The Roosters toiled hard in the second half but a poor first half ultimately proves costly yet again as they succumb to yet another defeat to the Dragons on Anzac Day.
REPORT: WIDDOP INSPIRES DRAGONS WIN
It has been the story of their season so far. The Dragons played tough footy but their tries were the result of poor Roosters errors. When the Roosters tightened their game up, the Dragons were kept tryless yet again in the second half.
Final score
Dragons 20
Roosters 18
The Sydney Roosters remain rooted to the bottom of the NRL ladder but their form warrants favouritism against the St George Illawarra Dragons in today’s Anzac Day clash. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:00pm AEST.
It has been a difficult season for the Roosters so far with the majority of their defeats coming in matches where the result has been in the balance until the final minutes of the contest.
Heavy defeats to South Sydney and North Queensland have been coupled with close losses to Penrith, Manly, Canberra and New Zealand this season.
Such a form guide suggests that the Roosters are a work in progress, and one has seen enough good play from Sydney in recent weeks to suggest that they have what it takes to secure victory against the Dragons this afternoon.
The Dragons are coming off a good win against the Titans last week but it still doesn’t mask the terrible attacking stats that they have conjured up again this season.
The Red V remain the worst attacking team in the competition and they don’t seem to know how to develop a clinical edge to their play with the football.
The saving grace for St George Illawarra however remains their forward pack. The Dragons are a tough team and are no strangers to winning an arm wrestle and that is exactly what they will look to do against the Roosters today.
Sydney though are improving as a team despite their position on the ladder. The form of young fullback Latrell Mitchell has been a shining light in the Roosters campaign so far this year. His double against the Panthers last week proves that he has the talent required to become a player worthy of the comparisons between him and Greg Inglis.
If Mitchell can continue to improve his game today, the Roosters possess the points in them to secure their second win of the season against the Dragons.
Roosters by 14
Mark Hutchinson
Guest
Didn't you get the judgement call wrong of 14 points for the Roosters to win. Had the two tries by the Roosters been disallowed which they should have been then it would have been Saints by 14. So much for Das Bunker.
Pam my L
Guest
Mr Robinson might need to look at that second try by the roosters again before he criticizes the refs for being biased.... ..blind freddywould have noticed that the pass leading up to it was forward. .......oh and that is illegal to almost knock someone's block off........Robinson definitely did his block
Pam
Guest
Mr Robinson might need to look at that second try by the roosters again before he criticizes the refs for being biased.... ..blind freddywould have noticed that the pass leading up to it was forward. .......oh and that is illegal to almost knock someone's block off........Robinson definitely did his own block. ....The crooks got was Cummins to them
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Come on Emcie - Dragons are now 9th and have a very impressive 79 points to show for their attacking efforts! Clubs like the Cowboys with 231 in attack are just showing off. ;)
joister
Guest
Robbo ... mate ... i'm a chooks supporter but your post press conference was a bit embarrassing at times - if you are going to have a go at the ref's then be balanced about it - we were fortunate with some calls as well stay focused on what was questionable which i believe were the bunker calls and the feigning for penalties - we played poor footy with too many mistakes although our second half was better good call on backing up your players ... i.e.a captain should be able to talk to a ref and ask a question ... well at least i thought they should (not for every call but at least for the big one's that are questionable)
Oculus Rift
Guest
But he wasn't the one getting all personal...........
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Run out of lavender Muzz ;)
Muzz
Guest
No mate. Thurston get's smashed every week and get's straight back up and tears the opposition a new one. That's why he's a champion and admired. I lost all respect for Mary today! He states how important ANZAC Day is then instructs his players to roll around like Maradona to gain an unsportman like advantage. Apparently soccer players are sent off these days for feigning yet we reward this type of embarrassing sh ite
Scott Pryde
Expert
Haha have you listened to yourself buddy? Mate, I don't know if you realised, but I left over 500 comments on various blogs this weekend - analysing other teams properly and calling games without being biased or one-eyed. All I said was the Roosters first two tries were not legitimate tries, which is 100% correct.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Haha please Muzz. Every team does it.
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
It'd be good if you could take a hike Scott. You are the most one eyed bloke on here.
SpongeBob
Guest
The Dragons problem is pretty clear. It's not they can't score, it's just they don't get to play last place enough.
Muzz
Guest
The Dragons brand of footy is just dire. A bunch of boring ballerinas! Then there's the feigning for penalties. D isgraceful.
John Cooper
Roar Rookie
Refereeing right off tonight. Thought ref mistakes let Roosters into the game but having said that Roosters toiled hard. Forward passes and off side play shocking not to be picked up.
Daveski
Guest
Agree Alex, Napas shoulder def made contact with Milne above his shoulders, then he richoted into Cordner's melon. A very sick look for the game all be it accidental. Gould and Sterlo were carrying on but they like Mr Nicolea here are dinosaurs. Twenty years ago - Carrol v Harragon, we loved it. Now we know better. Vision like that is why both rugby codes along with nfl need to really assess themselves or just like the dinosaurs they as we know them will also be gone.
Jao
Roar Rookie
Is it just me or are the ref's penalising any tackle that appears high or hard. I always thought league was the hard man's game...
craig swanson
Guest
Please Doust or is it Gordon..buy us a quality half.
steveng
Roar Rookie
spot on 'Hastings' has got to do allot of homework of how a 1/2 should play his kicking was hopeless and his general play was holding the roosters up. I thought that he was one of the main offenders why the Roosters didn't win tonight including your fullback who made some very elementary mistakes and dropped the ball consistently. I thought the Rabbitohs were bad but the Roosters come very close to them lol
joister
Guest
yep
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Well they were both questionable decisions Friend's pass was clearly forward. But doesn't that just prove that the ref was horrible today? Got decisions wrong for both sides.