Early last month, the Sydney Roosters showed the Brisbane Broncos just who was boss in a 36-4 beatdown at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Round 4.
Led by centre Latrell Mitchell, dubbed the best player in the NRL at the moment, the reigning premiers exposed the gulf between themselves and the other contenders for the premiership with a ruthless display that made the rest of the competition take notice.
It is proof enough that the Roosters have only got better and better since their grand final win last year, and that they are seriously intent on defending their title, something that hasn’t been done in a quarter of a century.
It was the third win of an ongoing eight-match winning streak which they will take going into Friday night’s rematch against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, which will be the Chooks’ second consecutive match at the venue following Magic Round last week.
They had also been impressive in wins over the Sea Eagles, Eels, Sharks, Storm, Dragons and Wests Tigers, against whom Mitchell outscored the entire opposition side with three tries (including his 50th career try) and seven goals for a personal haul of 26 points, as opposed to the 12 the Tigers managed for the whole match.
Latrell Mitchell of the Roosters (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Trent Robinson’s side faced a far more sterner Test against the Canberra Raiders last Sunday; they led 30-6 halfway through the second half before allowing in three late tries, and nearly having a fourth scored against them as the clock ticked towards full-time.
But the Raiders would have a try knocked back in the final minute, allowing the Chooks to hang on by 30-24 with captain Boyd Cordner saying afterwards the team wasn’t happy with the way they finished the match.
The poor finish to last week aside, the only other downside for the reigning premiers has been a serious bicep injury suffered by the other co-captain, Jake Friend, on Anzac Day which has all but ended his hopes of debuting for Queensland in this year’s State of Origin series.
Against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium this Friday night, they’ll want to be switched on.
After a poor start to the season, Anthony Seibold’s side has lifted in the past three weeks, defeating the Sharks and Sea Eagles, both at home, on either side of a heavy loss to the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium in Round 8.
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Seibold swung the axe following the defeat to the Bunnies by dropping James Roberts and Jamayne Isaako to reserve grade, and it seemed his actions spoke louder than words as his side registered just their third win of the season against the Silvertails.
They will be aiming for consecutive wins for the first time this season when they face the Roosters, who as mentioned at the top of this article walloped them by 36-4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Round 4.
That night, the Broncos made over 50 missed tackles as they struggled to adapt to the coaching style of Seibold, who’d taken the Rabbitohs to a preliminary final in his only season at Red Hill last year.
That result aside, the Broncos had won four of their previous six against the men from Bondi Junction, including both times last year.
Six weeks on, the side will have well and truly learnt from that defeat and it has them primed for revenge against the premiers, who will be shooting for their ninth consecutive win this Friday night.
After being dropped to reserve grade, one of Roberts or Isaako may earn a re-promotion to the side after Jack Bird suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Sea Eagles last Friday night.
The return of Roberts could see him match up on Roosters superstar Latrell Mitchell before the pair possibly become teammates for New South Wales ahead of the start of next month’s State of Origin campaign.
But whether Roberts, who had reportedly fallen out of favour with Seibold at Red Hill and had been linked with a move to the Rabbitohs before that suggestion was shut down by their coach, Wayne Bennett, is selected by Blues coach Brad Fittler will remain to be seen.
What will matter for the Broncos this Friday night is continuing to breathe life back into their stuttering season, and an upset win against the Chooks, who are undefeated since Round 1, could go a long way towards restoring some confidence into the team going forward.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Better team against injury crippled opposition
Ben Kerrison
Guest
Even with the injury worries , the Roosters will still win ( 10+ margin )
Ben Kerrison
Guest
Souths are capable of beating both the Storm and the Roosters make no mistake about it , but whether they do or not when it counts at the end of the year, is yet to be seen.
Nat
Roar Guru
So your team has beaten the bottom half of the table and Reynolds managed to kick a few goals. I say a few because at 76% (or 24th on the list, behind both Mitchell and Smith) he's lucky you guys have had the rails run so far. As for Walkers 10 tries, great effort against the reserves but how's Oates form? He's on 9 tries and leading the lines breaks in 3 wins so far. This easy run you've been given will get you into the finals but it will get tougher closer to the finals and unless they have another gear, which I doubt, where they finish will be up for debate. Hate to see Cook do a knee or Souths could be Cook'd.
Nat
Roar Guru
A, Souths are not in the same league as Melbourne or Roosters. You met in Round 1, they've improved greatly. The Rabbitohs - not so much. B, I would be embarrassed if I was in your situation. The 8 pts differential you're so proud of came off the back of Dogs, Titans, Warriors, Panthers, Broncos and Cowboys plus beaten by Manly. Congratulations on beating the bottom half of the table. If the Roosters, or even Broncos for that matter, has Souths early season draw their F&A would be far greater.
