity to make a late play in the half. They took full advantage, with Phoenix Steinwede getting on the end of a Jack Smith grubber kick to score. Colley nailed to conversion to give Easts a 24-10 lead at the break.

The Red, White and Blue carried their first-half momentum into the second half, with a line break from Smith putting them on the front foot in the opening minutes. A few plays later Smith struck again, sending Chatfield-Mooka over on the wing extend their lead by four.

A penalty to the Dragons coming out of their own end gave them an opportunity to claw another four points back, with halfback Ashton Ward throwing a bullet pass to Pring who exploded through a gap to score. Ryan Hodgson converted the try from out wide to bring the game back to 28-16.

The Dragons were on the back foot as the Roosters continued to press their try line, eventually conceding a penalty right in front of the posts. Colley's penalty kick soared through the uprights, giving Easts a 14-point advantage. 

On the restart, a short-side play caught the Dragons napping, as Colley offloaded the ball to send centre Tavita Henare-Schuster down the sideline, connecting with Guba who swan-dived in the corner. Colley’s conversion from the sideline was successful, giving Easts a 20-point lead.

Easts were awarded a penalty on halfway, putting them on the attack again. They found more points just three plays later, with dummy half Benaiah Ioelu providing a short ball to Caleb Tohi who crashed over under the posts. The try was converted to extend the Roosters’ points tally to 42.

The Men from Bondi will aim to put back-to-back wins together when they travel to 4 Pines Park to face the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Round 9.

Sydney Roosters 42 (Lafi Tuinauvai, Braith Alexander, Isaac Guba 2, Phoenix Steinwede, Xavier Chatfield-Mooka, Caleb Tohi tries, Tyler Colley 7 goals) def St George Illawarra Dragons 16 (Benjamin Johnson, Brock Sepulveda, Wesley Pring tries, Ashton Ward, Ryan Hodgson goals)