307th Heaven: JWH Celebrates in Style as Roosters Down Dragons
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The Sydney Roosters ensured favourite son Jared Waerea-Hargreaves celebrated his milestone game in style on Sunday by downing the Dragons 42-12 at Allianz Stadium.
The veteran prop became the foundation club's most capped player of all time with 307 games, coming up with 143 run metres, six stitches in his head and a sin binning as the Roosters climbed to third on the ladder.
Fittingly it was Waerea-Hargreaves laying the platform the opening try with a storming run that finished just short of the tryline before Sam Walker grubbered expertly for Victor Radley to follow through and score. Walker converted for a 6-0 lead.
The Roosters extended their lead to 8-0 shortly after when Walker knocked over a penalty goal after Jaydn Su'A was pinged for a late tackle on Brandon Smith.
Come the 17th minute and the Roosters went down to 12 men when milestone man Waerea-Hargreaves was sin binned for a dangerous tackle but the Dragons were unable to capitalise despite having a number of tackles inside the red zone.
Victor Radley Try
On the back of an offside penalty against Matt Eisenhuth the Roosters cashed in down the right edge when James Tedesco put Dom Young over in the corner for his 13th try of the season. Walker added the conversion for a 14-0 lead.
A deft grubber by Ben Hunt earned the Red V a repeat set in the 31st minute but Moses Suli came up with an error and the pressure valve was released.
With three minutes remaining in the half the Dragons finally cracked the Roosters line when Jacob Liddle scurried over from dummy half and the sides went to the break with the home side ahead 14-6.
JWH is sent to the bin
The Dragons opened the second half with the weight of possession again and snared their second try in the 48th minute when Christian Tuipulotu powered into the corner after slick lead-up work by Luciano Leilua and Suli.
The Roosters hit back immediately when Luke Keary turned the ball inside to a charging Lindsay Collins, who proved too strong for Blake Lawrie and Tyrell Sloan and dotted down to make it 20-12 with Walker's conversion.
Just five minutes later the Roosters had a fourth try when Walker came up with another brilliant grubber kick for NSW Blues back-rower Angus Crichton to follow through and score to make it 24-12.
The Roosters put the game to bed in the 62nd minute when Collins swooped on a loose ball and found James Tedesco, who raced 60 metres to post his ninth try of the season as the score blew out to 30-12.
Christian Tuipulotu Try
Having hung tough for much of the contest the Dragons started to capitulate as Daniel Tupou racked up career try No.155 in the 66th minute thanks to some slick hands from Michael Jennings and Tedesco.
The Roosters put the finishing touches on another dominant display when Sitili Tupouniua found his way over the stripe and Walker banged over his sixth conversion to make the final score 42-12.
Match: Roosters v Dragons
Round 18 -
home Team
Roosters
2nd Position
away Team
Dragons
10th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match Snapshot
- Dragons back-rower Jaydn Su'A was placed on report in the 10th minute for a late tackle on Brandon Smith and again in the 79th minute for a dangerous tackle.
- Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was placed on report and sent to the sin bin in the 17th minute for a dangerous tackle.
- Roosters centre Michael Jennings was put on report in the 36th minute for a high tackle on Jaydn Su'A.
- Roosters winger Dominic Young has scored 11 tries in his past nine games.
- The Roosters completed 15 of 16 sets in the first half at 93 per cent while the Dragons went 20 of 23 at 86 per cent.
- Having been 18th man in Round 16 and 17, Ethan King came onto the field for the Roosters for his NRL debut in the 74th minute.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on game 307
- Roosters lock Victor Radley left the field in the 50th minute for a HIA. He was deemed a Category 1 and did not return.
- Roosters skipper James Tedesco had 26 runs for 315 metres and broke 13 tackles.
- Roosters prop Lindsay Collins now has seven tries in 104 career games.
- The Roosters have won 11 of their past 13 games against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have conceded 129 points in three games at the new Allianz Stadium.
- Roosters centre Michael Jennings was sent for a HIA in the 79th minute.
- Centre Moses Suli ran for a team high 151 metres for the Dragons.
Dominic Young Try
Play of the Game
After tormenting the Dragons on ANZAC Day with a kicking masterclass, Roosters No.7 Sam Walker was at it again on Sunday, laying on tries for Victor Radley and Angus Crichton with perfectly weighted grubber kicks. The second of those tries came in the 57th minute as the Roosters opened a 12-point gap thanks to Walker's right foot kick and Crichton's committed chase.
Angus Crichton Try
What they Said
"I thought at the 55-minute mark and it was 14-12, we were going toe to toe with them, then a few things went against us, fatigue, lack of execution on our behalf as well. It was disappointing at the back end of the game after we went with them for 55 minutes. We are better than that and we just need to take our medicine today and look at the positives for us and learn a bit from today and move on. I think we have made some good strides [since ANZAC Day] but this is a journey for us. Rome wasn't built in a day. We've taken a step backwards today but we'll just keep punching next week." - Dragons coach Shane Flanagan
Dragons: Round 18
"If you want to do anything in this competition you have to defend well and you have to defend well when you don't have possession. It's OK when you've got 50-50 [possession] but if you're not ready for 45-55 then you won't go far by the end of the year. We had to sustain it and that's a step forward on defence over the last couple of years for us. It was exactly how one of Jared's games should go - it was on the line, he obviously went over it there at one point, but he was going to stay true right to the end. He teaches a lot of us lessons about what is your true nature and your true character and are you going to honour that right through in what you do and it was wonderful to see him play the game in that way." - Roosters coach Trent Robinson
Roosters: Round 18
What's Next
The Roosters have a bye in Round 19 before a showdown with the Storm at AAMI Park in Round 20.
The Dragons travel to Brisbane on Saturday to face the Broncos with both sides weakened by the loss of their Origin stars.
