NRL 2021: Sydney Roosters defeat North Queensland Cowboys 30-16, James Tedesco stars, Lachlan Burr hit
‘Go back to the way it was’. Discipline is going to be key as the sin bin clampdown stung both the Roosters and Cowboys and earned the ire of one coach in particular.
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Cowboys coach Todd Payten called for the NRL to abandon its high-contact crackdown after James Tedesco blitzed North Queensland on a night of high-drama in Brisbane.
The Roosters held off the plucky Cowboys with a 30-16 win on day two of Magic Round as the NRL’s high-contact crackdown once again made a huge impact on the game.
With 45,155 packing Suncorp Stadium for the triple-header, the Roosters bolted out to an 18-0 lead before Sitili Tupouniua became the 11th player to be sin-binned in five games this weekend.
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North Queensland fought back to within two points before Tedesco stepped up and sunk the Cowboys with a stunning play to deliver Angus Crichton his second try.
The NSW Origin fullback finished with 171m, seven tackle busts, two try-assists and four line-break assists in a matchwinning display.
“Teddy carried us on his shoulders tonight, he was a step above everybody else on the ground and that was the difference,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said. “He decided to own that game and he did. We needed him to. It was a pleasure to watch him play.
“He would know the challenges are there but it’s not his driving force. He has an internal desire to be the best.”
CRACKDOWN PROVES CRUCIAL
The sin bin proved to be North Queensland’s greatest friend and then turned into its enemy.
The Cowboys were trailing 18-0 after 31 minutes when Tupouniua was sent to the bin for a high tackle on Lachlan Burr.
The Roosters didn’t touch the ball for the remainder of the first half as the Cowboys ran in two tries through Javid Bowen and Scott Drinkwater to get back into the game.
When Drinkwater crossed in the first set of the second half the score was back to 18-16.
The game was on the line in the 65th minute when Burr was sin-binned after hitting a falling Tedesco high, allowing the Roosters to edge ahead 24-16 with a penalty goal.
The Roosters then hit the afterburners to sink the 12-men Cowboys with two late tries, proving discipline will be key for the remainder of the 2021 season.
“Go back to the way it was,” Payten said. “Tedesco was almost on his knees. It was an accident. It wasn’t a decision by Lachlan to hit him in the head.
“The thing I’ve loved about our game is the physicality and we’re going away from that a little bit and that worries me.
“I feel sorry for the players. As a game we’ve tried to speed it up, but now we’re penalising players in a fast game under fatigue that find themselves in vulnerable positions. I feel sorry for the referees because they’re the ones under pressure that have to make those calls.
“I really feel sorry for our supporters. This is the biggest weekend on our calendar for the season, everyone is spending hard-earned money to turn up and we’re taking away from the game of rugby league.”
RIGHT AT HOLMES
While Tedesco was electric, Cowboys fullback Valentine Holmes threw his hat in the ring for Queensland’s No. 1 Origin jersey.
Holmes has found form in his preferred position and had some sensational touches against the Roosters.
With Maroons No.1 favourite Kalyn Ponga (groin) in doubt, the Queensland fullback duties could be up for grabs in Origin I at the MCG on June 9.
Holmes is an elite Origin winger, having scored nine tries in six games on the wing, but he wants to be a career fullback.
Maroons coach Paul Green obviously rates Holmes as a fullback after spending $850,000-a-season to bring him back from the NFL to the Cowboys as a No.1.
WALKER COMES HOME
It was a sad sight for Broncos fans as Roosters sensation Sam Walker played his first NRL game at Suncorp Stadium wearing the tri-colours jersey.
Walker was Brisbane’s next big thing before the Broncos lost him to Sydney and his move is tipped to haunt the club for the next decade.
Walker scored a silky try after putting Radley into space and Broncos fans will be wishing they got to watch him at Suncorp every second week.
Instead, he will be a Rooster until at least 2023 after inking a two-year contract extension this week to remain at Bondi.
Walker will come up against the Broncos for the first time at the SCG next Saturday.
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