The Sydney Roosters have put in a dominating performance this afternoon at Allianz Stadium against a very sloppy New Zealand Warriors outfit who were held to zero in a 24-point win for the Sydney based club.
>>MATCH REPORT: No SKD no problem for Roosters
The Roosters dominated the game from about the 20th minute onwards as the Warriors dropped the ball far too much and really the game was all over about 5 minutes after half time. The Warriors were never truly in it against a Roosters defensive line that has continued its incredible run of late.
The Roosters were way too strong, picking up the two competition points and cementing their place in the top four.
Sydney 24 def. New Zealand 0
Two teams who both sit in the top four and are in great form will clash on Sunday afternoon in Round 19 when the Sydney Roosters face off with the New Zealand Warriors from Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of this match from 1:45pm (AEST)
These teams squared off just a couple of weeks ago in Auckland and what an epic encounter that was as the Roosters scored a last minute try to win the game by four points.
Both teams currently sit inside the NRL’s top four and have been outstanding in recent times.
The Roosters sit one place ahead of the Roosters in third and have been as expected by most at the start of the season playing high quality football. They currently have won four matches in a row and are on a real roll at the moment, last week dominating the Penrith Panthers.
The Warriors have certainly been on the up in recent times after an inconsistent and shaky sort of start to the season. Winning five of their last seven and playing a lot more confident football on the back of an in form Shaun Johnson. A tough road trip this week will test them out but when they last played they beat the Storm by 14 points in a solid performance.
In team news the Roosters will be able to welcome back Aiden Guerra who will play lock for the tri colours which pushes Isaac Liu back to the interchange bench. Jackson Hastings will also drop back to 18th man on the five man Roosters bench.
The Warriors meanwhile only have a single positional change for this match with Jacob Lillyman and Albert Vete switching between the starting side and the interchange bench.
The key battle here looks to be in the halves. The Roosters will have to have a solid kicking game and win the battle of possession if they are going to win this game. Long kicks and a controlled game plan will be the way forward for them, as if the Warriors start any of their sets with a solid field possession, they almost always look like they could produce some sort of outrageous try.
This simple fact alone makes Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend the most pivotal players for the Warriors. They will need to stay calm, cool and collected against a Roosters side that will try to grind them out of the contest however their kicking game will be just as important as will creativity getting out of their own end.
Prediction:
This is set to be an absolute cracker of a game. Two in form sides with contradicting play styles ought to create one of the games of the season. It will be close, but I think the Warriors will just edge the Roosters out in the closing minutes with Shaun Johnson proving unstoppable.
Warriors by 2.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of this Round 19 clash from 1:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along with the action.
stu
Guest
I agree. No matter what happens throughout the season you should only be judged on how you perform with an under strength team away to the best team in the comp.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon for The Roar's live coverage of the 2015 NRL Season. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage as the Roosters proved too strong for the New Zealand Warriors. Remember to hang around for Riley Pettigrew's live coverage of the Broncos and the Tigers right here on The Roar. Link is below http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/07/19/brisbane-broncos-vs-wests-tigers-nrl-live-scores-blog/ I'll be back next weekend for more coverage of the NRL. Until then, Enjoy the rest of your afternoon!
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME: Sydney Roosters 24 New Zealand Warriors 0 The Sydney Roosters have put in a dominating performance this afternoon at Allianz Stadium against a very sloppy New Zealand Warriors outfit who were held to zero in a 24 point win for the Sydney based club. The Roosters dominated the game from about the 20th minute onwards as the Warriors dropped the ball far to much and really the game was all over about 5 minutes after half time. The Warriors were never truly in it against a Roosters defensive line that has continued its incredible run of late. There wasn't much, if anything really to like about the Warriors performance today. A couple of players stood out at various times and Sam Tomkins was by far their best on ground at the back. They go themselves back into the game a fraction in the middle of the second half however were never close on the scoreboard. Nathan Friend also provided plenty of spark in the last 20 minutes out of dummy half. The Roosters dominated physically and then their halves in James Maloney who was the man of the match and Mitchell Pearce were able to dominate as a result, their wingers and centres the benefactors of that making countless long runs and making big line breaks. Blake Ferguson was among the best on ground scoring a try and never putting a foot wrong. After a scoreless first quarter of the game in which both teams made plenty of errors, the Roosters put the foot down making the most of penalties and errors from the Warriors to put on three quick converted tries before the halftime break. Scoring kicked off in the 22nd minute with a try to Aiden Guerra after a penalty given away by the Warriors and a drift across the line by Jake Friend before he rolled one in behind the line. Guerra read it perfectly and was able to score next to the posts. In the very next set the Roosters were able to march all the way down the field and, after yet another penalty Mitchell Pearce was able to drift across the line and throw a long ball to Blake Ferguson early in the tackle count who got on the outside of Solomone Kata, scoring through plenty of cover defence in a powerful effort. The final try of the first half came in the 32nd minute, with a bomb coming through James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa Sheck flying into the air to snatch the bomb out of the grasp of Sam Tomkins and score under the posts. At half time the Sydney Roosters were in front 18-0. After the break it was clear the Warriors would have to be next to score and after having the Roosters under some slight pressure they made a mistake and the Roosters ran almost the length of the field with a long ball to Jennings, who found Tupou and then came inside to Maloney who managed to score. That proved to be the end of the scoring and the Warriors managed to muscle their way back into the contest for a period of time but a lack of execution and a strong Roosters defensive line meant they couldn't convert any of the opportunities into points. The Roosters also had their fair share of chances in the last half an hour and the Warriors will be happy to have held them out. In the last five minutes both teams were looking to offload and find points, however mistakes riddled the end of the game. Next weekend, the Roosters will take on the Wests Tigers on Friday night and the Warriors will travel back to New Zealand to play a very important home game against the Manly Sea Eagles, one where they will desperately need to pick up the two points. The Roosters though, way too strong today, picking up the two competition points and cementing their place in the top four.
