Club Weekend Results: 26th – 27th July, 2025

NSW Cup

The 6th placed Sydney Roosters NSW Cup team have had a major dent put in their finals hopes with an agonising last minute loss to the 7th placed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground.

The Roosters were dominant early to lead the Bulldogs 12-0 inside the first twelve minutes. A 30 metre break by in-form five eighth Toby Rodwell led to a quick shift to the right, off the ensuring play the ball, that saw right winger Trey Peni score in the corner. Rodwell landed the sideline conversion. Right edge forward and captain Max McCathie was next to score and with that conversion the Roosters were flying high. It wasn’t until the 30 minute mark that the Bulldogs scored their first try, to left winger Jonathon Su’a, and with Toby Sexton’s conversion the Bulldogs had halved the Roosters lead to 12-6.

In the dying minutes of the first half, after a powerful run by bench prop Xavier Va’a, the Roosters shifted the ball to the left before fullback Reece Foley lobbed a lovely cut out pass to give left winger Tom Rodwell a clear passage to the tryline. The conversion was missed by Rodwell’s younger brother but at the break the Roosters led 16-6.

In the first Roosters set of the second half the highly impressive Toby Rodwell took the ball from dummy half just outside the Roosters 10 metre mark. With the markers seemingly disorganised Rodwell took off, through a dummy and burst into the backfield. After a 40 metre run, Toby found his older brother Tom in support and Tom raced 50 metres to score. It was Tom Rodwell’s 18th try of the season, through 17 games, and he remains the competition’s leading try scorer. The Toby Rodwell conversion pushed the Roosters lead out to 22-6 and there was good reason for optimism from the Roosters supporters.

However, in what was to be a major turning point in the game bench forward Aston Warwick was sin binned in the 46th minute of the game. With the Roosters reduced to 12 men, the Bulldogs ran in two converted tries to their left edge forward Logan Spinks as the Bulldogs exploited the Roosters 12-man defensive line. By the time Warwick returned the Roosters lead had been reduced to 22-18. A Toby Rodwell penalty goal in the 58th minute gave the Roosters a little more breathing space and the chance to close the match out. The Roosters, however, lacked ball control in the final 20 minutes of the match and gave the Bulldogs multiple opportunities to draw level. Eventually, with seven minutes to go, prop Jack Todd did score for the Bulldogs and the Sexton conversion tied the scores up 24-24.

Even though a drawn game, given their position on the competition table, would have been as good as a win for the Roosters, the Roosters were intent on winning the match and that was their undoing. A missed field goal led to a change of possession and a penalty soon after to the Bulldogs 20 metres out from their line gave the Bulldogs field position for one last crack at a home town victory. In the dying minute, as the Bulldogs attempted a field goal shot of their own, the referee ruled that the Roosters chasers were off side and awarded the Bulldogs a penalty in front of the posts. The Sexton kick was successful and the Bulldogs had come from 22-6 behind to win 26-24. It certainly was a game the Roosters should not have lost and they’ll rue a number of key moments in the game that were costly.

As a result of the loss the Roosters remain in 6th spot but are two wins behind 5th placed Penrith. In the Roosters’ favour is a favourable draw, however. The Roosters five remaining games are against the five bottom sides on the ladder, whilst the Panthers have three matches against top four opposition in their run in. It is likely still that the Roosters might need to win all five remaining games. The first of those is next Saturday when the Roosters play Manly-Warringah at Brookvale in the middle game of a triple header between the two clubs.

Jersey Flegg Cup (Men’s Under 21s)

The 9th placed Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup team had the bye this weekend, as did the rest of the competition. The Roosters next play on Saturday, 2nd August against Manly-Warringah at Brookvale.

NSW Women’s Premiership

The 10th placed Central Coast Roosters NSW Women’s Premiership team have been beaten 30-18 by 5th placed Canterbury-Bankstown in their Round 4 clash at Woy Woy.

The Roosters, with NRLW squad members Jayde Herdegen (halfback) and Imogen Hei (hooker) in their line-up, as well as NRLW development players Talea Tonga (five eighth, Ellie Brander (lock) and Sienna Thomas (fullback), began in fine fashion to lead 10-0 after 13 minutes and 18-8 after 42 minutes. However, the Bulldogs were far too strong in the end after the Roosters error rate led to a major swing in possession. Four second half tries to Canterbury-Bankstown gave them a convincing win in the end against the youthful Central Coast outfit. It was the Roosters third loss in their four games this season.

Next Saturday the Roosters travel to Lidcombe Oval to play the Wests Tigers, who will be backing up from their match on Monday night.

Ron Massey Cup

The 4th placed Glebe Ron Massey Cup team have continued the hard times of last placed Blacktown Workers with a very convincing win in their Round 17 clash at St Marys. Blacktown, beaten 80-0 a week earlier by Mounties were no match for a rampaging Dirty Reds, with Glebe winning 62-6.

Glebe, with Roosters NSW Cup players Emery Jolliffe (winger), Lafi Tuinauvai (prop) and Josh Finau (lock) in their line-up, ran in 11 tries in total, after leading 40-0 at half time. Fullback Kakapuna Fotu scored three of Glebe’s tries whilst five eighth Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari scored 22 points from a try and 9 conversions.

Blacktown were forced to play the final three minutes with 11 men after second rower Jacob Wright was sin binned in the 75th minute and winger Samuel Stratis was sent off in the 77th minute for apparent abuse of a match official.

The win keeps the Dirty Reds in the Top 4, with matches against the 8th placed Bulldogs (Round 18) and 2nd placed Hawks (Round 20) to come. Glebe has another bye in Round 19.  However, with 5th placed Wentworthville playing the bottom two teams in the weeks ahead, together with a bye, Glebe will probably need to win both their remaining games to be still be in the Top 4 when the semi finals commence, after Wentworthville remained level with Glebe on competition points with their surprise win over Mounties on Saturday.

Glebe’s next match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs is played at Hammondville Oval next Saturday.

Sydney Shield

The 5th placed Glebe Sydney Shield team have lost their Round 17 clash against the 3rd placed Manly Leagues 30-16 to drop a further place on the competition table.

The Dirty Reds, with Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup squad members Druzel Taula (winger), Jonti Morshead-Fieldel (centre) and Jacob Tinsley (hooker) in their line-up, were behind 16-0 inside the first ten minutes, and that ten minutes would in the end be the difference between the two sides. Glebe fought valiantly after that initial onslaught and outscored the Sea Eagles 16-14 over the final 70 minutes.

Glebe now sit 6th on the competition table, one point behind 4th placed The Hills Bulls and equal on points with 5th placed St Marys, with three rounds remaining. However, Glebe’s final three remaining rounds see them face the two bottom teams as well as a bye in Round 19 but with St Marys having two more byes and a clash with 8th placed Ryde-Eastwood in their final three rounds, Saints are in the box seat now to take fourth place following Glebe’s loss on Sunday.

Next Saturday Glebe travel to Hammondville Oval to take on last placed Moorebank Rams in one of only two Sydney Shield matches to be played next weekend.

See the latest results below for all the Senior Representative and Affiliate club sides.