Roosters cruise past gritty Tigers

FOR 40 minutes the Wests Tigers punched above their weight.

But in the end the class of the Sydney Roosters shone on the way to a comfortable 33-8 win at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

The loss in front of 10,186 fans leaves the Tigers in a dogfight to avoid the wooden spoon with Gold Coast and Newcastle, but you couldn't fault the effort.

The Tigers trailed 8-4 at the break before the Roosters kicked clear with another four second half tries to consolidate their position in the top four and keep the pressure on North Queensland.

Roosters five-eighth James Maloney had a busy night, scoring a try, kicking six goals, a field goal and having a hand in a few others.

He said his side were guilty of playing too lateral and trying to play fancy before going forward.

"We probably tried to move the ball a little bit too early and we went back to the basics in the second half and found a bit of joy there so that was pleasing," he said.

Lock forward Aiden Guerra was a constant threat on the right edge and said they were caught off guard throughout the first half before they settled into a rhythm in the second 40.

"It was one of those performances where they sort of came to us and got us a bit rattled there at the start but credit to the boys to come out in the second half and play our football again and come away with the win," he said.

"We've mentioned it throughout the season; we can't go away from what works for us. We know that's good, hard running with good support and to throw the pass if it's on. Sometimes it doesn't come off but in the second half it did more times than it didn't."

Daniel Tupou opened the tryscoring efforts in the 20th minute with an athletic put down in the corner after he appeared to have nowhere to go.

James Tedesco hit back for the Tigers seven minutes later when he sliced through out wide to keep the home side in touch.

The Roosters class showed in the second half with further tries to Sam Moa and James Maloney with winger Brendan Elliott bagging a double.

Pat Richards momentarily stemmed the points flow for the Tigers in the 59th minute.

Roosters forward Guerra was confident his side was in a good position with six weeks until the finals.

"We're building towards the end of the season," he said.

Next week, both sides are at home in Friday night football - the Roosters are at Allianz against fellow title contenders Canterbury, while the Tigers shift to Leichhardt to host the Storm.

Match Details

Wests Tigers 8 Sydney Roosters 33
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 10186
Halftime Score: Wests Tigers 4 Sydney Roosters 8

WESTS TIGERS (8)
Tries: James Tedesco, Pat Richards
Conversions: Pat Richards (0/2)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (33)
Tries: James Maloney, Daniel Tupou, Brendan Elliott (2), Sam Moa
Field Goals: James Maloney (1/1)
Conversions: James Maloney (5/5)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - James Maloney
2 points - Boyd Cordner
1 point - Aidan Guerra

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

8: We're back on air at ANZ and there's still been no score. Chris Lawrence has already left the field for the Tigers though, with an ankle injury. He probably won't be back.

9: PENALTY Tigers. Jake Friend lying on the tackled player too long.

11: PENALTY Roosters. Tigers offside.

12: PENALTY Roosters. Woods with a hand on the football.

13: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney opens the scoring.

14: PENALTY Roosters. Richards kicks out on the full.

16: Pearce tries to kick in behind but Taupau puts his boot in the way. Roosters scrum.

18: The Tigers defence again holds firm with Brooks jolting the ball free from RTS. Tigers scrum.

19: PENALTY Tigers. Jennings gets tangled up in the play-the-ball.

20: Moses' pass is put down and Jennings scoops up the free ball.

20: PENALTY Roosters. Woods again the culprit.

21: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Roosters try.

21: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.
Tupou opens the tryscoring account for the visitors tonight with another freakish effort out wide. It appeared nothing was on, but he doubled back down the blindside and put the ball down in the corner.

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney adds the extras from the eastern touchline.

23: The Roosters move the ball down the left and after Tupou kicks back in-field the Tigers are lucky Naiqama was back there to clean up.

24: Knock-on from the Tigers. Halatau puts down big Keefy's offload.

24: Guerra spills his lollies under pressure from Naiqama.

25: PENALTY Tigers. Roosters holding down the tackled player.

27: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by James Tedesco. Kick to come.
Tedesco hits back for the Tigers. A perfect play to the right sees Halatau and Moses combine to put the fullback over out wide.

28: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richards conversion swings across the face.

31: The Tigers again move the ball to the right and Nofoaluma has the ball stolen from RTS. Roosters scrum.

31: PENALTY Roosters. Lovett hangs on too long around the ruck.

32: RTS throws the ball to Elliott who can't get a handle on it. Ball goes into touch. Tigers scrum.

35: Roosters run the ball on the last and Jennings is taken ball and all by Naiqama. Tigers ball.

35: And now Brooks puts the ball down on the second tackle.

37: Ferguson is now bundled into touch by Simona and Richards. Tigers ball.

38: Brooks kicks back towards the posts and Cherrington is then tackled without the ball. Roosters force it in-goal. Dropout.

39: Brooks fires a pass that would have gone through Curtis Sironen but he gets a hand to it and knocks on. Roosters ball.

40: A scrappy end to the half sees another error from the Roosters. That'll do us for the first 40.

40: Halftime at ANZ and the Roosters lead 8-4.

40: Both sides out on the park for the second stanza. Tigers to kick off.

40: We're underway again.

41: Pearce goes to the air, but Tedesco comes up with the catch.

42: Taukeiaho with the bust.

43: The Roosters were going backwards and the Tigers sent Tedesco through the middle with Brooks looming up but the fullback spilled his lollies.

45: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Roosters try

45: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Brendan Elliott. Kick to come.
Elliott scores out wide for the Roosters. Pearce's kick across field went through the hands of Ferguson and clean bowled Richards before the winger won the race to the ball to touch down in the corner.

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney raises the flags from out near the sideline.

49: Roosters throw the ball on the last after Maloney's kick was batted back by Tupou.

52: PENALTY Roosters. Buchanan lies on Pearce and is lucky not to end up in the sinbin with a blatant professional foul.

53: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Sam Moa. Kick to come.
Sam Moa crosses alongside the posts after an interchange of passing. Danger signs now for the Tigers.

54: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney again adds the extras.

57: Moses forces the error from Elliott and the Tigers are on the attack.

57: PENALTY Tigers. Friend with a hand on the ball

58: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Pat Richards. Kick to come.
Richards gives the Tigers a glimmer of hope by scoring out wide after a great pass from Halatau.

59: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richards hits the post from the sideline.

61: PENALTY Roosters. Tigers run the ball on the last and Richards kicks back in-field but the chasers are offside.

62: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Roosters try,

62: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by James Maloney. Kick to come.
Maloney finishes off a play straight through the heart of the Tigers defence. Cordner ran a perfect inside line before drawing the fullback and sending Maloney across.

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney makes it five from five.

65: Tigers run the ball on the last to the left and Simona kicks back in-field. Guerra wins the race to bat the ball dead.

68: Nofoaluma is thrown into touch on tackle two after the Tigers won six again. Roosters ball.

69: PENALTY Roosters. Hand on the ball.

69: Friend has a dig from dummy half and he's held up.

70: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Field goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney kicks a left-footed field goal after it appeared Friend was going to get stuck in possession.

70: PENALTY Roosters. Richards again kicks the ball out on the full.

73: PENALTY Roosters. Play-the-ball again slowed down.

73: Tigers defence holds firm and forces the error from the Roosters.

75: The boys get a bit restless after Taupau comes up with a swinging arm on Maloney.

75: SIN BIN
Martin Taupau is sent to the sin bin.
Taupau gets an early shower for the fracas.

76: Pearce throws a short pass intended for Cordner which is knocked down by Brooks. Roosters ball.

78: JWH is ruled to have knocked on. Late call, but the right one. The boys will pack a scrum.

79: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Brendan Elliott. Kick to come.
Elliott puts an exclamation point on the Roosters performance when he scoops up a loose pass and races 30m to score.

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney makes it 6/6 with the boot.