Roosters trump Manly in finals classic

The Sydney Roosters have crafted a superb, low-scoring 4-0 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles tonight at Allianz Stadium to advance to week three.

After controversy in the first double header match between Cronulla-Sutherland and North Queensland, both the Roosters and Sea Eagles delivered a fantastic spectacle despite the lack of points, with both sides offering up amazing defence over the full eighty minutes.

The only points of the game saw Roosters' winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck cross out wide, pouncing on a James Maloney grubber before his opponents to get the Roosters 4-0 in front after just 11 minutes.

From there the remaining 69 minutes were a blend of exciting and exhausting play, some bone-crunching defence which delivered errors and penalties aplenty (the final penalty count was 12-5 to the Sea Eagles).

The second half was dominated by the Sea Eagles in field position, but they simply couldn't get over the line with "The Wall" of Roosters defence just not giving way. Several chances late in the game for the trailing side were either handed over on the last, or worse still handling errors. The telling factor at the end came in the completion rates, with the Roosters completing 77% of their sets to Manly's 67%.

Both sides will be exhausted but they each march on - the Roosters have a week off and will face the winner of the Storm v Bulldogs or Knights clash in the Preliminary Finals. Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles have a 6 day turnaround to host Cronulla next Friday at Allianz Stadium.

Match Details
Sydney Roosters 4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 0
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Crowd: 32747 (Double Header event with Sharks v Cowboys)
Halftime Score: Sydney Roosters 4-0

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - James Maloney
2 points - Daly Cherry-Evans
1 point - Peta Hiku

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (4)
Tries: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Conversions: James Maloney (0/1)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (0)
No scorers

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary