A tough, tense game out at the SCG. The Roosters did enough to hold on in the second half but the Dragons will feel they let that one slip through their fingers. Taukeiaho an easy choice for man of the match, he was terrific.
Sydney Roosters hold off gritty St George Ilawarra in pulsating Anzac Day clash
He proved a hero and then a villain for St George Illawarra, but for a magic moment electric fullback Matt Dufty brought the grand old ground alive.
He was the football hero on a day of Anzac emotion.
Prop Siosiua Taukeiaho produced a one-man rampage as his Sydney Roosters side recorded a dramatic 20-10 Anzac Day in over St George Illawarra at the SCG.
It was the Roosters' sixth successive win.
Before 38,418 fans, Taukeiaho ran for an extraordinary 256 metres and scored a solo match-winning try. He also made 22 tackles. He is an unsung hero in a team of Roosters superstars.
“I tried and set a goal and be better than last year,” Taukeiaho said.
Skipper Boyd Cordner and hooker Jake Friend was other Roosters stars but Taukeiaho was a machine. In the first 27 minutes, Taukeiaho ran for an extraordinary 138 metres.
“He is the best front rower in the game,” Mark Geyer told Triple M.
Taukeiaho’s 76th try sealed the match. He pushed past three defenders on a 30 metre dash to the tryline.
“He has some quality,” said Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
It was an electric second half, the crowd roared and screamed, as Saints gathered momentum. Yes, Bankwest Stadium is state-of-the-art but there’s something very special about the grand old SCG.
Both teams were left physical drained after 80 fascinating minutes; battered and bloodied.
“It’s a game that puts you on the edge of your seat,’ said Dragons coach Paul McGregor.
What a game. What a day.
RIPPING ROOSTERS
They are the best team in the game, no doubt. The Roosters had to dig in and scramble last week against Melbourne and again yesterday against Saints – and claimed both games.
The Roosters keep finding ways to win. They were on their knees several times in the second half but pulled back the momentum. They are more than just a glamour side.
“They are the best team in the world,” McGregor said. “I’d love to play them with 50-50 possession.”
The Roosters enjoyed 66 per cent of possession over the first half and led 14-0 at halftime before the Dragons fought back.
“I don’t think we’re cruising but we are hungry,” said Robinson. “And we’re going to stay hungry. I don’t think we have exploded out of the blocks and I don’t feel like we’ve been the form team of the competition.”
DEFIANT DRAGONS
They put up one hell of a fight against the competition favourites.
Led by Corey Norman, Tariq Sims and Matt Dufty, St George Illawarra certainly had the better of a ripping second half. They were gallant and will be there deep into September.
They could even have left gutted at fulltime, having failed to tally capitalise on a dominant second half.
“Possession wide, we had 38 per cent,” McGregor said. “But we’re motivated going forward with our second half. I asked the boys to leave it all out there in the second half and they certainly did that.”
Dragons halfback Ben Hunt was replaced with 12 minutes remaining through a corked shoulder.
DANGEROUS DUFTY
This was arguably the best individual try scored at the SCG in 36 years.
Dragons fullback Matt Dufty ran 65 metres to score a superb solo try where he ran through and past six Roosters defenders.
Yes, six. It brought the grand old ground alive.
It reminded old-timers of a famous try back in 1983 when Parramatta winger Eric Grothe went over six Canterbury defenders to score in a semi-final.
“Brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” McGrgeor said.
A loose carry by Dufty though near fulltime led to Taukeiaho’s try.
MISSING MITCHELL
Latrell, the game’s most potent weapon, ran for just two metres in the first half. The Roosters went to right side most of the first half - shifting away from Mitchell.
“Go to Latrell,” yelled Mark Geyer on Triple M.
“Give it to Latrell,” said former Test star Wendell Sailor.
Even without the ball, Mitchell kicked an early penalty goal, scored a try, converted, had a second try disallowed – all within the opening 20 minutes.
“It was the way our sets rolled,” Robinson said. “Joey Manu had a lot more touches. They often kicked to our right and we ended up on that right a lot passing to Joey. It wasn’t an indication of Latrell’s interest.”
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 20 (A Crichton L Mitchell S Taukeiaho tries L Mitchell 4 goals) bt ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 10 (M Dufty Z Lomax tries Z Lomax goal) at Sydney Cricket Ground. Referee: Ben Cummins, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 38,414
Updates
It looks like a very pleasant afternoon
FULLTIME: Roosters 20 Dragons 10
A tough, tense game out at the SCG. The Roosters did enough to hold on in the second half but the Dragons will feel they let that one slip through their fingers. Taukeiaho an easy choice for man of the match, he was terrific.
Dragons kick off doesn't go 10, this is all over.
76th minute: Roosters 20 Dragons 10
Cronk dribbles a kick down into the corner, Dufty knocks it on after a good tackle right under the ball from Freind. Taukeiaho picks it up, brushes off Graham and Host and gallops 20 metres to score under the posts and wrap this one up. Mitchell converts.
Dufty makes two breaks in the same set, Norman puts in a kick on the Roosters 10, it catches a boot, six again but Tupou roars in from nowhere to dive on it! Massive play! But at the end of the set Lam throws a wild offload and Tedesco knocks it on. Five to go, Dragons ball on their own 40.
Cronk's kick on the fourth goes dead. On the second tackle Ravalawa puts Perieria away! He throws a pass back to Ravalawa, but it's too early! He should have taken on Ikuvalu, Ravalawa is swept into touch. Roosters will work away from their own 20. Nine to go, this game is there for the Dragons if they're good enough.
Roosters get a luck six to go call on the 30 on the fourth tackle, they can put it to bed here.
Hunt is off for Ravalawa and he's straight up the tunnel, indicating a shoulder. That's a big blow for the Dragons, Norman dribbles a pointless kick over the sideline to make the Roosters work it out from their own 10. Twelve minutes left.
Graham is at first receiver on tackle five, Radley races up to shut the play down and Graham tries to thread the needle with a pass but it goes to ground. Roosters work it out.
But now Mitchell knocks it on, first tackle off the scrum! Dragons back on the attack!
Join the conversation
Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Walters vows not to hold back on Broncos
Kevvie Walters has vowed not to rip off fans in his return to commentary, Tom Hazelton could leave Cronulla, Ricky Stuart’s wife spills the beans on the Raiders coach and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
Read more
North Queensland rookie is ready to take control of Cowboys
Tom Duffy may be an NRL rookie but the young playmaker is primed for the big time thanks to a patient approach by North Queensland – and some words of wisdom from a legend.
Read more