NRL round eight: Sydney Roosters defeat St George Illawarra Dragons 60-18

Moses Suli was ruled out of the Anzac Day clash between the Dragons and Roosters after a brutal head knock while defending the very first hit-up. Both coaches were in agreeance that more needs to be done to protect players from kick-offs.

Both coaches out of Thursday’s clash at Allianz Stadium concede more needs to be done to protect players from kick-offs, with Trent Robinson expecting the NRL to enact a rule change soon in a bid to lessen the risk of concussion.

Dragons centre Mosese Suli became the latest player to be knocked out from a kick-off after he clashed heads with Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as he tried to tackle him in the opening few seconds.

Suli was ruled out immediately and the makeshift left edge defended admirably against Joseph Manu and Dom Young, although it mattered little as the Roosters piled on 60 points on Anzac Day.

There have been several sickening collisions already this season, with Bulldogs prop Poasa Faamausili knocked out on the opening carry when he collided with Sharks lock Cameron McInnes.

Player safety has never been more important, with sporting codes around the world trying to find ways to reduce heavy collisions that can lead to brain trauma.

“It’s a terrible way to start a game, and we did miss him because he’s powerful from the back of the field. We couldn’t win that battle from the back of the field and we were always kicking from inside our 40,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

Mosese Suli is hit hard and ruled out of the game off the very first hit-up of the match. Picture: NRL Photos

“We want to play this really tough gladiator sport, and we want to get down there – especially off kick-offs – and have really good contact with front-rowers.

“But we see it too often. I don’t know the answer, but we see it too often.

“When it happens to one of your players, it’s not nice to see. I don’t know how we stop it, unless we start with a play the ball, and that’s not something I’d like to see.

“In the modern game, we can’t have these concussions. We need to look after the players.

“The short dropouts and all that have probably changed it a little bit, but I don’t know the answer.”

Sharks veteran Dale Finucane retired earlier this week due to repeated head knocks, and he won’t be the last given how big some of the collisions are.

Moses Suli appears to be out of the game after a heavy collision in the opening seconds.

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It’s why there have been calls for the NRL to tinker with the kick-offs like the NFL has done, with suggestions it should just be a play the ball to reduce the gap between the ball carrier and defenders who are charging in to set the tone.

“It’s a really hard one because I love kick-offs because they set a statement to how we wanted to play today,” Trent Robinson said.

“But we don’t want to see that for Mosese.

“I think we can see that we’re getting to the point where it needs to shift. I think they tried to do it through the short kick-offs, but it’s not enough.

“Field position is still a really big part of the game, so you need to get down there. I think we’re getting closer to a change soon.”

MATCH REPORT - DRAGONS VS ROOSTERS

He was playing NSW Cup at Wentworth Park in front of friends and family after he was dropped a year ago, but on Anzac Day in front of a heaving crowd of 40,727 diehard fans, Sam Walker showed why he’s the future of the Roosters as he produced dazzling play after dazzling play to help them trounce the Dragons.

The record-breaking 60-18 win eases any pressure that was building on coach Trent Robinson following another slow start to the season, and he has his little halfback to thank after Walker returned from a head knock with his finest 80 minutes in the NRL.

The Roosters have lacked a spark this year but he had them firing against a Dragons side that came crashing back to earth after some encouraging performances.

It was 12 months ago when Walker was demoted to reserve grade where he played in a loss to the Dragons, with the playmaker having to wait four months to win back his spot as he battled a knee injury.

Walker didn’t kick stones as many youngsters do after being dropped, but he did kick the Dragons into submission with the halfback chipping for Joseph Manu to score before he did the same for himself, earning a penalty try after he was dragged back in the chase.

“It was great to watch him go out there,” Trent Robinson said.

James Tedesco celebrates a try with his Roosters teammates. Picture: NRL Photos

Sam Walker scores a try in a terrific individual performance. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Angus Crichton was among the tries as well. Picture: NRL Photos

“He does that to us every day when we train. If a fullback comes into the line, he’ll pull you apart.

“He sees the game slightly differently. The NRL demands that you adhere to some rules, but it also gives you some freedom if you want to play on the back of that if you see it, but a lot of guys don’t.

“Sam’s out of the box when it comes to seeing where defensive lines are and numbers and fullbacks.”

Few players are so willing to abandon structure and take advantage of opportunities that open up, but it’s why Walker is so good and why the Roosters are so much better when he’s back in the team, with the little master also nailing 10 conversions from as many attempts.

He had plenty of support on Thursday with Dom Young returning from suspension with a try, Angus Crichton was unstoppable on the left, Egan Butcher was throwing flick passes, while Manu torched them everywhere he went.

Walker’s performance would see him be presented with the Ashton Collier Spirit of Anzac Medal for player of the match.

It was a tough day for Ben Hunt and the Dragons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

WINGS CLIPPED

The Dragons have been one of the success stories to start the year, and it looked like their run would continue when they opened the scoring with a cracking team try that included a Zac Lomax offload, a Tyrell Sloan chip and chase and a powerful Jaydn Su’A finish.

But it quickly went downhill with Dally M leader Lomax throwing a few wasteful offloads while Sloan found himself on report for lashing out with a boot after he was chopped down by Walker near halfway.

They started the second half well with a try to Jack de Belin, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Luke Keary sliced through to make it 36-12, with Walker adding another assist when he grubbered for Nat Butcher to score.

“I couldn’t wait for it to finish,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

“We came back down to earth with a thud.”

DEBATE RAGES ON

The future of the kick-off will again be in the spotlight after the Dragons lost Mosese Suli just 10 seconds into the contest following a head clash with a rampaging Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Suli had nowhere to go as the Roosters enforcer charged it back, with the powerhouse centre knocked out before he walked from the field.

There have been several brutal collisions already this season that have seen players knocked out returning the ball, which could see the NRL look at ways to make it safer in the future to lessen the risk of concussion.

Originally published as NRL round eight: Sydney Roosters defeat St George Illawarra Dragons 60-18