Tweet
Sydney Roosters VS West Tigers Game Review
Written By Tom Smith (redwhiteandbluester)
The story of Round 1 was the Sydney Roosters demolition of archrivals South Sydney. The back pages of the Daily Telegraph were awash with images of Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce, the airwaves of 2GB filled with callers full of praise for the tactics of Brian Smith and the toughness of Nate Myles. NSW selector Laurie Daley was forced to quell speculation over Carney's potential place in the State of Origin team, and on the basis of 80 minutes of football the 'experts' on the Footy Show concluded that Carney was a reformed man.
There was tremendous hype surrounding the Roosters' second round clash with the Wests Tigers, who themselves enjoyed a spectacular come-from-behind victory over Manly last Monday. Both teams are well coached by NRL veterans Smith and Tim Sheens, both back lines are laced with quality playmakers and exciting finishers. It was somewhat of a surprise that the Tigers started such firm favourites with the bookies for this weekend's match, considering these were two sides with a heap of attacking ability but little proven discipline or consistency. Most people were pointing towards a high scoring affair, and that is what prevailed.
Arriving at the Sydney Football Stadium this afternoon, the respectable crowd of 19,000 were treated to temperatures peaking in the mid thirties. The sweltering heat made it all the more likely that both sides would run in a heap of tries and after the Tigers pulled out to a 10 nil lead after 13 minutes Roosters fans might have worried it was their side who would be on the receiving end of a belting. Having opened the scoring through a soft Benji Marshall try, Lote Tuqiri streaked away to score a long range try resulting from a poor Roosters kick. Although not completely off the pace early doors, the home side looked pedestrian in the opening exchanges and particularly ineffective when kicking the footy.
It took a nice passing move from - you guessed it - Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce to set up Mitchell Aubusson in the corner three minutes before Aidan 'Warfare' Guerra crashed over on the back of a Carney short ball. New recruit Phil Graham continued the Roosters' dominance by scoring a double before half time, as the tricolours went to the break leading by 20 points to 12 and looking the better side. The Tigers fragile defence had been split open by an incisive Roosters outfit who had capitalised on their chances.
From a supporter's point of view, it was pleasing that the Chooks took full advantage of their period of dominance, able to run in four tries in less than 20 minutes of footy. The heads did not drop after conceding the lead, the forwards did not tire, the playmakers did not panic. After the much needed drinks break, the Roosters guarded their ascendency closely and refused to yield after the half time interval.
The Roosters wasted no time in adding to their tally after the break, with Guerra resembling a human wrecking ball as he stormed over to complete his double. Pearce finished off an impressive running try before Anthony Minichiello stretched the lead to 26. Perhaps the most memorable try of the rout was Mitchell Pearce's second, set up by a Lopini Paea line break that embarrassed the paper-thin Wests defence. With 15 minutes left, and the hosts leading 44-16, it looked like the Chooks might rack up a seriously large total. Instead, the Roosters gave themselves an early mark and allowed the Tigers to add some respectability to the scoreline and ensure that this became the highest scoring game of the season so far, finishing 44 points to 32.
The question must now be how will the Roosters follow up this performance? No doubt the media will be beating the drum of the Chooks for another week, especially up against a Canterbury team who have been downright awful so far in 2010. It is an impossible game to pick: two weeks ago, almost everyone (besides the most hardened Roosters supporter) in the world of rugby league would have put their house on the Dogs winning comfortably. But two weeks into the competition, it is the league's form side up against a lethargic Canterbury team that has displayed a complete lack of fluency and attacking flair.
At the risk of playing devil's advocate, this is a young Roosters side that has not proven its consistency yet. And it only takes a glance at the Bulldogs' team on paper to discover why they were near-Premiership favourites in preseason. Although it would be easy to get carried away, Roosters supporters should proceed with caution: the last 15 minutes this afternoon proved how fragile success can be, albeit under little pressure. Beware the wounded Bulldog.
