Cooper Cronk has delivered in his first NRL Finals appearance as a Rooster, playing an instrumental role as Sydney defeated the Cronulla Sharks 21-12 to move into a home preliminary final.
The Roosters came out of the blocks strongly at the start of the game, and while there wasn’t much in it, the Roosters found themselves with a six-point lead into the final ten minutes.
Cronk then stepped up, putting a field goal through to confirm the Roosters spot in the preliminary finals.
The Sharks will be frustrated with their performance. They had a stack of opportunities and plenty of time on the opposition line in the final 20 minutes, but simply couldn’t find a way to score, botching a number of tries.
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Sosaia Feki opened the scoring for the Sharks, before Cooper Cronk answered back in the 12th minute.
The Roosters certainly had the better of the first half, but not by much, with both sides locked in an arm-wrestle throughout. There were few stoppages and plenty of end-to-end play, with the game physical, fast-paced and free-flowing.
Joseph Manu would score a try for the Roosters on the stroke of halftime, but Edrick Lee then answered back shortly after the break, keeping the status quo.
That would be where the fun ended for the Sharks though as Latrell Mitchell and Daniel Tupou scored back-to-back tries, sending the Roosters into the lead, from which point they never looked back.
Cronulla had their opportunities dominating the final 20, but couldn’t get over the line and will be back next week.
The victory means the Roosters will now take on the winner of next week’s semi-final between the Rabbitohs, and the winner of the Broncos and Dragons tomorrow afternoon.
The Sharks meanwhile, have to turn around and play again next week, taking on the Penrith Panthers on Friday night.
Sydney Roosters 21
Cronulla Sharks 12
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
More likely another choke on the cards the best bet.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
Sharks bombed 4 tries. Can't wait for Souths to play roosters week 3 with full roster this time. Choke no 5 in row for the sombreros heading Dover Heights way. Chook supporters will be calling for old man cronk to give it away and Robinson will be telling us all they are still on the improve. Lol
Rob
Guest
The Sharks didn't deserve to win because they butchered so many opportunities. The officials are continual watching for opportunities to even the game up. The requirement for keeping the contest close with interpretations is why basic rules don't apply. If you're leading on the scoreboard you need to be squeak clean. The very tough penalty against Scott bundling Walker over the side line followed by the ridiculous forward pass against the Storm on Friday night was board line match fixing. Reviewing both Chase Blair groundings was laughable. Lateral's crusher is equal if not worst than Chambers. Where Chambers had his arms locking the ball Lateral had Dugan around the throat? Lets see the difference in the judiciary assessment. I also remember Maloney receiving a penalty in SOO for being put in a similar position as the Isaac Luke tackle. Today the media are showing it in the highlights for tackle of the year? The Cameron Smith lead Storm are consistently the best in Comp. because they play smarter and execute better than anyone else. The other night Smith coped a finger in the eye whilst attempting to tackle an opposition player. The player who poked him (G. Burgess) was fending Smith in the face but wasn't in possession of the football? Where's the cries of reckless intent when putting it in to context with the supposed intentional chicken wing? A bloke loses his eye sight or someone hurts his shoulder.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Good comments Scott - but I think you've let the Sharks off pretty lightly. They had a number of chances to win this game but choked when it really mattered. Losing Wade Graham really seemed to affect them. And as you point out Moylan doesn't appear to have the ability to seize the key moments and he made a coupe of errors at crucial times. Plus they blew a couple of routine back line moves that would have won them the game. I thought the Sharks were a good chance to win this game given their form leading into it so it was a bit surprising to see them finish so poorly.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah nice one. No one has ever made a pun out of my last name before. Where did you come up with that?
Ja ja klazo
Guest
It's looking more and more likely that Scott will have to swallow his Pryde." Still not convinced" ? I guess I wouldn't be able to see what is plainly obvious if I had the blood circulation cut off to my brain while I was on my routine choke! Keep repeating yourself Scotty boy , chooks are on for the premiership and oh it must hurt.
Hopefully
Guest
The rooster’s played semi final footy....not pretty but they value their line..the other semi’s so far do not show respect for their goal line
Hopefull
Guest
Souff’s fan?
Hopefull
Guest
Dugan the diver is back?
JN
Roar Rookie
salty sharks supporter?
Bill Blazejowski
Roar Rookie
All bar one of the Rooster tries aided by officials. No one knows what Lee was penalised for late in the count. Mitchell initiated contact but Lee gets done for holding on or a high shot? Lewis done for a dominant tackle on Tedesco? Friend deadset knocks on and low and behold Chooks get the rub? Crusher tackles not reported that got Chambers a three week rest? 9-5 count in Chooks favour.
farqueue
Roar Rookie
Remember a few years ago when if you copped a little tap to the face you went down like you were shot... video ref looked at it...you got an easy penalty....they changed the rules that video ref couldn't rule on it instantly... problem solved...now we have the slight neck pressure....stay down...grab your neck ....the refs will nearly always blow a penalty....you don't have to go off for a hia even though if you are really injured it's much worse than playing on slightly concussed... You get the penalty and play straight on...I have no doubt it's being coached that if you get any neck pressure...stay down...ok the Chambers one was deliberate but most others appear to be a complete accident.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The first try to the Sharks was almost bombed as well. Feki was too shallow and was lucky to catch it. Feki was well positioned on the bombed try but the pass was very average. I would have been tempted to take the two on offer when the Sharks were six behind for several reasons and one of those is that it would have taken the field goal out of the equation for Cronk. All well in hindsight they say but I still think it's a good ploy in a close game.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Sharks have played Penrith twice this year and knocked them over twice...this time 12 months ago Penrith were right where they are now,with Tyrone May at 6...pretty sure Gus would define vindication as more than a sideways move costing him an additional $ 2.4 million ..which is how it stands..and in all probability how it will end.
Concerned Observer
Roar Rookie
I’m feeling like I was robbed of the 50 I’ve put on the sharks to win the comp. I am now eagerly awaiting Flanno to present his new list of officiating grievances and JVGO to have every joke sail right past him ???? Great game though.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
WE WAS ROBBED!!!! Forget the dropped balls, knock ons, loose carries and missed tackles. That bloody knock on decision against the Sharks when Friend dropped the ball cold was the defining and only moment in the game that cost us a week off. Bloody Ref's strike again. Enjoy your paper bags boys. Seriously though it was a cracking game, but costly errors cost the boys in the end. You just can't afford that against the Chooks, especially at this time of the year. It was a quality performance by them and hats of, we'll get you in the GF. Up Up, we just have to do it the hard way now. (P.S for the sense of humour deficient amongst the roar crowd, that whole first paragraph is a p**s take).
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Nothing in that game. Sharks never gave it away. The Leutele pass behind Feki was the oh , oh moment . Simple catch and pass goes wrong . With a bit of luck we get a Roosters v Rabbitohs final. I would love that one.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
This will be interesting as I don’t think the Roosters can win their next game without him.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Nah, he shouldn't. It was actually just an accidental head clash. Really, it was the Sharks player's fault for allowing himself to get tackled in the first place. /s
BA Sports
Roar Guru
In the space of a a couple of hours we saw Maloney step up when his team needed him while Moylan came up with a couple of chokes late when the pressure was on. It will be an interesting subplot next week but as it stands, Gould and the Panthers board’s decision seems vindicated.