Rampant Roosters put Cowboys to the sword

A first half try blitz has seen the Sydney Roosters kick off 2015 with a 28-4 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium this evening.

In an impressive performance by the Roosters, Boyd Cordner grabbed himself a double, and Mitchell Pearce staked an early claim for the NSW halfback position.

The Roosters dominated field position early, and reaped the benefits on the scoreboard. Winger Daniel Tupou opened the scoring in the 9th minute, after some great footwork and silky hands from Michael Jennings.

It quickly became apparent that the Cowboys weren't ready for the onslaught that the tri-colours were putting forward - multiple errors in the Cowboys' own danger zone cost them dearly. Winger Justin O'Neill in particular had a night to forget under the high ball.

Aidan Guerra grabbed himself a try in the 25th minute, after Mitchell Pearce put up a kick that the Cowboys fullback had no chance of defusing - with the Queensland representative able to gather the Steeden and dive over.

James Maloney combined brilliantly with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck all night and their efforts showed in the 37th minute, as Maloney put his fullback into open space with a deft inside pass. Tuivasa-Sheck raced 50 metres before drawing Michael Morgan and handing the ball off to Boyd Cordner who grabbed the first of his two tries.

James Maloney began the second half in rampant fashion setting up Cordner for his second. The former Blues five-eighth sliced through a tired and listless Cowboys defensive line, before racing 40 metres and gifting his teammate a try under the posts.

The Cowboys were able to grab a late consolation try through O'Neill but it was much too little, far too late.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson won't be overly happy with his side's performance though. At one stage late in the game his charges had only completed 6 of their 16 second half sets.

The Roosters, buoyed by their win, will now take on the Rabbitohs in a massive clash on Sunday afternoon, while the Cowboys will look to save face at home against a the Newcastle Knights.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (4)
Tries: Justin O'Neill
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (0/1)
Penalty Goals:

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (28)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Aidan Guerra, Boyd Cordner (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (3/4), Boyd Cordner (1/1)
Penalty Goals:

Final game of Saturday night football sees the Sydney Roosters travel up to a hot and humid Townsville to play the Cowboys.... both sides are as named on Tuesday

Welcome to the third match of todays NRL triple header. This final match of the day sees the North Queensland Cowboys squaring off against the Sydney Roosters. Both teams are 1-17. The key match up of tonights encounter sees the master Johnathon Thurston up against the Roosters new co-captain Mitchell Pearce.

3: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Mitchell Pearce makes an unforced error.
Mitchell Pearce throws a forward pass whilst being held up by the Cowboys defence.

4: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
James Maloney makes an unforced error.
After a strong set Maloney puts the ball into touch while trying to find a flying Blake Ferguson

7: The Roosters dominating the field position early on with strong running from Waerea-Hargreaves and co.

8: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
Justin O'neill puts down a high ball on his own try line, gifting the Roosters another set and heaping the pressure on his teammates.

9: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.
NSW winger Daniel Topou opens the scoring after some lovely footwork from Michael Jennings. He danced around his opposite number to put his teammate over in the corner

10: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Maloney misses the conversion from out wide.

11: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Boyd Cordner makes an unforced error.
Cordner spills his lollies three tackles into the next set. Coach Robinson won't be happy with his back rower.

15: Thurston with some questionable defence as he looks to have tripped young Tuivasa-Sheck on a kick return. The fullback did well to not go down.

18: The video ref denies Gavin Cooper a try after not being able to ground a Johnathon Thurston chip kick

19: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
Antonio Winterstein spills the resulting line drop out and the pressure is off the Roosters hard working defence

21: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Michael Jennings make North Queensland pay in the resulting set as he dives on a pin point kick from Mitchell Pearce to help his side to a 8-nil lead.

23: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney has no difficulty with the conversion from in front and the Roosters lead by 10.

24: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
Jusitn O'Niells' night goes from bad to worse as he drops another high ball inside his on 10. The Cowboys are in all sorts defensively.

25: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Aidan Guerra. Kick to come.
Mitchell Pearce does the damage again as his deft kick allows Guerra to beat Michael Morgan to the ball and dive over.

26: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney puts it through the posts and it's already looking ominous for the hapless Cowboys.

29: Michael Morgan earns his side a repeat set after a neat grubber into the in goal before wrapping up Tuivasa-Sheck.

31: The Cowboys aren't able to do anything with the field position with O'Neill being bulldozed over the sideline

35: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
O'Neill knocks down a Jennings offload and the Roosters will get a scrum on halfway.

37: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Boyd Cordner. Kick to come.
Boyd Cordner grabs his second meat pie after a lovely inside pass from Maloney to Tuivasa-Sheck. The fullback raced 30 metres before drawing Morgan and gifting the number 11 another try.

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by Boyd Cordner successful.
Maloney's kicking practice from in front continues as he knocks it over for a 22 nil lead.

40: It's Half time at 1300SMILES Stadium with the Sydney Roosters running riot against a tired looking Cowboys side. Paul Green has some work to do at the break!

40: Maloney gets us back underway here in North Queensland! Cowboys fans will be hoping coach Greens halftime talk has worked wonders

43: Oh so close!! Michael Morgan splits Jennings and Maloney in two and looked certain to score before spilling it over the line. A late lunge from Maloney may have saved his team four points.

46: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Siosiua Taukeiaho makes an unforced error.
The big man off the bench tried to get a ball out the back to Aidan Guerra but the ref calls it forward.

50: The Cowboys earn a repeat set on the Roosters line after Blake Ferguson looked to have unintentionally kicked the ball into touch.

51: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Aidan Guerra makes an unforced error.
Aidan Guerra spills his lollies and the Cowboys get a third set in quick succession on the tri-colours line.

54: Morgan earns his side ANOTHER set after a grubber that left Topou with no choice but to put it dead. Surely they have to score in this coming set.

55: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Scott makes an unforced error.
You have to be kidding!! Big man Matthew Scott had a try at his mercy after Tuivasa-Sheck knocked the ball into the props hands over the line. The Maroons prop dropped the ball before grounding it though! Word is Paul Green is waiting for his taxi outside the ground.

58: Roger Tuivasa-Scheck produces a brilliant 50 metre kick return to get his side down the other end of the park. A try here for the Roosters and it's curtains.

61: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Boyd Cordner. Kick to come.
James Maloney produces some dazzling footwork to split the Cowboys defence. The five-eight raced 40 metres before dishing it off to Boyd Cordner who dived over untouched for his second.

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney gets to take another conversion to from in front. He should attempt this one with his left foot for fun. 28-0 Roosters.

67: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes an unforced error.
The big winger puts it down after Mitchell Pearce created another line break opportunity.

69: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Justin O'Neill. Kick to come.
The Cowboys finally give their fans something to cheer about. O'Neill crosses in the corner after a great offload from Ethan Lowe and some quick hands from Thurston and Robert Lui.

70: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
The Cowboys halfback misses the conversion from out wide.

73: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ben Hannant makes an unforced error.
A great shot from Aidan Guerra forces the ball loose from the big front rower.

78: Sums up the Cowboys night. They have had 50 tackles in the Roosters 20 metre zone yet only managed to cross the stripe once.

80: And that's all she wrote. Despite going into the game as favourites, the Cowboys have put in a somewhat underwhelming performance, thoroughly beaten by the Sydney Roosters. Stay tuned for our match report shortly.