Roosters overcome Dolphins after losing Smith early to concussion

ROOSTERS 36, DOLPHINS 26

Forced to overcome three years of adversity simply to make his NRL debut, Robert Toia has announced himself as a future State of Origin star.

The 20-year-old bravely fought through two ruptured ACLs and a broken jaw before being unleashed this year, and his two try heroics in the Sydney Roosters 36-26 Magic Round demolition of the Dolphins proved the culmination of his efforts to get to this stage.

As the Roosters engine room completely bullied their rivals in the middle of the field, Toia set about taking one of the game’s leading centres - Herbie Farnworth - to task.

Opening with a strong try - a tackle-busting run on the back of a James Tedesco offload - the Redcliffe product then laid on another for Wallabies convert Mark Nawaqanitawase with one of four offloads for his night.

By the end of the night, he had 167 running metres, two line breaks and seven tackle busts - two of those coming as he charged for his second try of the night - as he reaped the rewards from Tedesco’s brilliance (200 metres, two try assists, two line break assists, two line breaks, eight tackle busts).

When it wasn’t Toia and Tedesco wrecking havoc, it was the Sydney front line, who took on an enormous responsibility to win the territory battle after five-eighth Sandon Smith was ruled out with a category one concussion in the early minutes.

Robert Toia scores a try against the Dolphins on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images

Victor Radley helped himself to a double, while Naufahu Whyte stood above the respective forward packs with 144 metres and 25 tackles.

In contrast, the Dolphins could barely make a dent without injured trio Daniel Saifiti (shoulder), Felise Kaufusi (knee) and Max Plath (foot).

Only edge forward Connelly Lemuelu surpassed 100 running metres among the pack, with two moments of individual brilliance from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - leaping above Tedesco, before winning a foot race against his opposite number - all that kept their hopes alive.

A fortuitous knock on which gave Farnworth a clear passage, and late Kodi Nikorima try with a wild dummy gave them a reason to believe until the final whistle, but the damage had truly already been done.

The full-time siren is ringing out across Suncorp Stadium, where the Roosters have defeated the Dolphins 36-26.

A noble comeback from the Dolphins in this second half, but they only made it hard on themselves with a pretty lacklustre first half.

Good stuff from the Roosters, who lost Sandon Smith in the opening 10 minutes to concussion, but too they conceded way too many points in this second half.

Full-time: Roosters 36, Dolphins 26

Talk about making the most of every minute – the Dolphins are in again as we enter the final five minutes of the match.

Kodi Nikorima splits the Roosters defence to score, Jamayne Isaako adds the points for the conversion, and once again the Dolphins are within 10 points of the Roosters.

Roosters 36, Dolphins 26 with four minutes to go

It’s the night of doubles.

Robert Toia goes across for his second try of the night, all but quashing the Dolphins comeback.

A very soft try conceded from the Dolphins, after James Tedesco sliced and diced them through the middle of the field earlier in the set.

Roosters 36, Dolphins 20

Game on Roosters, the Dolphins are back.

Do I sense a little complacency creeping into the Tricolours game? The Dolphins certainly do, because they score their second try in a matter of minutes.

This time it’s Herbie Farnworth who gets the points and score just by the upright.

They certainly have left it to the last minute, but the Dolphins certainly know how to score points quickly...is a Hammer hat trick on the cards tonight?

Roosters 32, Dolphins 20 with 10 minutes to go

The crowd is awake again, and no surprise that it’s thanks to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

The Hammer slips past James Tedesco and gets his second try of the night.

Time for them to regroup and use this momentum to claw back some of the points the Roosters have put on them tonight.

Roosters 32, Dolphins 14 with 13 minutes to go

I think it’s safe to say the Suncorp Stadium crowd has well and truly check out, and it’s only night one (well, night two if you were here for women’s Origin yesterday).

At this point, the crowd don’t care what’s happening on the field. It doesn’t matter that the Dolphins have their best opportunity for points in 20 minutes, or that the Roosters are 24 points ahead (which is probably the reason they’re bored in the first place). All they care about right now is keeping the Mexican wave going.

Come on Dolphins, give the crowd something to care about.

I don’t have enough time to type the words – the Roosters are across for another try.

This time it’s Connor Watson who gets the four-pointer, after Daniel Tupou makes a break up the left touch line.

That’s three tries in six minutes for the Tricolours.

Once again Hugo Savala adds the extras, and the mountain becomes that much higher for the Dolphins in this second half.

Roosters 32, Dolphins 8 with 28 minutes to go

The Roosters go bang.

Mark Nawaqanitawase gets a double, and this time Victor Radley scores a double.

It comes after the Roosters force a goal line drop out after catching Jack Bostock in the in goal, and the Tricolours get the ball back.

Rookie halfback Hugo Savala puts a beautiful grubber in, and Radley cleans up the ball and goes across for his second tonight.

Roosters 26, Dolphins 8 with 31 minutes to go