Sydney Roosters have finished top of the NRL again for the third successive season – after destroying local rivals and defending NRL champions South Sydney 30-0.
Tries from Michael Jennings, Blake Ferguson, Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend and Aiden Guerra, coupled with five goals from James Maloney, earned the tricolours the bragging rights in Sydney once again, and condemned Souths, without the talismanic Greg Inlgis, to only a seventh-placed finish ahead of the play-offs.
It marks a dismal season for the Rabbitohs who, without England rugby union forward Sam Burgess, are now in serious danger of not retaining their NRL crowd, and will have to do it the hard way in the finals.
But both key playmaker James Maloney (trip) and prop Dylan Napa (crusher tackle) were placed on report for Sydney. While Napa’s looked accidental Maloney certainly has a case to answer after a brain explosion saw him stick his leg out in a virtual karate kick and the question will be whether the grading sees him miss game time.
Sydney Roosters 30 (Jennings, Ferguson, Cordner, Friend, Guerra tries; Maloney 5 goals) defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 0 at Allianz Stadium. Half-time: Roosters 30-0. Crowd:25,019. On report: Maloney (tripping), Napa (crusher tackle).
