ROUND-UP
TEN points may well have separated SYDNEY ROOSTERS and MANLY SEA EAGLES by the final whistle, but in truth, the two sides were poles apart.
The Roosters, led by Joey Manu and Luke Keary, ran rings around their opposite numbers, with Manly badly missing Tom Trbojevic at the back.
They did actually take the lead through a Reuben Garrick penalty goal early on, but the Roosters registered their first points on 18 minutes and didn’t look back.
A brilliant Daniel Tupou leap from a Keary kick sent the Roosters into a 6-2 lead before Manu forced his way over four minutes later.
As half-time approached, 12-2 became 18-2 when Tupou dotted down for his second.
The Sea Eagles had to score first in the second half to have any chance of plotting a comeback. However, Billy Smith finished powerfully to stretch Sydney’s lead to 22-2 with Joseph Suaalii missing his first conversion of the night.
But credit to the Sea Eagles, they did reply with a beautiful Josh Schuster chip and chase, but Suaalii’s own try from a scrum move ended any hopes of a Manly comeback.
Brad Parker and Tolutau Koula did manage consolation efforts with seven and two minutes to go, but the night belonged to Trent Robinson’s men.
TWO-TRY halfback Shaun Johnson led NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS to a late win over twelve-man GOLD COAST TITANS.
Referee Ben Cummins gave Moeaki Fotuaika his marching orders after just 17 minutes for a high shot on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who subsequently failed a headinjury assessment.