The Sydney Roosters will look to continue their impressive start to the new NRL season when they play their first home game against the Canterbury Bulldogs who need to press the ignition button. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEDT).
The Roosters opened the season with a trip to the Gold Coast to take on Jarryd Hayne and the Titans, coming away with a big win.
Scoring 32 in the first round is no easy feat, but the Roosters looked like a well-oiled machine. Mitchell Pearce led from the front and Latrell Mitchell had a strong game, while their forwards dominated.
Maybe the only problem for the Bondi-based club was the fact they let in three tries and took their foot off the pedal at the end.
Canterbury, on the other hand, played their season opener at Belmore in terrible conditions, and went down by six in a low-scoring game.
What was particularly worrying for their fans was that they started the match with very little energy and found themselves on the back foot.
While the Dogs got into the game after a few physical altercations at the back end of the first half, they never found more than one try and couldn’t recover from their weak opening ten mintues against a relentless Melbourne.
The Bulldogs must come out of the gates a lot stronger this week. Let the Roosters get in front and it’s going to be difficult to recover, especially with an attack that didn’t look like it was clicking last week.
There is little in the way of team news, with Isaac Liu the only one across the two sides who won’t be playing from Round 1.
The key issue here will be whether Canterbury can fire in attack. There was a lack of execution against Melbourne, which could be excused because of the weather, but if they can’t pick it up this week, serious questions must be asked.
Prediction
The Bulldogs will fight but won’t get anywhere near the Roosters during the second half.
Roosters by 14.
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Alex L
Roar Rookie
They had one, his shoulder got injured 10 minutes in...
Memphis
Guest
Did you watch the game - to Reynolds and for pearce being offside which they normally let go and the forward pass for the Last try. You are keen on stats - look at the number of second half comebacks in Big C games - the bookies are aware of it so you should be..
Memphis
Guest
All the decisions went Bulldogs from 50 mins - the great second half comeback as orchestrated by the Big C The Barry - ru from NRL central or the referees - you seem to go overboard in reply in your reaction to criticism.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Dogs will come good, they showed that they are not a pushover and that they have allot of heart last night and with a bit of luck they would have toppled this overrated Chocks side. My prediction with Keary is, he's going Ok now (just like he did at Souths) but, Robinson is starting to have a whinge about Keary, he's particularly upset with his poor defensive reads throughout the game, that was Keary's go at Souths. All this will wear off with Keary and the way that I see it, he will end up just like he was at Souths.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Yes , I think they are installing machines in every Victorian kindergarten that can perform such a procedure.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its not that drastic, but these days that could happen very easily just like it should have happened for the Dogs. lol
Mushi
Guest
There was apparently a brawl in the stands mentioned on the ch9 coverage (according to the smh) one person arrested I think
Oingo Boingo
Guest
And if ya Aunty had a diiick she'd be your uncle .
steveng
Roar Rookie
If the Dogs had a good goal kicker they would have won.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Who mentioned crowd trouble?
Oingo Boingo
Guest
At a Bulldogs game ,,,,noooo?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Napa crowding the play the ball. Called Bulldogs knock on, then Roosters penalty. Decisions go both ways.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Roosters first try, Keary caught the ball on the inside of the decoy runner and ran around behind him and offloaded to Cordner. By the letter of the law it should have been a shepherd / obstruction. Swings and roundabouts.
The Barry
Roar Guru
What were the two penalties?
Rocky J Squirrel
Guest
They mentioned crowd trouble during the second half cannot see any reports on this?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Barry! Thanks for the comments - makes the blog enjoyable with extra insight from you good people.
jamesb
Guest
I think he is yeah. ?
The Barry
Roar Guru
As good as Keary's playing, I don't think they would be. Whatever went wrong there wasn't working for either party. Good luck to Keary, he's copped a lot of serves over the last couple of years. He's a blue right? ???
jamesb
Guest
Good game of footy. Really enjoyed it. Good to see Keary having an impact at his new club. Are South's regretting the decision to let him go?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott...good fun everyone. Congrats Dutski. Time to check SC scores...