The Sydney Roosters have continued their perfect start to the NRL Season and claimed the Ron Coote Cup with a dominant 14-point win over a hapless South Sydney Rabbitohs outfit at ANZ Stadium.
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Final score
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6
Sydney Roosters 20
One of rugby league’s oldest and grandest rivalries opens Round 4, when the in-form Sydney Roosters look to heap misery on the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:05pm (AEDT).
The Roosters are all guns blazing to start 2017 as one of only two undefeated teams, alongside the Melbourne Storm.
While they were put under pressure last week by the Penrith Panthers in a somewhat controversial victory, their first two efforts – big wins over the Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs – proved they are a far cry from the 2016 side that missed the top eight.
The Bondi club are strong on paper and they have played like it so far.
Their forwards, led by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner, have been fantastic, while Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce have played off the back of that to guide the side around the park.
Stability is also helping, with coach Trent Robinson making no changes to his side ahead of this week’s clash, although Blake Ferguson is a chance to return from a rib injury and join their in-form outside backs.
As for South Sydney, while they have picked up back-to-back victories coming into this match, neither the Manly Sea Eagles nor Newcastle Knights put up the fight the Roosters will.
What’s more likely is seeing the Rabbitohs team who played in Round 1, getting thumped by the Wests Tigers. Even with Adam Reynolds back on the park, there isn’t a great deal to like about the style of football they have played so far, and they were extremely lucky to get one over Newcastle last weekend.
Add that to their lack of backline depth, and it’s hard to see from where they are going to score – or defend – points.
Souths, who were already without Greg Inglis and Aaron Gray, add Hymel Hunt, Braidon Burns and George Burgess to the sideline on suspension.
That sees Cody Walker move to fullback, Alex Johnston to the wing, John Sutton into the halves, Tom Burgess gain a starting spot in the front row, and Angus Crichton added to the bench.
Prediction
The game isn’t played on paper, but the Bunnies are on struggle street and have no backline depth.
Roosters by 22.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Round 4 opener from 8:05pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I thought that was probably an advantage as well - I think we had one player in The Roar's team of the year that actually ended up in the Dally M team of the year. We may look at revising for next season, but again it takes a lot of effort to get right week after week. If there is a viable solution that isn't going to take so much time, we will look to chase it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks mate - disappointing but fair enough. I thought it was a good feature last year. The Dally M votes, in the absence of a standout performer, seem to default to the same player every week. I thought the Roar votes tended to pick up the good performances of lesser known players.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hi Barry, Sorry - only just saw this. No, we decided against running it. Took a lot of time and effort last year.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Early days but McInnes may be coming into calculations. He's running well, is a great defender, has been kicking well and sparking the Dragons attack. Pearce has potential as a 9 but I'd be hesitant to put someone in Origin wo hasn't played there at club footy. Agree about Bird on the bench. Not only covers pretty much any injury situation but could provide a lot coming on at the end of each half in a Carig Wing sort of role either playing dummy half or playing around the ruck as a lock , second fullback or half.
John
Guest
I'm an advocate for Pierce at 9. Maloney at 7 and Moylan at 6. But Jack Bird needs to be the 14. Utility. He can cover all spine positions, back row and outside backs.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Scott - is there no Roar 3-2-1 this season?
The Barry
Roar Guru
There's not a NSW halfback playing better than Pearce at the moment but how many times have we seen that? Is Pearce never to be selected again or does he get another chance on the grounds of maturity, better player now than five years ago, etc? The other option is Maloney at 7 and Moylan at 6. Worked in game three last year, albeit a dead rubber. I've been against Moylan at 6 until he plays there at club level but he was better at 5/8 last year in origin than he was at 1. Queensland? Cronk, JT, Norman, Milford, Hunt, Morgan, Taylor, DCE...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah - I've been back and forth about the Taumalolo deal - mostly thinking it's a good deal - but that comparison to Gurgess of a couple of years ago is a telling one.
Scott Pryde
Expert
It's scary to think, but it's hard to see Pearce not playing Origin at this point.
John
Guest
That's right I couldn't agree more, we are seeing a totally different input in 2016 and the 1st 4 rounds of 2017 from the Burgii brothers when compared to 2014. I realise it's unrelated but it makes me shake my head at comments on The Roar suggesting that the 10 year contract offerred to Taumalolo by the Cowboys isn't ridiculous. 2 years is a long time in Rugby League. 10 years is an eternity.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bit of a snooze fest. Tough conditions. Roosters were clinical when they needed to be and tough line defence in the second half. Walker always looks dangerous for Souths. The Dogs halves get a caning week after week but are they any less effective than Adam Reynolds at the moment? Well Mbye is, but I'd take JRey over ARey all day. Hate to say it but Pearce has ARey covered by so far at the moment it's not funny...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Interesting about the Burgii. If you were a coach/CEO at a club would you sign either or both of Tom or George. Tigers? What's the key to unlocking how they were playing a couple of seasons ago? They don't seem even interested at the moment let alone the force they were and looked like being two years ago.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep I'm supposed to be umpiring one as well - chances of it look... Well, they look about as good as the Rabbitohs chances of playing finals this year.
Jason Hosken
Guest
I've got a cricket GF this weekend, looks all but washed out to sea.
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
The defence has mainly been the plus point for us in these four games. Last season we might have let Souths back into the game in a situation like this.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Given my tipping so far this year, I thought I'd determined the outcome of the game and that the Rabbitohs were going to win. I don't know - probably the day after cricket season ends (i.e. next Monday)
Zedman
Roar Rookie
The Burgess boys time at the Bunnies is about over. Maguire starting Farah over Cook is not working, if anything it should be the other way around. The Roosters were never troubled and their defence was tight.
Jason Hosken
Guest
Predictable, followed your pre-match script. Oi, do you reckon it will ever stop raining in Sydney...fairdinkum.
Scott Pryde
Expert
A full match report will follow shortly in a separate article. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 NRL Season as the Sydney Roosters recorded a dominant win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs to kick-off Round 4. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back tomorrow evening from 6pm (AEDT) for our live coverage of the Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Statistics Tries: Rabbitohs (1), Roosters (3) Conversions: Rabbitohs (1/1), Roosters (3/3) Penalty goals: Rabbitohs (nil), Roosters (1/1) Possession: Rabbitohs (51%), Roosters (49%) Completions: Rabbitohs (30/40), Roosters (29/37) All runs: Rabbitohs (182), Roosters (165) All run metres: Rabbitohs (1633), Roosters (1446) Line breaks: Rabbitohs (3), Roosters (6) Offloads: Rabbitohs (4), Roosters (11) Tackles: Rabbitohs (334), Roosters (335) Missed tackles: Rabbitohs (25), Roosters (39) Penalties: Rabbitohs (6), Roosters (4) Errors: Rabbitohs (14), Roosters (10) Final score South Sydney Rabbitohs 6 Sydney Roosters 20