NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 12 SYDNEY ROOSTERS 82
TOM SMITH, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Thursday
THE SYDNEY Roosters rewrote the history books with a frightening evisceration of the Cowboys to kick off Round 22.
Trent Robinson’s men tallied the highest score in the NRL era, and the equal-biggest half-time haul. No club has racked up more points in a game since 1935.
Sam Walker’s 36-point tally is the best individual tally since 1990, and the equal-fourth best ever. Mark Nawaqanitawase also snared a hattrick.
The 70-point flogging cemented the Chooks’ status as the team most likely to challenge Penrith for the title. It also puts a serious dent in North Queensland’s top-eight aspirations.
It took the outstanding James Tedesco just three minutes to open the scoring, although Braidon Burns replied for the hosts.
Tedesco assisted Walker’s first before the Roosters really ran riot.
Hugo Savala grounded a Tedesco kick, Walker danced over and Salesi Foketi strolled through. Then Nawaqanitawase grabbed an intercept, Tommy Talau found the left corner and Robert Toia assisted Tedesco all before the break.
Nawaqanitawase converted a Daly Cherry-Evans kick straight after the restart, before Tom Chester pulled one back.
But the Roosters’ rout wasn’t done. Toia crossed untouched, Nawaqanitawase found try number three, Cody Ramsey assisted Walker from long range and Savala completed a brace.
Then in the 79th minute, a cheeky Walker chip and chase invited Ramsey to bring up the 80.
Cowboys: Soni Luke; Roosters: Sam Walker