What a difference a week makes. The Sydney Roosters, who suffered a disappointing 10-8 season opening loss to the Wests Tigers, bounced back emphatically with a 30-12 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs.
A standout performance from Blake Ferguson, who racked up over 200 metres, helped lead the Roosters dominate display at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Five-eighth Luke Keary, in his return from a broken jaw, opened the scoring for the Tricolours’, backing up a line break from newly recruited fullback James Tedesco.
The Roosters continued to look dangerous and were rewarded five minutes later as Blake Ferguson scored on the right-edge to extend the lead to 10-0.
When Isaac Lui was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul, it seemed the Canterbury side would muster themselves back into the contest with multiple repeat sets on the Roosters’ line.
The Bulldogs would come close, only to be disallowed a try which was called back for an obstruction.
In the 38th minute James Tedesco would surge onto an inside pass from Keary to get his first try for his new club and give the Roosters an 18-0 lead heading into half-time.
Bulldogs fans were right to remain hopeful when five-eighth Matt Frawley broke the Roosters’ defensive line and put through Josh Morris for the Bulldogs’ first points of the night.
The Roosters, however, would quickly extend the lead back to 18 with Cooper Cronk backing up a James Tedesco run to get his first Roosters try since leaving the Melbourne Storm in the off-season.
Bulldogs captain Josh Jackson would keep his club’s hopes alive, crossing the line with 19 minutes left to put the Bulldogs within touching distance at 24-12.
A late try from forward Ryan Matterson put the result beyond doubt, giving the Roosters a convincing 30-12 victory, and leaving the Bulldogs winless after two rounds.
The Bulldogs will next face the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium next Friday night, looking to get their season back on track, while the Roosters will look to keep the momentum going against ex-playmaker Mitchell Pearce’s Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium on Sunday night.
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