Moses Mbye’s rookie error proves costly for Bulldogs

DESPITE an error-riddled first half, Bulldogs half Moses Mbye has managed to pull off the most embarrassing error of the finals series.

during the round 22 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia.

IN A game riddled with errors, neither the Roosters nor the Bulldogs could seem to shake the finals footy nerves in the first NRL semi-final at Allianz Stadium.

Leading into the halftime break, the Roosters had completed just 11 of their 19 sets, while their opponents had totalled just 13 of 20 complete sets of six.

With the Roosters taking an 8-4 lead into the sheds, they trailed the handling error count by just one.

However, the Bulldogs came into the second 40 firing, challenging the Roosters defence from the first set.

Just two and a half minutes into the second half, Moses Mbye surged into Sydney’s half, taking two defenders to ground with him in a spinning tackle.

Unfortunately for Mbye, the spin in the tackle caused him to become disorientated as he returned to his feet, and played the ball to the Roosters side of the field.

Watch the video in the player above.

The mistake proved a costly turning point in the match, with the Roosters immediately taking the ball deep into the Bulldogs half and applying consistent pressure.

Pressure eventually turned into points as Roosters replacement Kane Evans scored a controversial try in the 52nd minute. Evans appeared held up in suspension over the try line, before the tackle collapsed and the ball was placed on the line.

Minutes after Evans’ try was awarded, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck showed his trademark class, further extending the Roosters’ lead with yet another try, giving Sydney a 20-4 lead.

Dylan Napa was strong upfront for the Roosters.

From the outset, Dylan Napa and Boyd Cordner led the way for the Roosters up front as coach Trent Robinson’s ploy of running the massive Dogs pack ragged paid big dividends.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck backed up their forwards with big metres as the home side ran away with the contest late. In his last game for the club, Super League-bound back-rower Frank Pritchard was the Bulldogs’ best as their season came to a disappointing close.

After an early James Maloney penalty goal, Kenny-Dowall scored the first try of the match when Blake Ferguson batted a kick back and the Kiwi winger slid his way over.

In a first half punctuated by dropped ball from both sides, the Roosters frequently took the ball to the edges.

Roosters Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored a hat-trick of tries in the Roosters’ 38-12 semi-final win over the Bulldogs.

It was a tactic that worked with some success, but the Roosters’ poor handling cost them.

Tim Lafai notched up the Dogs’ first points in the 28th minute when he found his way through a staggered Roosters defensive line after a Brett Morris break from a Sam Kasiano offload.

Following Mbye’s error and two quick tries from the Roosters, Kenny-Dowall crossed for his second try out wide in the 65th minute, before Cordner surged over for a 73rd-minute four-pointer. Kenny-Dowall added his third with three minutes to play.

Curtis Rona’s 80th-minute try, his 23rd for the season, equalled the Bulldogs’ season try-scoring record alongside Ben Barba and Nigel Vagana.

After defeating Canterbury 38-12, the Roosters will play Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium next Friday for a spot in the grand final.

— with James MacSmith, AAP