NRL 2016: Dylan Napa leads Sydney Roosters to breakthrough victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs

NSW fans should be thanking their lucky stars that young Roosters forward Dylan Napa has been expelled from State of Origin this year.

NRL Rd 6 - Rabbitohs v Roosters

ROOSTERS firebrand Dylan Napa admitted he pinned a target on Sam Burgess as one of the most brutal and inspirational front-row performances of the last decade finally helped end a painful five-match losing streak.

And NSW fans should be thanking their lucky stars today that the fiery Queenslander has been expelled from State of Origin this year after he tore into the Rabbitohs from start to finish with the first 80 minute game of his career as an NRL prop.

Out of Origin for his part in that emerging camp controversy during the pre-season, the tough as nails 23-year-old showed exactly why he will be so sorely missed in the 17-10 victory over arch rivals Souths when the scoreboard didn’t give credit to the Roosters’ dominance.

Napa finished with a try, 19 hit ups for 151 metres as well as 40 tackles - and almost every one of them left a dent in his opposition, including two absolute bell-ringers on Burgess.

“I respect Sam Burgess and the way he plays so much,” Napa said in the Roosters dressing sheds.

“I was so disappointed when he left for rugby union.

“I think he left as one of the best forwards in the game so I thought it was a bit of respect to go at him tonight.

“I am just trying to get a bit of respect off him and do what is best for our team.”

From the moment they hit the field last night the Roosters were just a different team to the one that has been on show over the opening five rounds with all their senior players especially standing up along with young Latrell Mitchell. Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Aidan Guerra and Blake Ferguson all played significant roles, but Napa was the star of the night with a performance Trent Robinson agreed would be remembered for a long, long time.

“We just sort of talked about it then. Not many players can do what he did tonight,” Robinson said.

“It was just a credit to him.

“He decided that he was going to have a game tonight and he did.

“A lot of people decide but can’t always follow through.

“He decided and he delivered.”

From the very first set Napa took charge with an involvement in every tackle before the first kick.

Napa produced two bone crunching hits on Burgess in the opening 40 minutes and also hammered Chris Grevsmuhl to force a vital turnover.

He admitted last night being ruled out of Origin this year was something that still hurts, and he thinks about “a couple of times a week”.

“But that’s done. What can I do?” Napa said.

Trade states perhaps?

Given Greg Inglis grew up in Macksville, surely NSW could make a case to claim Napa.

“We lost five in a row so I am just stoked,” he said.

“I wasn’t thinking about playing Origin when we were losing five in a row.

“I was thinking about getting a win for the Roosters.”

Friend also had a terrific game last night and conceded after the game it was finally good to get to sing the team.

“Finally. There were a few boys that didn’t know it actually,” Friend laughed.

But he also agreed last night was one of those line in the sand moments for a team that finally decided it was time to stop the rot.

“We sort of talked about that during the week, that this week was the week that we wanted to go after them,” Friend said.

Abraham Papalii of the Roosters is tackled by Jason Clark.

As impressive as the Roosters were, there were times Souths looked aimless with some of their attack - and the expected return of

Adam Reynolds next week can’t come soon enough for a team that has now lost three of their last four games.

Michael Maguire was questioned if the Rabbitohs lacked direction last night and he agreed: “Ah, yeah.

“You are basically saying what you are seeing there.

Mitchell Aubusson of the Roosters is tackled.

“There were times there when we had control of a set and we didn’t take opportunities and we looked like we were going sideways and there was no direction.”

Asked if the Roosters wanted it more, Michael Maguire said:

“I had a team in there that wants to win but we just weren’t smart about some of the things we did.

“We need to have a good look at ourselves.

“Our attack and our attitude towards our ‘D’ and those of things because there were times there where we let them off the hook.”

The Rabbitohs now back up against the Cowboys on Friday night in Townsville while the Roosters’ next challenge is against Penrith on Monday week.

Originally published as NRL 2016: Dylan Napa leads Sydney Roosters to breakthrough victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs