Halfback Mitchell Pearce has tonight shrugged of 48 hours of criticism to lead his side to a record-breaking 40 point win over the Sharks in front of over 13,000 fans at Allianz Stadium.
Pearce, who came under fire for his performance for NSW in Wednesday nights State of Origin decider, was the man of the match for his club side tonight after guiding the side around the paddock in a dominant display.
The Roosters flew out of the blocks early with the first try coming just two minutes after kick off when Boyd Cordner was gifted a perfect pass from Pearce on the Sharks line to run over untouched.
It wasnt long before they were in again, in nearly the exact same spot, when Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke ODonnell both found ways through the Sharks line to march their side up the field.
From the resulting play the ball, on Cronullas line, hooker Jake Friend had little trouble in throwing the dummy and diving over to extend the lead.
Although it was the big men in the middle making the difference, it was the left edge that put on a show with the Roosters third try after Friend offloaded midfield for James Maloney to quickly distribute the ball wide for Cordner.
Cordner, showing maturity beyond his years, dragged two defenders in and threw an around the back pass for Michael Jennings in space down the left touch line only for the NSW centre to switch the play back inside for his winger Daniel Tupou who strolled over untouched.
Just twenty minutes had passed when the Roosters were in again for their fourth of the match, with Pearce showing it doesnt matter which side of the field hes on after the No.7 again took on the Sharks line and flicked off a perfect short ball for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to run on to and dive over.
With half time looming it seemed the Chooks would head into the break with a 22 point lead, however Pearce and Cordner had other ideas.
A Sharks mistake gifted the Roosters the chance in the final minute of the opening forty and a perfect cut-out pass from Pearce, across Aidan Guerras chest, into the arms of Cordner saw the vice-captain register his second of the match.
With a 28 point lead at the half time break, you couldnt have blamed the Roosters for coming out in the second a little more relaxed however a rev-up at half time from Trent Robinson saw his side again fly out of the blocks from the opening whistle.
It was just ten minutes before they were in again with Friend again involved heavily, this time darting from dummy half just 10 metres out from the Sharks line and throwing a beautiful ball to former Shark Sam Moa who crashed his way over for his first ever NRL try.
As the holes began to appear in the Sharks line and fatigue set in, a wayward ball out the back of the Roosters line was picked up by Mitchell Aubusson who tucked it under his wing and burst through the broken Sharks line to run 30 metres and cross for what would be the Roosters last.
Albeit a fine attacking show it was the defence of the Bondi side that most impressed those in the stands at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Now known as the Bondi Wall, the Roosters defensive line was again unbreakable and despite chances presenting themselves for the Sharks the last line was never able to be beaten.
The fifth shut-out the Roosters have recorded so far in 2013 sees them equal the record set by their predecessors at Bondi from 1977, who are the only other side since 1908 to hold five sides scoreless in a season.
Not the only record to be broken tonight, the forty point scoreline was also the biggest ever from a Roosters side over the Sharks.
Pearce, who came under fire for his performance for NSW in Wednesday nights State of Origin decider, was the man of the match for his club side tonight after guiding the side around the paddock in a dominant display.
The Roosters flew out of the blocks early with the first try coming just two minutes after kick off when Boyd Cordner was gifted a perfect pass from Pearce on the Sharks line to run over untouched.
It wasnt long before they were in again, in nearly the exact same spot, when Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke ODonnell both found ways through the Sharks line to march their side up the field.
From the resulting play the ball, on Cronullas line, hooker Jake Friend had little trouble in throwing the dummy and diving over to extend the lead.
Although it was the big men in the middle making the difference, it was the left edge that put on a show with the Roosters third try after Friend offloaded midfield for James Maloney to quickly distribute the ball wide for Cordner.
Cordner, showing maturity beyond his years, dragged two defenders in and threw an around the back pass for Michael Jennings in space down the left touch line only for the NSW centre to switch the play back inside for his winger Daniel Tupou who strolled over untouched.
Just twenty minutes had passed when the Roosters were in again for their fourth of the match, with Pearce showing it doesnt matter which side of the field hes on after the No.7 again took on the Sharks line and flicked off a perfect short ball for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to run on to and dive over.
With half time looming it seemed the Chooks would head into the break with a 22 point lead, however Pearce and Cordner had other ideas.
A Sharks mistake gifted the Roosters the chance in the final minute of the opening forty and a perfect cut-out pass from Pearce, across Aidan Guerras chest, into the arms of Cordner saw the vice-captain register his second of the match.
With a 28 point lead at the half time break, you couldnt have blamed the Roosters for coming out in the second a little more relaxed however a rev-up at half time from Trent Robinson saw his side again fly out of the blocks from the opening whistle.
It was just ten minutes before they were in again with Friend again involved heavily, this time darting from dummy half just 10 metres out from the Sharks line and throwing a beautiful ball to former Shark Sam Moa who crashed his way over for his first ever NRL try.
As the holes began to appear in the Sharks line and fatigue set in, a wayward ball out the back of the Roosters line was picked up by Mitchell Aubusson who tucked it under his wing and burst through the broken Sharks line to run 30 metres and cross for what would be the Roosters last.
Albeit a fine attacking show it was the defence of the Bondi side that most impressed those in the stands at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Now known as the Bondi Wall, the Roosters defensive line was again unbreakable and despite chances presenting themselves for the Sharks the last line was never able to be beaten.
The fifth shut-out the Roosters have recorded so far in 2013 sees them equal the record set by their predecessors at Bondi from 1977, who are the only other side since 1908 to hold five sides scoreless in a season.
Not the only record to be broken tonight, the forty point scoreline was also the biggest ever from a Roosters side over the Sharks.
