It wasn't their prettiest performance of the season, but the Tricolours did enough to get the job done, defeating the Canberra Raiders 28-22 at Allianz Stadium.
In front of a loud home crowd and led out by the unfamiliar faces of Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the Roosters led all throughout the match and never looked threatened until the dying stages when two late Raiders tries threatened an upset.
Michael Jennings was dangerous all night scoring a double, while James Maloney continued his run of form setting up a handful of tries with a clever passing performance.
Playing on the wing due to a forced re-shuffle during the week. Shaun Kenny-Dowall was outstanding in attack and defence, scoring a four pointer to go with it.
Determined to lead from the front, Waerea-Hargreaves was at his bustling best pulling off a highlights reel of big shots throughout the eighty minutes.
Maloney was the first to score in the match when he pulled off an impressive intercept to run the length of the field.
It was tries back and forth for the rest of the half including a double for Jennings, sending the Tricolours in to the break in front by six.
Two well executed tries at the start of the second, an unbelievable pass from Maloney to set up Tupou and a perfectly timed backline movement finished off by Kenny-Dowall, and it looked like the Tricolours might run away with it.
It wasn't to be as a couple of uncharacteristic defensive lapses gifted the Raiders two late tries and looked to put the visitors back in contention.
The Tricolours then re gathered themselves and showed great grit to hold out a couple of sets on their lone to come away with the win.
Next up for the Roosters, an away clash next weekend at Allianz Stadium against the Tigers.
In front of a loud home crowd and led out by the unfamiliar faces of Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the Roosters led all throughout the match and never looked threatened until the dying stages when two late Raiders tries threatened an upset.
Michael Jennings was dangerous all night scoring a double, while James Maloney continued his run of form setting up a handful of tries with a clever passing performance.
Playing on the wing due to a forced re-shuffle during the week. Shaun Kenny-Dowall was outstanding in attack and defence, scoring a four pointer to go with it.
Determined to lead from the front, Waerea-Hargreaves was at his bustling best pulling off a highlights reel of big shots throughout the eighty minutes.
Maloney was the first to score in the match when he pulled off an impressive intercept to run the length of the field.
It was tries back and forth for the rest of the half including a double for Jennings, sending the Tricolours in to the break in front by six.
Two well executed tries at the start of the second, an unbelievable pass from Maloney to set up Tupou and a perfectly timed backline movement finished off by Kenny-Dowall, and it looked like the Tricolours might run away with it.
It wasn't to be as a couple of uncharacteristic defensive lapses gifted the Raiders two late tries and looked to put the visitors back in contention.
The Tricolours then re gathered themselves and showed great grit to hold out a couple of sets on their lone to come away with the win.
Next up for the Roosters, an away clash next weekend at Allianz Stadium against the Tigers.
