Mark Nawaqanitawase miracle try not enough as Bulldogs win 24-20 over Roosters

Despite scoring a try of the year contender on the back of some Mark Nawaqanitawase magic, the Sydney Roosters failed to claim victory, as the Bulldogs produced yet another comeback win.

The Bulldogs are officially the comeback kings of the NRL after they erased another half-time deficit and survived one of the greatest tries of all time from Mark Nawaqanitawase to defeat the Roosters 24-20 in a Friday night epic.

After overcoming a 20-0 half-time deficit to beat the Raiders last week, 14-0 was a walk in the park for Cameron Ciraldo’s men who scored four of the final five tries of the contest to make it nine wins from 10 matches to head into the hectic Origin period on top of the table.

“I don’t want to get used to it too much, but I think it’s great for us as a team to deal with those situations,” Cameron Ciraldo said.

“We had to make a few adjustments tonight. What we were doing with the ball in the first half was – how do I put it nicely – shithouse.

“We had to adjust that at half-time and I thought the boys were great making those adjustment.”

The Bulldogs were down on troops and down on the scoreboard but showed incredible fight to storm back with three tries in 13 minutes to take the lead.

The Bulldogs are the undisputed comeback kings of the NRL so far in 2025. Picture: NRL Imagery

Barnstorming back-rower Viliame Kikau got the ball rolling before Toby Sexton pounced on an Egan Butcher error to score, with Bronson Xerri putting them ahead for the first time when he sliced through some tired defenders to crash over.

The Roosters retook the lead thanks to Nawaqanitawase’s moment of magic, but Matt Burton had the last laugh as he danced through the defence with seven minutes to go, with a towering ‘Burto’ bomb also leading to an earlier error which ended up with Kikau scoring.

TRY OF THE YEAR

Nawaqanitawase has done some amazing things in his short time in the NRL, but the former Wallabies star may never produce something as special as the try he scored in the second half.

With his team behind on the scoreboard, the Roosters winger got the ball on the right edge and looked set to go into touch before he hopped on his left foot, kicked the ball and prayed it stayed in.

"It is an all-time classic"

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The ball bounced precariously close to the sideline but stayed in, with Nawaqanitawase leaving the field of play before he regathered and had the presence of mind to pull the ball back in to score before he went out.

It was one of the greatest pieces of individual skill you’ll ever see, with Nawaqanitawase almost pulling off something similar against the Warriors earlier this year.

He finished with two tries but made five costly handling errors as the Roosters missed the chance to move into the top eight for the first time this year.

“That’s why the pain is so high because we do have a lot of belief,” Trent Robinson said.

“We let one slip.”

Lindsay Smith made an impressive return from injury on the eve of Origin selection. Picture: NRL Imagery

STATE YOUR CASE

Friday night’s blockbuster was the final audition for State of Origin hopefuls, with all eyes on former Blues skipper James Tedesco who is battling it out with Dylan Edwards and Ryan Papenhuyzen for the No.1 jersey.

Edwards is the incumbent but Tedesco is in sizzling form and has done a magnificent job for his state throughout his 23-game career.

The Roosters captain has put up huge numbers all season but was kept relatively quiet in this one, with Tedesco setting up the first try but unable to impose himself as he often does.

Veteran prop Lindsay Collins returned from injury and scored a try, but he only had nine runs as he fights to keep his Maroons jersey, while Jacob Kiraz was typically busy on the right wing.

BACK FENCE SPENCE

Nathan Brown has wowed crowds with his kamikaze kick returns, but he has competition from Spencer Leniu after the Roosters prop caused all sorts of carnage from three first-half carries.

Leniu skittled Max King with the first run of the night but lost the ball as he got up to play it, with the NSW enforcer also spilling the Steeden from the third kick-off.

His second charge from a kick-off was the most spectacular and forced Daniel Suluka-Fifita out of the contest after the Bulldogs prop’s head collided with Leniu’s shoulder.

Originally published as Mark Nawaqanitawase miracle try not enough as Bulldogs win 24-20 over Roosters