Player ratings: Stars and flops in Roosters’ demolition of Rabbitohs
The Roosters bid for back-to-back titles has gained serious momentum with a demolition of South Sydney at the SCG. Here’s who starred and who flopped from the bitter rugby league rivals.
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The Sydney Roosters stamped their authority against their old rivals South Sydney with a 30-6 demolition job at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Here’s who starred and who flopped in the week one finals clash.
ROOSTERS
1) James Tedesco: Scored a try and could have had a couple of more if a few last passes stuck. Laid on a try of his own as he stamps his class as the game’s form player. 8.5
2) Daniel Tupou: Always threatening with the ball. Came from the field with 15 minutes remaining because of a groin complaint. 6
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3) Latrell Mitchell: Despite the Roosters putting on plenty of points, Mitchell was largely quiet. Still scored a try. 6
4) Joseph Manu: Scored the opening try and caused absolute havoc for the Rabbitohs defence. Looked super dangerous every time he touched the ball. 8
5) Brett Morris: In game 250, saved a near try by scooping up a tricky bouncing ball. Threw a magical pass for a Tedesco try. Ever the pro. 8
6) Luke Keary: Laid on three tries, again taunting his former club. Kicked a 40/20 and did it all with an ankle strain. 9.5
7) Cooper Cronk: Made a try-saving tackle on Doueihi. Another controlled, complete performance by Cronk who now has a maximum of two games left in his decorated career. 7.5
8) Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: Huge start. Made 100 metres by the halfway point of the opening half. Could be in judiciary trouble again for a trip. 8.5
9) Sam Verrills: Threw the final pass to complete a short-side raid for a try. Keeps on getting better and will be hard to leave out of the squad when Jake Friend returns. 8
10) Isaac Liu: Some great footwork in the middle of the field to split the Rabbitohs open. Helped lay the platform early. 7
11) Boyd Cordner: Scored untouched with a trademark hole run but limped from the field with four minutes left on the clock with a knee injury. Didn’t return. 7
12) Mitchell Aubusson: Again did his job and showed his worth when he had to shift to the centres for an injured Tupou. Missed just one tackle. 7
13) Victor Radley: A last tackle grubber from dummy half produced a try. Missed five tackles but was again classy in the middle of the field. 7
INTERCHANGE:
14) Angus Crichton: Started in the middle but then shifted to his preferred left edge in Cordner’s absence. Would have taken great joy in beating his former club in such an emphatic style. 7
15) Zane Tetevano: Played just 18 minutes off the bench but did his usual job holding the middle of the field. 6
16) Nat Butcher: Impressive again off the bench. Great leg drive in the middle of the field. 7
17) Siosiua Taukeiaho: Scored a try with just his second touch. Invaluable for this Roosters side. 7.5
RABBITOHS
1 Adam Doueihi: Shifted to the wing. Struggled to get into the game 5
2 Alex Johnston: Despite being named on the wing played fullback in a switch with Doueihi. Fumbled a crucial first bomb. Made a good tackle to stop a rampaging Tedesco one-on-one. 5
3 James Roberts: Was moved from the right to the left and struggled to contain Manu. Barley touched the ball. 3
4 Campbell Graham: Made some poor misses defensively. Another player who couldn’t get into the game 3
5 Corey Allan: Not much of a winger’s game when you’re getting belted in the middle of the field. 4
6 Cody Walker: Produced one silky play with a strong pick-up but not his sort of game given how little room the Roosters gave him. 4
7 Adam Reynolds: Got caught short defensively in Cordner’s try. Made his side’s only two line-breaks and scored a try. 6
18 George Burgess: Had just one run for 11 metres in his opening stint back from a nine-game ban. Failed to make any impact. 4
9 Damien Cook: Didn’t see any of his trademark speed with the ball as the Roosters dominated his side. Missed some tackles. 5
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10 Liam Knight: Tried to take it to the Roosters but had little help with his teammates to start the game. 6
11 John Sutton: Ran for more metres than any other Rabbitohs forward but didn’t get the chance to show what he can do with the ball. 5
12 Jaydn Su’A: Hurt his shoulder after crunching Cordner in a tackle early in the first half. Battled to make any impact. 4
13 Cameron Murray: Not the best performance by the boom youngster. Topped the Rabbitohs tackle count. 5
INTERCHANGE
8 Junior Tatola: Eight runs for just 59 metres shows the little impact he had. 5
14 Ethan Lowe: Came onto the field when the game was long gone. 4
16 Thomas Burgess: Barley noticed he was out there. Played just 30 minutes in his comeback game. 4
17 Mark Nicholls: Little he could do to stem the flow of Roosters points. Had a high workrate with 30 tackles and nine runs 4