Despite the added significance of playing in front of over 28,000 fans at the SFS on Anzac Day, the Sydney Roosters once again failed to live up to the occasion, surrendering to a Dragons unit that applied the necessary pressure to grind out a 29-0 victory.
Wayne Bennett’s men never looked back after Brett Morris scored inside the opening two minutes to literally set the trend of what was to come for the rest of the match.
On the back of a brilliant performance from half Jamie Soward, the Dragons played enthusiastic football that was made possible thanks to fast play the balls, and strong go forward.
Indeed the return of big men Michael Weyman, Neville Costigan and Jeremy Smith from suspension and injury, proved the key difference in destabilising a Roosters side that were bereft of ideas in attack and structure in defence.
Although Roosters half Mitchell Pearce defied a badly swollen face to play for the Roosters yesterday, his presence did little to inspire the necessary offensive to dent a Dragons defence that was rarely troubled.
Key Roosters forwards Willie Mason, Mark O’Meley, Nate Myles and Craig Fitzgibbon failed to get over the advantage line at any stage of the game, and this ultimately proved the sides downfall.
As the Dragons tightened up in the middle of the park, the Roosters were forced to play sideways with no success.
Dragons centres Matt Cooper and Beau Scott did not provide any opportunities, as they went about strangling the Roosters out of the contest.
Whilst it was only 9-0 at halftime, the Dragons had won enough battles in the first half, to claim this Anzac war.
Despite numerous opportunities on the Dragons goal line in the second half, the Roosters were bullied when in possession, unable to fool a defence that never looked like conceding a point.
Indeed defence wins big games and the Dragons performed adequately without the ball in hand to eventually lay the platform for their late scoring spree.
Soward took control in the second half, scoring a try that was made possible after Cooper intercepted a Pearce pass, to kill off the contest.
The former Roosters half then intercepted a Pearce chip kick, to run 90 metres and score his second try to add the deserved gloss in what was a terrific afternoon for the young half.
Jason Nightingale then added to what was a terrible Anzac Day for the Roosters, who have now lost three of the past four Anzac Day matches.
As the Dragons consolidate their position at the summit of the NRL ladder, the Roosters already find themselves on life support at the rear end of the table.
It is very rare to see teams come back from such a poor start to a season and go on and make the finals.
The Dragons managed to get themselves up in the corresponding Anzac Day game last year to upset the Roosters, and revive what looked like an ailing season.
But if the Roosters can’t get themselves up to play their best football on such an important day, then 2009 will easily become a season not worth remembering.
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