The Sydney Roosters finally found some solid form as they ran in 6 tries against a Cowboys side that had 3 players sin binned in a frustrating performance, the Tricolours finishing 28-4 winners.
Scoring began in the seventh minute when a Sam Walker kick to the left corner found Daniel Tupou, who tapped it back to Paul Momirovski who dived over the line to score. Walker failed to convert.
The Roosters then spent 14 minutes giving away penalties when they had the Cowboys pinned down inside their own half, however the Cowboys could not find a way to breach the Roosters defences.
In the 21st minute Tom Gilbert was sent to the sin bin for pushing Luke Keary over off the ball.
It took 5 minutes before the Roosters took advantage of having the extra man when Keary received the ball on the right side and quickly got it on to James Tedesco, who had to catch the ball above his head and in the defensive line, yet he somehow caught and passed it with both hands to Joey Manu and the brilliant centre had a clear run to the tryline. Walker was again unable to convert.
The Roosters crossed again in the 32nd minute when Manu, at first receiver on the left side, drifted left and then hit Victor Radley running back towards the left, breaking through the line and crashing over to score. Walker added the extras.
Just 3 minutes later the Roosters scored again when Manu got between the two right edge defenders before flicking a ball out to the unmarked Kevin Naiqama, who strolled in to score a good try. Walker converted.
Within the first 2 minutes of the second half Connor Watson linked with Tedesco for a 50 metre bust up the middle before the fullback was grassed in a good tackle. From the next play Keary kicked to the right side where Manu caught the ball between two Cowboys defenders and then forces his way between them to reach out and score a brilliant try. Walker failed to convert from touch.
In the 51st minute Griffin Neame was sin binned for a late hit on Keary. Five minutes later Walker put in a wobbly old grubber behind the posts, which evaded Chad Townsend. Keary trailing behind, planted the ball down with both hands for what looked like a try. The Bunker reviewed it and disallowed the try after finding an obstruction in the lead-up.
In the 65th minute the Cowboys finally got on the board. From the back of a scrum, the Cowboys went left to Tom Dearden, who spun to avoid a defender who rushed up, then got a great ball to Murray Taulagi, who stepped inside the cover defence and slammed the ball down for a try in the corner. Valentine Holmes failed to convert from the sideline.
In the 72nd minute Chad Townsend produced a stupid and sloppy high tackle that resulted in him being the third Cowboys player sin binned.
The Roosters wasted no time to exploit the depleted Cowboys defence, when Tedesco at first receiver on the left side, threw a lovely cut-out ball to Daniel Tupou in space and he dived over in the corner. Tedesco failed comfortably to convert from the sideline.