Roosters “the best” as they go top of ladder

New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary hailed the Sydney Roosters as the best opposition his team has faced in 2008 after Brad Fittler’s men went top of the NRL ladder with a classy 38-12 victory yesterday.

In-form five-eighth and stand-in skipper Braith Anasta scored a double to reinforce his NSW State of Origin claims as the Roosters ran in seven tries to two, ending the Warriors’ season-long unbeaten streak at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium.

Winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall boosted his chances of a New Zealand call-up for this year’s World Cup as he went one better with three tries.

“They were too good for us,” admitted Cleary.

“They’re a good team with a hell of a lot of talent. They were just playing with confidence and plenty of precision.”

“They are probably the best team we have played this year. I think so. It felt that way, anyway.”

Roosters coach Brad Fittler said it was his team’s best win of the season.

“I just thought it showed we are capable of travelling really well and putting in a good, committed performance,” Fittler said.

“We made a real effort of focusing on dealing with travel … I thought the boys were extremely tough,” he said.

Revved up by a Willie Mason pep talk, the Roosters got off to a flier with three tries in the first 10 minutes, including a Kenny-Dowall double inside six minutes.

Despite missing captain Craig Fitzgibbon and fullback Amos Roberts, the Roosters rarely looked troubled by the Warriors, who were boosted by the return of captain Steve Price after nearly 10 weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Anasta combined well with rising halfback Mitchell Pearce who was in fine form with his kicking game, the source of many Roosters tries this season.

In a sometimes heated clash, Roosters interchange James Aubusson and Warriors centre Brent Tate were both put on report.

Aubusson was ruled to have tackled hooker Nathan Fien high and late, while Tate was alleged to have used an elbow during a heated moment with Anasta.

The Roosters led 20-12 at halftime and Anasta said the Warriors always threatened a comeback.

But any hopes of reeling the visitors in were knocked on the head as the Roosters stacked on another three tries to nil in the final 40 minutes.

“I always worry about the Warriors because they can sort of strike at any time and they have so many big guys with offloads that they can score from anywhere,” Anasta said.

“That is what is a big credit to our guys. We really hung in there and didn’t really give them a good chance,” he said.

The Warriors slumped to 13th on the ladder.

“Our confidence is probably down a little bit and we are not executing as well as we need to,” said Cleary.

“As the game wore on I think we sort of got worse in that area.”