The Sydney Roosters have produced a clinical and decisive performance on the sacred turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground to utterly humiliate the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the opening week of the NRL finals.
The final 30-6 score line was an accurate reflection of the general flow of the match, with the Roosters shutting down Damien Cook around the ruck, scaring the heck out of Alex Johnston from go to whoa and allowing Luke Keary to run rampant in his return to the NRL.
When Johnston spilled the first long clearing kick from the Roosters after just a minute of play, there was something ominous in the air. After a quick shift to the right, Joseph Manu did what he will be doing for the next decade and used his power and strength to cross for the opening try of the evening.
Cameron Murray dropped the easiest of passes in the Rabbitohs’ first attacking tirade just moments later and the Roosters returned serve with a professional set that led to dangerous attacking field position. Latrell Mitchell subsequently slotted a penalty goal to confirm a quick start for the tricolours.
James Tedesco and Keary combined down the right edge to send Mitchell Aubusson over the line in the 11th minute and the Chooks were looking well and truly the better team after the dust had settled in the most anticipated of NRL finals.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves took on the Bunnies’ forwards. Without cheap shot merchant Sam Burgess, thanks to his rather pathetic hair pulling incident, and with an underdone brother George returning after an extended period on the pine following a cowardly eye gouge on Tigers hooker Robbie Farah back in June, South Sydney were somewhat impotent through the middle.
Eastern Suburbs took full control when Keary hit Boyd Cordner on the left edge for their third try to extend the lead to 16. Soon after, Sio Siua Taukeiaho pounced on a loose ball in Souths’ in-goal to score their fourth. Mitchell’s conversion extended the lead to 22-0.
The Roosters slapped the Rabbitohs in the face one last time before the break with a brilliant move down the right as Tedesco, Manu and Brett Morris combined to score what was a stunning try.
Alarmingly, Roosters captain Cordner left the field late in the first half with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. However, the 26-0 margin may have played a part in the decision to remove him from the game and not risk further injury.
What words, inspiration or potential changes Wayne Bennett could muster in the sheds during the intermission was anyone’s guess and if there was ever a coach capable of rehabilitating the Rabbitohs after the most underwhelming of starts, it was he.
Perhaps the wily old fox is getting a little long in the tooth.
The Rabbitohs huffed and puffed early in the second half, yet failed to find even a point after a couple of early chances. It didn’t take long for the Roosters to click back into gear and, when Keary sent Mitchell over in the 59th minute after another slick and precise back line play, the Chooks 30-0 lead had the Rabbitohs’ fans heading for the exits and fearing an elimination match in the second week of the finals.
Reynolds scored and converted a try in the 65th minute for the cardinal and myrtle, yet the Roosters remained well and truly in control and proceeded to march through a rather pathetic South Sydney defence for the umpteenth time soon after.
Bizarrely, Tedesco put the ball down for the third time with the try line begging and just ten minutes remaining on the clock. One can only imagine what the final score could have been had the Roosters been perfect in their execution on a night where the Rabbitohs were M.I.A.
The match wound down to something of a disappointing finish with little quality attack playing out over the final 15 minutes, yet it was the Roosters who took the short bus trip home cock-a-hoop.
South Sydney were out-muscled, out-classed and out-enthused, something Bennett will be particularly concerned about as his team enters a knockout final next weekend.
Melbourne will no doubt have been watching closely as their major threat to premiership glory made an emphatic statement against the Rabbitohs.
As for the so called ‘pride of the league’, I cannot see them seriously contending after the trouncing dished out by the Roosters last night.
RYMY
Roar Rookie
I think the appelation pride of league refers to historical achievments not current form Stuart lol
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Utter embarrassment as the ‘pride of the league’ are pummelled by the Roosters... Hang on Stuart! In light of the 58 - 0 obliteration of the Broncos and their utter capitulation don't you think that "utter embarrassment" is a little harsh? Especially as the Rabbitohs didn't roll over and fought back to win the second half 6 - 4? Next week Sam Burgess and Dane Gagai will be back which means the useless pair of Corey Allan and Mark Nicholls will be hooked and the twins Tom and George will have had time to blow out the cobwebs after their lengthy absences from the game. The Roosters are definitely no certainties of getting to the GF in any case having to face the winner of the Melbourne "black belts" and the "white hot" Eels. # Bunnies to Bounce Back! # 2019, the year of no. 22 # 3 wins to go... 1 + 1 + 1 = 22 :laughing:
Billy 68
Roar Rookie
Why wasn't my comment posted about the 'experts' article about last night's game and his unfair personal attacks on Souths individual players. Is this site one where you can't disagree or criticize a article or its tone. Are the author's so precious they don't believe criticism of them should be made public. This is Australia not communist Russia or north Korea. If you are willing to write articles you should be willing to accept criticism.
rden
Roar Rookie
LOL, bunnies "pride of the league", owned by a kiwi that looks like a homeless bum, stacked with poms (as their "leading stars"), coached by a Queenslander (who even after he took the job said he would have preferred to coach the Titans if he couldn't have Broncs), and cheered on by ainchient farts that over too many beers at the RSL still preach that Aussie and NSW pride matters and that's exactly what the bunnies stand for (how, they're almost exact opposite???) Sure, keep them in the league, they have lots of fans **all over Aus**, but [let's change topic and be honest] what actually holds them to Sydney apart from some ugly club rooms? If there was ever a club ripe for relocating it has to be the bunnies, to Perth. (Further would be better, but Perth will suffice.)