Nat
Roar Guru
In fairness, the Falcons are the Melbourne feeder club and that team had Curtis Scott, Justin Olam, Sandor Earl (so we probably should test after a win like that), Joe Stimson and Cooper Johns. Not that the Magpies are devoid of NRL quality but that was a rampage. As far as the quality of the competition: 2019 Residents game 42 - 22. Guess who?
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"The Roosters are the benchmark" Hey Nat, how's this for a benchmark? Rabbitohs Stat Attack: Cody Walker is the competition's leading try-scorer (10), while Adam Reynolds is the top goal-kicker (39) and Damien Cook has the most dummy-half runs (83). As a team the Rabbitohs lead the NRL in line engaged (210), line breaks (41), supports (1,195), runs (1,686) and run metres (15,082) https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/05/14/raiders-v-rabbitohs-round-10-preview/ Additionally, Souths are the ONLY team (including the Storm) to have beaten the Roosters this year. So benchmark that! ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"ISP last Sunday, Falcons v Magpies 72 – 4" Sounds like the QLD ISP is a quality competition Nat. Rellum, I told you there was only one Souths and one Magpies. ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
On the bright side Nat, this is the one time this year I'll be cheering for the Broncos (but NOT for Seibold). ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
And Latrell Mitchell. Currently Mitchell has been more dominant in games than the other 3 combined, and I know, that is BIG statement.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"The Roosters are the benchmark" Rabbitohs 38 Broncos 6 Roosters 36 Broncos 4 Both 32 point victories and only 8 points differential between the two sides at the top of the ladder on the same competition points AND the Rabbitohs are the ONLY team (including the Storm) to have beaten the Roosters this year. Come on Nat, aren't you be just a little disingenuous with that comment? ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
I have only ever seen players with the quality and experience of Boyd play that badly if they were either injured or disinterested and wanted out of the club. Another former Bronco comes to mind, Chris Walker, who joined Souths and then changed his mind when the Roosters declared an interest in him. I remember a trial games against the Tigers at Central Coast Stadium. He was playing on the wing and insisted on standing close to Owen Craigie that they could have shaken hands. After the Tigers kept attacking Souths left edge defence and ran in at least two tries on the outside of Walker, who never moved once to defend his wing, Walker was replaced and released soon after and he signed with the Roosters. The point being, if Boyd wants out let him go, Issako or Milford would do a better job at FB in aby case. Either that or force Boyd to play by giving him a new challenge and greater involvement by swapping Milford and Boyd and playing Boyd at 5/8. The Broncos could hardly do worse.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Fully agree John, don't get me wrong, how I wish the Broncs will beat the Chooks but and as you have said, they have only beaten very ordinary and massively injury inflicted sides. Last weeks game, was no barometer for anything, as Manly were a massively depleted side and it became a joke there at the end!
Neel
Roar Guru
I’d tip the Chooks to win but it should be a cracker of a game.
Larry1950
Guest
Look, I'm a Broncs man but they're a long way off being a threat to any team with a bit of quality. Turpin gave away 4 penalties in the first half & but for some poor execution by Manly, they could have been down 18-0 after half an hour. Looked good when they put it together against a side with inexperienced forwards in the backline & an injured fatigued team but they have been belted by Souths and Easts recently when it counted. I reckon it's 2020 for them with a bit of experience added somewhere.
Shane
Guest
If Keary, Tedesco and Cronk pull on a jersey this game picks itself.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Let's summarise the Broncos 3 "wins". COWBOYS: Taumololo was main threat & was "mysteriously put out of action early. CRONULA: Sharks went into game understrength & lost Fifita & a couple of others early. MANLY: No Cherry Evans, Tom Turbo & lost others during game. Never before has Wayne Bennett smiled as much.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ummm, no they're not you are! That's all I got :(
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
Tell him to use some basic punctuation and his post may be decipherable.
Nat
Roar Guru
I didn't see the 2nd half of Melbourne/Parra game, I read the final score on Sunday with a WTF happened there. If you're from Noosa, did you catch the ISP last Sunday, Falcons v Magpies 72 - 4? I found something else to do at half time as well. That said, I think the fact there were some high scoring games on the weekend kept the crowd into it. Aside from the Broncos game, the crowd was pretty bipartisan and appreciative of exciting footy. It added to the carnival atmosphere of the event.