Scott Pryde
Expert
While I get the match report together, be sure to check out Riley Pettigrew's coverage of the other Sunday afternoon game between the Brisbane Broncos and the Wests Tigers right here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/07/19/brisbane-broncos-vs-wests-tigers-nrl-live-scores-blog/
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full match report to follow. Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Man of the Match is JAMES MALONEY
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Johnson comes right off the scrum, passes to Mannering and he offloads back to Johnson who is taken and now that really will be that. Great performance by the Roosters today. FULLTIME: SYDNEY ROOSTERS 24 defeat NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Warriors have packed the scrum with 7 seconds to go. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - The Roosters come to the right and Ferguson gets on the outside of Kata but he recovers well and makes the tackle. Jennings goes back over half way as they come down the left and now Moa drops it. 20 seconds to go and that should be that. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Warriors trying to spread the ball around but the Roosters defence holds solid. Now another offload and Havili is able to make some metres. Matulino brings it over half way who offloads to Tomkins and then he goes to Mannering who gets pulled down. Johnson runs to the right and bombs. Sheck takes it looks for a way through, cant find one so he passes to Jennings who offloads and then Maloney goes through. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Roosters now come to the left and Ferguson goes through but is pulled down in a last ditch attempt. The Roosters spread to the left and Jennings goes through before linking with Tupou. They spread back to the right and then on the last Pearce goes back to the middle before kicking back to the right where he had no chasers. Poor kick. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Odd decision to take the quick tap here from the Warriors as they work it inside the 20 on the first 2 plays. Johnson spreads to the right where he finds Lolohea who comes back infield and finds Tomkins who is tackled. They come to the left before Townsend grubbers through, the ball bounces off a couple of players and it has been ruled a Warriors knock on. Lillyman was the man who almost managed to score as well. Alas he didn't and the Warriors still have nothing to their name. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
steveng
Roar Rookie
Here's another scrum that waisted 40 seconds, it might be a blessing for the Warriors but its really ridiculous that every kick to the sideline waists so much time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Warriors looking to spread the ball fro inside their own half but not a lot happening for them early in the set as they come up to halfway. Then Johnson goes short to Mannering who goes over half way and they appeal for 6 again but it wont matter because they get a penalty on the next play. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Roosters come to the left and almost burst through before a settling play in the middle. Now they come right as Maloney links with Pearce and he comes up to the half way line. An offload over half way now and Jenings is taken. A kick goes up on the last for the sideline from Pearce and it rolls over the sideline. Solid set from the Roosters as they look to close this match out now. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - The Warriors are going no where fast until Lousi gets into a monster tackle and then gets an offload to Friend who takes off up towards the half way line. They come over the half way line before the kick comes down field and Tupou will bring it out of the in goal area. Now a bad kick there. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - The Roosters work it up the middle before Maloney tries an offload from about 20 metres out and the Warriors come up with it. Now they lose it themselves before the Roosters work it back within 10 through Pearce. Maloney kicks across the field and Ferguson flies but Wright comes up with it. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - The Warriors struggle greatly in this set before the kick comes from inside the 30 and the Roosters bring it back over half way. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
69' - So off the scrum it is Jennings who has the first run before Hastings in dummy half goes to Napa and he almost loses the ball looking for an offload but he will somehow hold on. They come to the right and Ferguson looks for a an offload but Elliott mops up the poor pass. Back to the middle now and they come left from Pearce to Maloney who is tackled on the left. They come left on the last and Jennings chips over the top but Lolohea comes up with it. Roosters 24 Warriors 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - Pearce has a bit of a gash under the eye and the Roosters come to the right and Ferguson goes back inside to Sheck but he is pulled down. Back to the middle once again or a settling play before they try a play to the left and Jennings has put it down. Called that the first knock on was by the Warriors though so the Roosters will have the feed 10 out. Roosters 24 Warriors 0