SYDNEY ROOSTERS 46 CRONULLA SHARKS 10
CALLUM WALKER, Allianz Stadium, Saturday

SYDNEY ROOSTERS eased to their biggest-ever victory in a finals match, putting Cronulla to the sword and setting up a mouthwatering semi-final clash with the Dolphins.

Daly Cherry-Evans, proof that age is just a number, led the way, marshalling the Roosters around the park whilst James Tedesco and Mark Nawaqanitwase were at their devastating best.

Angus Crichton, who has been out for three months with a foot injury, replaced Egan Butcher in the Roosters’ only change from their defeat to Penrith last weekend.

Meanwhile, Mawene Hiroti took Riley Jones’ spot in the centres, with Niwhai Puru coming back on to the bench.

It was an incredible start for the Sydney side, with Salesi Foketi rampaging through the heart of the Cronulla defence to lay the platform for the first four-pointer after just one minute.

With Cherry-Evans pulling the strings, the halfback timed his pass to Lindsay Collins to perfection as the latter crashed through.

Hugo Savala made it 6-0 with the boot, and he was on target again moments later as the Roosters doubled their lead.

Savala’s pinpoint kick to the corner was claimed superbly by veteran Daniel Tupou as the former converted for 12-0.

The Sharks seemingly established a foothold in the fixture when they hit back with two tries in two minutes around the midway point in the first half.

A brilliant cut-out pass from Braydon Trindall found the onrushing Sione Katoa, and the winger finished strongly to bring the visitors back to 12-4.

It was 12-10 before either side had got their breath back, with Siosifa Talakai breaking off a dazzling Blayke Brailey run before being cut down by James Tedesco. On the next play, Will Kennedy sent over Ronaldo Mulitalo as Trindall’s conversion brought Cronulla back to within two points.

But just as soon as Cronulla had closed the gap, the Roosters restored their eight-point lead, Cherry-Evans selling the visitors’ defence an outrageous dummy to stretch out with the half-hour in sight. Savala’s conversion was easy as the Roosters led 18-10 at the break.

The half-time breather did little to stem the hosts’ tide either, as Trent Robinson’s men stretched their lead to 14 points on 52 minutes.

It was a pearler of a try as Mark Nawaqanitawase’s flick pass found Robert Toia before Tedesco and Savala got involved to fire Connor Watson over under the posts. Savala made it 24-10 with the Sharks looking down the barrel of a gun.

The visitors should have responded on the hour when Trindall took Jesse Colquhoun’s offload, only for the former to drop possession with the whitewash begging.

That miss proved costly as the Roosters struck with four tries in the final quarter. First, Nawaqanitawase got on the end of a lovely flowing move, before Robert Toia crossed moments later.

Toia turned provider for Tedesco, shifting a magnificent inside pass to the fullback, before Nawaqanitawase put the icing on the cake with eight minutes left as Savala finished the game with seven conversions from eight.

GAMESTAR: Daly Cherry-Evans was in inspiring form.

GAMEBREAKER: Connor Watson’s second-half try ensured Cronulla had to score three times to win.

MATCHFACTS

ROOSTERS
1 James Tedesco
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Billy Smith
4 Robert Toia
5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
6 Hugo Savala
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Naufahu Whyte
9 Reece Robson
10 Lindsay Collins
11 Salesi Foketi
12 Siua Wong
13 Victor Radley
Subs
14 Connor Watson
15 Spencer Leniu
16 Nat Butcher
17 Angus Crichton
18 Cody Ramsey (not used)
22 Toby Rodwell (not used)

Tries: Collins (2), Tupou (11), Cherry-Evans (28), Watson (52), Nawaqanitawase (63, 72), Toia (66), Tedesco (69)
Goals: Savala 7/8

SHARKS
1 Will Kennedy
2 Sione Katoa
4 KL Iro
22 Mawene Hiroti
5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
6 Braydon Trindall
7 Nicho Hynes
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
9 Blayke Brailey
10 Jesse Colquhoun
11 Briton Nikora
12 Teig Wilton
13 Cameron McInnes
Subs
3 Riley Jones (not used)
14 Siosifa Talakai
15 Billy Burns
16 Oregon Kaufusi (not used)
17 Thomas Hazelton
20 Niwhai Puru

Tries: Katoa (22), Mulitalo (24)
Goals: Trindall 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-4, 12-10, 18-10; 24-10, 30-10, 36-10, 40-10, 46-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Roosters: Daly Cherry-Evans; Sharks: Briton Nikora

Penalty count: 4-3
Half-time: 18-10
Referee: Adam Gee
Attendance: 39,147