Roosters down gallant Eels in NRL

The Sydney Roosters ensured there will be no reprieve to the dramas at Parramatta, defeating the Eels 38-24 in their NRL clash on Friday night.

Just 48 hours after news broke that a dozen players weren’t wanted next season, Eels fans in the crowd of 12,135 at Parramatta Stadium were edgy over their side’s response.

They didn’t lack energy or aggression, led briefly in the first half and went up a gear midway through the second period after a brawl and a Chris Sandow rib-rattler minutes later.

But trailing 26-24 after backrower Peni Terepo brushed off four defenders for a 71st-minute try, late four-pointers to Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello and centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall sealed victory.

To sour the defeat further, Eels co-captain Jarryd Hayne – who started from the bench following NSW’s State of Origin win on Wednesday night – limped off with 10 minutes remaining with a hamstring injury.

Big winger Daniel Tupou scored the first and last tries of an entertaining first half to help the Roosters head to halftime with a 24-12 lead.

The Eels got in front in the 18th minute when Jake Mullaney, who replaced Hayne at fullback, put a massive palm on Minichiello to touch down.

Eels winger Ken Sio dived over in the left-hand corner in the 14th minute after good lead-up work from Mullaney and centre Jacob Loko.

Tupou’s second try in the 33rd minute was awarded amid loud protestations from the crowd after Roosters centre Michael Jennings pulled back Eels debutant Brayden Wiliame as he attempted to reel in the lanky winger.

Prop Martin Kennedy and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck also grabbed four-pointers for the Roosters, who have won six out of their past eight clashes against the Eels.

The fall-out from the player clean-out is set to drag on at the Eels and their latest loss comes following a last-start 38-point hiding from the Gold Coast Titans, leaving them sitting second-last on the ladder.

Roosters backrower Sonny Bill Williams was placed on report for a high shot on Eels forward Matt Ryan, who was also at the centre of the brawl after some push-and-shove with Boyd Cordner.

Eels coach Ricky Stuart was happy with the efforts of his players but admitted the past two days had taken its toll on him.

“It’s not something you enjoy doing,” said Stuart.

“There’s never any credit or positive vibe out of it. They are all decent young men. I hope they can move on and find a structure and roster around them that they can fit into and play well because they’ve all got some type of ability.

“Just at the moment I don’t have a roster to suit certain players and that’s the job of a coach.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson paid tribute to the way the Eels fought back.

“We played well enough to win but we certainly won’t be walking away happy,” said Robinson.

“Parramatta played some footy and tested us and we didn’t hold them for a long enough period for our standards.”