The Sydney Roosters took a comfortable win over the Parramatta Eels to close out Round 10.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Sydney Roosters 48
Parramatta Eels 10
It’s east versus west and a battle of two elite halves when the Sydney Roosters host the Parramatta Eels. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4pm (AEST).
The showdown between Mitchell Pearce and Corey Norman headlines this match, with each in strong form.
Both would be thinking about Origin – even Norman, with the potential for Johnathan Thurston to be out of the series – but whoever has the better game here, particularly with their short-range kicking, could take their side a long way to victory.
The Roosters come in on the back of some close results. After beating the St George Illawarra Dragons on Anzac Day in extra time, they lost to the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland by a point after seemingly kicking the winning field goal.
But despite the fact they sit fifth, with six wins from their first nine, some of those wins have been scratchy. That’s not a knock on Pearce, but they just haven’t flowed as well as they did during the first fortnight of the season, when Luke Keary was going great guns and they looked like a team of world beaters.
What Trent Robinson’s men can hang their hat on is defence. They have been sensational on the goal-line and that will make life difficult for Parramatta.
The Eels haven’t exactly been poor in defence either, with the sixth best record in the competition, and it’s been the catalyst for them sitting in the top eight at this stage, winning five of nine.
Parra are on a three-game winning streak coming into this one, but the victories against the Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers were unconvincing, while they beat an understrength North Queensland Cowboys.
In saying that, you can only play what’s in front of you and the spine of Clint Gutherson, Will Smith, Corey Norman and Kaysa Pritchard have been sensational.
In team news, Latrell Mitchell is back for the suspended Shaun Kenny-Dowall, while the Eels haven’t made any changes.
Prediction
As long as Keary and Pearce play near their potential, the Roosters will pick up a tough win.
Roosters by 6.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 4pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Done and done. Sorry about that! Talking points was definitely my fault - been a long weekend ha!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Seems that way. Crazy round of footy.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Hey SP with your undoubted pull around these parts can you get your 9 Talking points onto the League thread. Also the Trbojevic and Hayne story too. Seems someone at the Roar is from Adelaide (both rugby's are the same :) )
Emcie
Roar Guru
Well this has been a high scoring round, did everyone forget how to defend after the week off?
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report That'll just about do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Be sure to keep an eye out on site for my Round 10 talking points, which will be up in the next half hour. The Roar will be back with Round 11, kicking off on Thursday night with the Cronulla Sharks taking on the North Queensland Cowboys. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Eels have just a matter of seconds here. Kick from the scrum and Keary will get wrapped up on halfway, ending a 38-point emphatic victory for the Roosters. Keary and Pearce have dominated Parramatta today in a huge victory. Sydney Roosters 48 Parramatta Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - So then, the Roosters won't rack up 50. A shift left off the scrum and Ferguson can't hold a pass that was fired well behind him. Roosters 48 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Roosters working it out of their own end through Waerea Hargreaves, then Ferguson before the forwards trundle out to halfway. A quick shift right now and Manu has it. Pearce bombs, Hoffman knocks on with what was a very tough take. The Roosters then knock on as well and we will go to a scrum with the advantage not played. Roosters 48 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
Agree 100% EJ.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by MICHAEL GORDON Roosters 48 Eels 10
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Crazy to think the Dogs will move into the 8 after this flogging. Eels had a +28 points differential over them heading into this game. That will be most disappointing for Brad Arthur. I suspect PD will play a huge part come September.
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - TRY ROOSTERS, BLAKE FERGUSON The Roosters go straight down the right edge off the scrum, shifting from Pearce to Keary and then Manu for Ferguson who goes with no room to work down the edge. He puts the foot down though, finishing in the corner ahead of Matagi and Radradra. Bunker called in. Ferguson looked to be out on first glance, but he has retained possession and grounded it in the field of play by the smallest of margins. Roosters 48 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Ferguson fields the kick-off and runs onto it down the sideline before Manu takes them into the middle. Watson has the next from dummy half before Taukeiaho runs left and goes short to Gordon who can't quite clear the line. Watson also to the line now linking with Cordner before Keary chips a kick over the top and Radradra knocks it on under all sorts of pressure. Roosters 44 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by MICHAEL GORDON Roosters 44 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - TRY ROOSTERS, JOSEPH MANU Evans with a run through the middle before Tetevano goes into the centre of the park. Pearce to the right with an inside ball for Evans. Now they come left from Watson to Pearce and then Keary who throws the cut out ball for Tupou, but he is trapped on the sideline. Last tackle and the kick goes from Pearce to the opposite corner with Ferguson leaping in to bat it back for Manu who runs over to score in the corner. Roosters 44 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - Auva'a and Hoffman bringing it through the middle now before Alvaro and Brown struggle to get out of their own end, with an offload to Edwards picking up a few extra metres. On the last it's Smith chipping and Mitchell brings it back. Roosters 40 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - Connor Watson onto the park now and he fields the kick-off, handing it away to Tetevano who brings it back. Pearce and Taukeiaho combine for the next play before Evans goes up to halfway attempting to find an offload. Pearce goes short side now for Cordner who cuts inside and on the last, Keary puts the bomb up for the corner. Radradra with a superb take though. Roosters 40 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by MICHAEL GORDON Roosters 40 Eels 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
67' - TRY ROOSTERS, BLAKE FERGUSON Ferguson goes up the middle before Evans clears halfway in a three man tackle. Taukeiaho heads down the right edge almost bouncing off a tackle before Friend goes to Manu down the short side, but Ma'u pulls him down after some superb footwork. On the last now and they continue down the short side with Gordon going to Ferguson scoring what looked like an impossible try in the corner. Bunker called in and they will rule it as a try and the Roosters are rewarded for the short side vision. Roosters 38 Eels 10