Roosters ramp up for finals football

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Sydney Roosters v Parramatta Eels

The Sydney Roosters have made a statement in the run towards September by embarrassing the Parramatta Eels 28-0 in Mackay.

Claiming the scalp of a top four team for the first time this season, the Roosters steadied after a poor start to draw level with the fourth-placed Eels on 28 premiership points.

The victory proved to be a fitting result for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who became the fifth player in the history of the Sydny Roosters to reach 250 first grade appearances for the foundation club. 

In an error-riddled opening where both teams completed at a standard unbecoming of first grade, the Roosters struck the opening blow through recalled veteran Josh Morris (25th minute) following a strong run from Joey Manu in the lead up.

Doubling their lead in the following set, Sam Walker sent James Tedesco into space before Sitili Tupouniua (27th minute) finished off the play with his 11th try of the season.

Losing Reagan Campbell-Gillard with a groin injury inside the opening ten minutes, the Eels were dealt a further blow with Waqa Blake failing his HIA while Blake Ferguson sustained a nasty head gash that required stitches.

A try-saving tackle from Tedesco on Dylan Brown in the final minutes of the first half saw the Roosters head to the sheds up 12-0.

Producing a 12-point turnaround after Tom Opacic was deemed to have knocked on in the act of scoring, Walker (52nd minute) used his speed and a show-and-go to put the ‘home' side up by three converted tries.

The Eels squandered another opportunity to get on the board with Clinton Gutherson knocking on prior to Brown diving over the try line.  

Coming into the centres after spending much of the season as an interchange hooker, Adam Keighran made amends for a wayward penalty goal by delivering the final pass for Daniel Tupou (69th minute) to secure the two points.

Manu (75th minute) capped a memorable night in Mackay by racing 60 metres from a quick tap to round out the 28-0 victory.

In the only negative for the victors, Josh Morris departed the match midway through the second half with a hamstring injury in a further blow to the side's backline stocks.

Next week, the Roosters face the Panthers on Saturday evening as part of the Suncorp Stadium triple-header, while the Eels take on the Rabbitohs at CBUS Super Stadium on Friday night.