Red-hot Roosters ice Raiders 22-18 in heavyweight NRL showdown

The premiers have momentum, they’re hungry and are back to defend their title. Overcoming Canberra in front of a hostile home crowd shows this Roosters side can go back to back.

• NRL Casualty Ward: More Fifita frustration

• Bulldogs in the hunt for three star signings

With snow on the nearby Brindabella Range, the Sydney Roosters iced one of the best games this season.

A dramatic 22-18 win over Canberra gave the Roosters a fourth successive win. The premiers have momentum, hunger and they’re back to defend their title.

The weather was cold at GIO Stadium, the game was hot. This was high class, with victory just about assuring the Roosters a top-four finish.

To overcome Canberra in front of a hostile home crowd showed this Roosters side has the focus and mental toughness to go back-to-back.

“The Roosters are the side to beat, they’re the best side in the competition,” former Queensland forward Darryl Brohman told 2GB.

Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial.

Latrell Mitchell celebrates after scoring a try for the Roosters. Picture: AAP

Played before a crowd of 19,530, Sunday’s match had a finals feel to it. The momentum swings just kept coming. These two teams will meet again in September.

As one final Canberra surge came up short, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, sitting sideline, spat out his chewing gum and kicked it away.

And the Roosters did it without injured stars Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend and Siosiua Taukeiaho.

Hooker Sam Verrills didn’t come back for the second half either due to a knee injury.

“It was a real good principled game — the stuff you want to see at this time of the year. Working hard, kick-chase, pressure, scrapping,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

James Tedesco celebrates with Roosters teammates after their win over Canberra. Picture: AAP

“We worked some good periods to get in front. It wasn’t a rhythm game. That’s what I was pleased with — if you want to go toe-to-toe, we will play that longer-style game.

“If you want to play stop-start, we will get down and dirty and play that as well. But I can still see a lot of improvement in us.”

It was a stirring afternoon in Canberra. The Viking clap brought goose bumps, GIO Stadium was pumping.

TERRIFIC TEDDY

There was one piece of pure magic from Roosters fullback James Tedesco.

Tedesco threw one of the finest no-look cut-out passes you will see in the second half. It floated past Latrell Mitchell for winger Daniel Tupou to score.

It was remarkable vision from a player who is taking his game to another level each week.

Tedesco also made a break which led to the Roosters’ first try, scored by Victor Radley. Tupou was another strong performer, as was back-rower Angus Crichton.

The Roosters had lost five in a row in Canberra before Sunday.

James Tedesco conjured some more magic for the Roosters. Picture: AAP

RIPPING RAIDERS

Canberra lost no friends. They threw everything at their opposition and could have won the match late.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart let his feelings be known after the game when quizzed about his side’s chances this year.

“If we were playing in a grand final tomorrow, I’d be confident,” Stuart said.

“You tell me? If we were playing in a grand final tomorrow against whoever you perceive as the best team, do you think we could beat them?

“I reckon we can. That’s probably the best way to answer that. It didn’t happen today but Melbourne are on top of the competition and we’ve got them next week. It was a very tough game. You always want to win but the effort, absolutely, I was happy.”

Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead was placed on report for contrary conduct.

Jordan Rapana celebrates a try with Raiders teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Picture: AAP

RUNNING BATTLE

It went on for most of the game: a former NSW star and an Englishman. Mitchell and Canberra’s British bulldog John Bateman niggled and taunted each other throughout. .

SYDNEY ROOSTERS 22 (D Tupou 2 L Mitchell V Radley tries L Mitchell 3 goals) bt CANBERRA 18 (J Croker J Rapana E Whitehead tries J Croker 3 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Chris Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 19,530