NRL News
Sydney Roosters big names hit straps in victory over Parramatta Eels
The Roosters have held off a determined Eels’ side to win a highly entertaining affair 30-22 at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.
The game went down to the wire, but in the end it was the Roosters who held their nerve to score two late tries for their second win on the trot and the opportunity to take plenty of confidence into their Round 1 clash with Souths.
Anasta was the guiding light on the night putting in one his best performances in Roosters’ colours. Tupou, Nutley, Brown and Tonga were the pick of the forwards as the new look Roosters took home a well deserved victory in front of an appreciative Gosford crowd.
It was the Roosters who were on the board first when Monaghan took an intercept from deep inside his own half to sprint 80 metres for a great try. Fitzgibbon made the conversion and the Roosters led 6-0 after 10 minutes.
The Roosters looked to be in control, but the sin binning of Captain Craig Fitzgibbon in the 16th minute changed the momentum of the game with the Eels taking full advantage when Wagon crashed over.
Luke Burt converted and the Eels locked it up at 6 all after 23 minutes.
Anasta, controlling the game well, was instrumental in the 30th minute when he combined with Minichiello to put rookie Shaun Kenny-Dowall over in the corner for a slick try. The Roosters were back to 17 men on deck and led 10-6 with 10 minutes to play in the half.
Anasta capped off a strong 40 minutes by notching up a try of his own three minutes from the break when he capitalised on a brilliant individual burst by Lewis. Fitzgibbon converted from the sideline and the Roosters took a comfortable 16-6 lead into the break.
It was all the Roosters and only a couple of contentious refereeing decisions from Clark prevented the margin from stretching further as both sides went into the sheds for a well earned break in the hot and humid conditions.
Parramatta came out firing in the second half and took the lead in the 55th minute after two quick tries to PJ Marsh and Joel Reddy put them ahead 18-16.
This was turning into a real arm wrestle and it was the Roosters who took the upper hand in the 60th minute when Soliola scored out wide after running onto a pass from Monaghan. Soward missed the conversion and the Roosters led a tense battle 20-18.
A knock on from Tonga after the kick-off gave the Eels an opening and they didn't waste it when winger Inu put his Eels' side back in front 22-20.
The Roosters were not finished yet though and Tupou put his side back in front on the 70th minute mark when he pounced on a Lewis kick in the right hand corner. The Roosters now led a topsy-turvy clash 26-22 with time running out.
The nail was put in the coffin minutes later when fresh replacement Vince Mellars capitalised on a Fuifui Moimoi mistake to score the clinching try as the Roosters finished all over a tiring Eels side for a 30-22 victory.
Tonight was the perfect hit-out for the Roosters as they now shift their focus to a Monday night blockbuster in Round 1. Minichiello is back, the forwards are firing and it’s time to bring on Souths as the club chases its historical 1000th win in front of their home fans.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 30 (J Monahan S Kenny-Dowall B Anasta S Soliola A Topou V Mellars tries; C Fitzgibbon 2 J Lewis goals)PARRAMATTA 22 (D Wagon P Marsh J Reddy K Inu tries; L Burt 3 goals)
Referee: S Clark.
Crowd: 11,828 at BlueTongue Stadium, Central Coast.