Written By Tom Smith (redwhiteandbluester)
The story of Round 1 was the Sydney Roosters demolition of archrivals South Sydney. The back pages of the Daily Telegraph were awash with images of Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce, the airwaves of 2GB filled with callers full of praise for the tactics of Brian Smith and the toughness of Nate Myles. NSW selector Laurie Daley was forced to quell speculation over Carney's potential place in the State of Origin team, and on the basis of 80 minutes of football the 'experts' on the Footy Show concluded that Carney was a reformed man.
There was tremendous hype surrounding the Roosters' second round clash with the Wests Tigers, who themselves enjoyed a spectacular come-from-behind victory over Manly last Monday. Both teams are well coached by NRL veterans Smith and Tim Sheens, both back lines are laced with quality playmakers and exciting finishers. It was somewhat of a surprise that the Tigers started such firm favourites with the bookies for this weekend's match, considering these were two sides with a heap of attacking ability but little proven discipline or consistency. Most people were pointing towards a high scoring affair, and that is what prevailed.
Arriving at the Sydney Football Stadium this afternoon, the respectable crowd of 19,000 were treated to temperatures peaking in the mid thirties. The sweltering heat made it all the more likely that both sides would run in a heap of tries and after the Tigers pulled out to a 10 nil lead after 13 minutes Roosters fans might have worried it was their side who would be on the receiving end of a belting. Having opened the scoring through a soft Benji Marshall try, Lote Tuqiri streaked away to score a long range try resulting from a poor Roosters kick. Although not completely off the pace early doors, the home side looked pedestrian in the opening exchanges and particularly ineffective when kicking the footy.
It took a nice passing move from - you guessed it - Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce to set up Mitchell Aubusson in the corner three minutes before Aidan 'Warfare' Guerra crashed over on the back of a Carney short ball. New recruit Phil Graham continued the Roosters' dominance by scoring a double before half time, as the tricolours went to the break leading by 20 points to 12 and looking the better side. The Tigers fragile defence had been split open by an incisive Roosters outfit who had capitalised on their chances.
From a supporter's point of view, it was pleasing that the Chooks took full advantage of their period of dominance, able to run in four tries in less than 20 minutes of footy. The heads did not drop after conceding the lead, the forwards did not tire, the playmakers did not panic. After the much needed drinks break, the Roosters guarded their ascendency closely and refused to yield after the half time interval.
The Roosters wasted no time in adding to their tally after the break, with Guerra resembling a human wrecking ball as he stormed over to complete his double. Pearce finished off an impressive running try before Anthony Minichiello stretched the lead to 26. Perhaps the most memorable try of the rout was Mitchell Pearce's second, set up by a Lopini Paea line break that embarrassed the paper-thin Wests defence. With 15 minutes left, and the hosts leading 44-16, it looked like the Chooks might rack up a seriously large total. Instead, the Roosters gave themselves an early mark and allowed the Tigers to add some respectability to the scoreline and ensure that this became the highest scoring game of the season so far, finishing 44 points to 32.
The question must now be how will the Roosters follow up this performance? No doubt the media will be beating the drum of the Chooks for another week, especially up against a Canterbury team who have been downright awful so far in 2010. It is an impossible game to pick: two weeks ago, almost everyone (besides the most hardened Roosters supporter) in the world of rugby league would have put their house on the Dogs winning comfortably. But two weeks into the competition, it is the league's form side up against a lethargic Canterbury team that has displayed a complete lack of fluency and attacking flair.
At the risk of playing devil's advocate, this is a young Roosters side that has not proven its consistency yet. And it only takes a glance at the Bulldogs' team on paper to discover why they were near-Premiership favourites in preseason. Although it would be easy to get carried away, Roosters supporters should proceed with caution: the last 15 minutes this afternoon proved how fragile success can be, albeit under little pressure. Beware the wounded Bulldog.
Ahh.. what a game. We are playing some VERY entertaining footy.
Comment