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Roosters FINALLY click into gear as Robbo vindicated with Teddy running riot

The Sydney Roosters clicked into gear and delivered a brutal thumping as James Tedesco returned in devastating fashion.

Eamonn Tiernan
4 min read
July 22, 2023 - 5:45PM
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: James Tedesco of Roosters celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round 21 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: James Tedesco of Roosters celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round 21 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

The Roosters finally clicked into gear and thumped the Titans 36-18 on Saturday afternoon as James Tedesco returned with aplomb.

The Roosters were running riot from the outset and a refreshed Tedesco even celebrated his first-half try with the famous ‘worm’ dance move.

The performance vindicated coach Trent Robinson’s decision to rest his skipper following a bruising Origin campaign.

MATCH CENTRE: Gold Coast Titans vs Sydney Roosters team lists, live scores

The Chooks drew first blood with Egan Butcher scoring after a Joseph Suaalii penalty goal to notch up an 8-0 lead by the 10-minute mark.

The Gold Coast had a captain’s challenge contentiously ruled in their favour in the ninth minute when they appeared to knock on a bomb, but they couldn’t turn the field position into points.

Instead, it was the Roosters who marched down field and Egan Butcher barged over after running hard onto a nice pass from Tedesco in the 11th minute.

Butcher then put Tedesco over just two minutes later following a break down the middle and he celebrated by doing the ‘worm’ dance in the in-goal.

Rugby-bound Roosters winger Joseph Suaalii has been down on form this season but he scored a brilliant try in the 23rd minute.

Sandon Smith put a bomb up in the corner and Suaalii leapt above Alofiana Khan-Pereira to haul in the ball and plant it down.

“They’re up and dancing the Roosters, first the worm from Tedesco and now a little jink from Suaalii... that is magic,” Corey Parker said on Fox League

“He leaps like no other in this competition.”

Matt Russell added: “Where have these Roosters been all season?”

Next it was Lindsay Collins who dragged three defenders over the line to score after collecting a Joey Manu flick pass.

The first-half tries kept coming as Tedesco broke again and put Nat Butcher over in the 31st minute.

“They’re away again and it’s a procession,” Russell said.

It marked the first time this year the Roosters have scored 30 points.

The Roosters picked up where they left off in the second half and Fletcher Baker was the next man to crash over after Manu caught and offloaded a Luke Keary kick.

The Titans finally got on the board with late tries to Brian Kelly, Chris Randall and Erin Clark.

Here are three of the biggest talking points out of the match.

TEDDY BOUNCES BACK

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has been vindicated for telling James Tedesco to take a mid-season break.

Tedesco spent last weekend in Byron Bay while the Roosters were being thumped by the Storm which saw the Tricolours skipper come under heavy criticism.

Robinson defended the call to rest Tedesco after Origin, emphasising he wanted his fullback fresh for their final seven games in a bid to keep their slim finals hopes alive.

The 30-year-old looked more than refreshed against the Titans, with the superstar running riot from the opening minute.

Tedesco finished with 225 run metres from 17 carries, scored a try, set up two more and also had two linebreak assists and two tackle busts.

And it wasn’t just in attack - despite leading 36-0 at the time, Tedesco made a crunching cover defence tackle on Brian Kelly which saved a certain try in the 55th minute.

James Tedesco in full flight. Getty
James Tedesco in full flight. Getty

“Great tackle Tedesco knocks the ball free, there’s some defensive application, he is having a booming afternoon,” Matt Russell said on Fox League.

“There’s some scenes we haven’t seen in a long time, have a look at the Roosters’ players come, even Tupou over on that far side making his way over to show Tedesco how much appreciation he has for what he’s been able to do here,” Corey Parker responded.

“Tedesco comes across and absolutely gives it to Kelly. They have come from far and wide, the Roosters, they are up and about and this is a different team we’re seeing this afternoon.

It’s a different James Tedesco, absolutely.”

CHOOKS ATTACK FINALLY CLICKS

Matt Russell summed it up on Fox League after Joseph Suaalii crossed for the Roosters’ third try inside 22 minutes.

“Where have these Roosters been all season?”

The Chooks were averaging just 16.3 points per game heading into this clash and hadn’t hit the 30-point mark all season - the only team which hadn’t.

But it took just 20 minutes to surpass their average tally for 2020 and they racked up 30 points before halftime.

The Roosters dominated almost every attacking statistic as Tedesco, Joseph Suaalii and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves delivered their best games of the season.

Suaalii ran for 197 metres from 22 carries that produced six tackle busts and a try, while JWH topped the forwards with 183 metres from 19 runs and made 36 tackles.

TRADING PLACES

The Roosters kept their slim finals hopes alive but will still likely have to win their remaining six games to cement their spot.

The Roosters move into 10th on the live ladder and finish the regular season with clashes against the Broncos, Sea Eagles, Dolphins, Eels, Wests Tigers and Rabbitohs.

The Titans on the other hand, who sacked coach Justin Holbrook last month, will almost certainly once again miss the finals after notching up just seven wins in 21 rounds.

The Gold Coast have slid to 14th, where the Roosters sat heading into the game, and still have to face the Cowboys, Warriors, Sharks, Panthers, Storm and Bulldogs.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Joseph Suaalii of Roosters reacts after scoring a try during the Round 21. Getty
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Joseph Suaalii of Roosters reacts after scoring a try during the Round 21. Getty

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Originally published as Roosters FINALLY click into gear as Robbo vindicated with Teddy running riot

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/roosters-finally-click-into-gear-as-robbo-vindicated-with-teddy-running-riot/news-story/3c636b95de5e863b24fb53c81078a091