Fix the scrums
Guest
What a let down of a game. The Roosters far too good. Crowe should've stayed away.
Paul
Roar Guru
Well Larry it's not stating the obvious as a side could beat the Roosters next game and lose the GF.
Larry1950
Guest
Well Paul, that's stating the obvious since the most games the Roosters have got left is two. If someone beats them in the semi as the Roosters next game, that team plays the GF & is a 50/50 chance of winning a premiership. If the Roosters win their next game they play the GF & naturally if someone beats them that team will win the premiership.
Larry1950
Guest
Eerily reminiscent of the first half of the 2018 GF where the same thing happened to the Storm, both Souths last night & Storm last year were shell shocked & never recovered. Second halves in both matches were irrelevant with the roosters guilty of pushing passes & trying extravagant plays when well on top, Souths were lucky the margin wasn't 50. Roosters supporters will just hope they haven't gone off too early. Wonder coach Bennett has seen his team's in his two most recent finals with the Broncos in 2018 & Rabbitohs last night thoroughly unprepared for the task despite going in as last start winners. The gloss is wearing off on a coach who inexplicably switched his back 3 around, recalled James Roberts and played him on an unfamiliar side of the field and tinkered with a pack that had gone ok 7 days prior. Roosters were always favourites but Rabbitoh big names froze in the headlights early.
Bryan Stevenson
Guest
Wow- talk about dumping on the Rabbits. They turned up but were simply outclassed by a better side. As Gould said in commentary- no one beats them when they play like that. The trick is to replicate which is not so easy. But to say Rabbits didn’t turn out is disrespectful to both sides and smacks of emotional reporting rather than factual analysis.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
As Robbo stated he expected 50 nil and did not get it, No!! I did not enjoy the second half....so the coach certainly is not complacent and I hope he got the message through loud & clear.
RoryStorm
Guest
The Roosters did the same thing to Souths as they did to Melbourne in the first half of last year's GF. Totally outclassed the opposition with incredible "teamwork". That's what a coach wants from his team. No one player being the superstar. The superstar is the "team". JWH smashed the Souths forwards paving the way for the onslaught. Not too sure he should have been playing last night, but he was and didn't he let Souths know right from the kick off and until the coach gave him a lengthy break when the game was well and truly over. MotM in my opinion. Souths missed Burgess who must still be kicking himself for the stupid hair pull last week. I doubt the Bunnies can come back from this.
Walter White
Guest
The only thing between the Roosters and back to back titles is complacency.
Paul
Roar Guru
It helps when you have a squad as good as the Roosters, who have also had relatively few injuries across the past couple of seasons. They can give guys a break, coast at different times of the game or the season, knowing when the put their best team on the paddock, they have another gear they can go to. Scary stuff for the rest of the finalists, IMO.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
:happy: :happy: :stoked: :stoked: :happy: :happy: .... I believe that Robinson was not and I say not impressed... "Play a second half like that against a team like the Storm and they will wipe those smiles off your face"...... The problem he has is keeping the lid on things because they did it so easy ...again ...even after the warning of last week and the Bunnies had no answers...... yes he is a hard task master but so is Bellamy ......
Stuart Thomas
Expert
That was something of a statement and just shows how teams do time their runs these day; planning for the big ones and coasting at different times during the season.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
They were superb Eden. Managed Cook superbly in the first half.
Eden
Roar Rookie
That second try trick play onthe last tackle was special. They ran the blind side on the 4th and had numbers stacked with Souths unaware of the move. A couple other plays thrown together suggest the roosters have more in store for this series
At work
Roar Rookie
I quite like your clear disdain for Souths Stuart, I share similar feelings about this fraud of a club. Great result last night, hopefully Souths are bundled out with two straight losses. One thing though, I was at the game last night and the NRL/SCG obviously forgot it was supposed to be a Roosters home game. Both clubs received equal attention from the colours surrounding the ground, the signage, the club songs playing, everything. What benefit did the Roosters actually get from finishing higher, absolutey nothing.
Paul
Roar Guru
I thought the style of the game was similar to last year's grand final, Stuart. The Roosters played the first half with great intensity & flair, built up a big lead,then coasted after that, doing enough to win the game in a canter. I'd suggest any side that beats them in the next couple of games is going to win the premiership. Otherwise it's theirs for the taking.