The Sydney Roosters escaped a huge scare from the Eels on Satuday night, and remain in the race for the Premiership following a strong second half display at Allianz Stadium.
>>MATCH REPORT: Roosters survive scare against Eels
The Eels took advantage of a poor first half from the Roosters, leading 18-4 at half time thanks to tries to Mannah, Radradra and Morgan.
But the Roosters showed why they’re Premiership contenders, coming back in the second half with tries to young Full-back Tuivasa-Sheck, Aubusson and Waerea-Hargreaves.
Jake Friend then capped off a great second half with a late try to win the match 28-18.
Sydney 28 def. Parramatta 18
The Sydney Roosters – the current in-form side of the competition – come up against the Parramatta Eels tonight in Round 23 of the NRL. Join The Roar from 7.30 (AEST) for live scores and updates.
There’s not too many punters who would risk their money for the Eels tonight – especially against a red-hot Roosters side who haven’t lost in their last eight matches and don’t seem like slowing down with the premiership now within touching distance.
This winning-streak impressively stretches back to when the Roosters were missing key players in Origin, and still they managed to overcome the likes of the Panthers, Dragons, Warriors and Titans.
The Roosters are still without Sam Moa for this one as the forward recovers from a wrist injury, but Mitchell Pearce returns to the starting squad, pushing young star Jackson Hastings back to the bench.
Last week the Parramatta Eels won their first in four weeks against a dismal Penrith outfit. It wasn’t the most attractive game of footy, but it got them the two points and out of the bottom rung where they were dangerously close to the wooden spoon position.
The Eels are theoretically still in the running for a last eight position, though they will need to win tonight to keep the Finals’ hopes alive, which doesn’t look likely.
However, working in their favour, and something that coach Brad Arthur would certainly be analysing in the lead up to the match, is the Roosters’ last two performances, where late surges from the Knights and Bulldogs over the past two weeks made it a much closer score line than what it probably should’ve been.
The Eels will need to find a win tonight without Will Hopoate, who is replaced in the centres by Ryan Morgan. They’ll also have Corey Norman, who made his return in the win last week against the Panthers.
Prediction:
Roosters to ease their way into first or second place, depending on the result between Bronco’s and Dragons on Friday night. 26-4
steve kioumis
Guest
JWH....Never seen him in better form
Muzz
Guest
They still have the best D in the comp conceding only 280 points so it's all relative.
DB
Guest
Leaking points when under sustained pressure is one of the differences between this team and the one that won the competition in 2013. It is a worrying trend when combined with an inability to stay switched on for the full 80 minutes.
DB
Guest
I'm pretty sure Bruce Gyngnell has zero influence on anything these days.
Muzz
Guest
9 game winning streak but who's counting : )
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yes they do. They did it against the dogs two weeks ago. Roosters haven't played a full 80 for a long time. They leak points whenever momentum swings against them. It's definitely a concern for them if they don't get it right before the semis. The positive is they're still winning. Least convincing 8 game winning streak I've ever seen :-)
Muzz
Guest
Individual stats don't win games or comps.There's no stat for when a edge forward decides to straighten the attack followed by a quick play the ball and the momentum that follows. He's still running the suicide lines, drawing 2 and 3 men and affording Maloney,Jennings Tupou, RTS the time and space to shine.
The eye
Guest
talking about with the ball..stat sheet says he's (cordener) made a dismal 2 linebreaks all year..and 4 tries..2 coming in round 1 and nothing for 11 weeks..missing Pearcey putting him into holes.. ditto Guerra,check out his miserable attacking stats...they just dont seem to be running the lines like they used to
Muzz
Guest
Yes Cordner has been huge post Origin and better than 13 imo. Fergo has been a little flat the last couple of games however i don't think we've lost a game that he's played in. Our biggest issue is our right edge D.Fergo has made a number of poor reads resulting in tries.Roosters need SKD back asap.
Muzz
Guest
My bad parrafan. I was looking at the error count on my phone. That's an interesting bit of info on peranara.
Parrafan
Guest
There is nothing wrong with that. The problem is the eels trying to get a quick play the ball the roosters were laying in the tackle and peeling off but not pinged. Morgan gets hit high by a shoulder charge but no penalty play the ball. Mason got 2 weeks for less. Its a cop out and bloody frustrating.
Parrafan
Guest
Muzz roosters won the penalty count. On an interesting note peranara was sacked by eels and didnt play first grade after. Bloke has had a hard on for getting even with the eels ever since.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
You think Cordners been better this year than 13? He's definitely better than last year. I don't watch many roosters games but has Fergo really been that good? He looked pretty average tonight.
Muzz
Guest
Cordner has been huge.Better than 13 I'm sure that if the Roosters were winning by 40+ margins the experts would be telling us they're peaking too soon. LOL BJ - The Eels won the penalty count 10 - 5 and were off side for the majority of the night.
Celtic Bandaid
Guest
How come there wasn't a penalty after Morgan got shoulder charged ? If it wasn't a shoulder charge it was high contact ? If the 2 refs on the ground and those upstairs thought it didn't qualify on either count he then had the ball stolen after the ref said the tackle was completed. They went upstairs had a look and said play it. Seriously it could've been a penalty on all three counts. NRL refs are seriously influenced by TV companies and betting companies either consciously or unconsciously. Friend dropped the ball after a hard legal tackle sooked and got a penalty. Other clubs wouldn't. Saints last night were penalised twice for reason unknown leading up to Brisbanes 2 try. TV money means some clubs receive favourable decisions but seriously Bruce Gyngnell I know you support them but do Easts rate ? They have no juniors and 224 genuine supporters. The rest follow winning trends between them the Swans and the Waratahs.
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
The Roosters haven't impressed me at all in the past few weeks, they got out to big leads against the Knights and Dogs and let both back into the game, they weren't all that crash hot tonight either. Granted, they will probably beat the Broncs next week but there is no stand out side, the Roosters are no better than anyone else.
Benny
Guest
I think people are getting a little too hyped up about this roosters phasing out stuff. They were obviously not switched on in the first half but won the second half 24-0. There is no doubt they had one eye towards next week in the first half and then needed to switch back on. I'm not saying that's a good thing, it's not at all, but I'm just saying that they don't do that in games against better sides.
Rod
Guest
if the refs can find away for the roosters to win the premiership they can do it for sure. But take Maloney out of that side, they are pretty brain dead. Jennings whilst individually good, has no idea how to set up his winger. look the rooster are a decent side , but nothing I have seen from them suggest they are anything special.
The eye
Guest
losing mannah was massive..then terepo..too much,but an outstanding effort nonetheless..have to admit my fear factor of the roosters has gone from 9 to a back with the pack 7..where is the cordener and guerra of '13..fergo got schooled by semi tonite..
DB
Guest
How did that work out for you?