The Sydney Roosters claimed fourth place with a comfortable 26-8 win over Canterbury in front of nearly 17,000 fans at a soaked Industree Group Stadium in Gosford tonight.
In a match where the rain barely relented all night, continuing the coastal NSW rain event that feels like it's gone all season, the Roosters went ahead early courtesy of a Sam Walker penalty goal.
Down 2-0, Canterbury withstood a weight of possession and field position against them in the first 20 minutes to somehow score the first try of the contest through Jaeman Salmon. The long-range effort wasn't converted by Matt Burton, and when the Tricolours hit back after 22 minutes through winger Dom Young, the converted effort from Sam Walker meant the nominal home side held an 8-4 lead.
Things got a bit quirky around ten minutes from the halftime siren when a pitch invader made himself known, and while play continued after the intruder was ushered off-field, play did need to stop a few minutes later when it was confirmed he'd lost his phone during his adventure - the lost iPhone stopping play once more.
The Roosters weren't phased and Nat Butcher pounced on a Walker kick for the Roosters' second try of the match, and converted that had the hosts ten points clear, and they took that 14-4 lead to the sheds.
After an error-prone and ill-disciplined first half the Bulldogs would've been looking to start well in the second - but it wasn't to be. Jeral Skelton spilled in on the second tackle after the resumption of play and the Roosters were in just a short time later with Terrell May pouncing on another expertly-placed Walker kick.
Down 20-4, the 'Dogs needed a response and it came in the form of a Skelton long-range effort, the winger running 90 metres off a Sexton offload.
Canterbury kept themselves competitive for another 15 minutes but eventually the dam wall broke, and through it came both more rain and Tricolours rookie Blake Steep to score his maiden top-grade four-pointer. At 26-8 down the Bulldogs were well beaten, and couldn't pierce the Roosters solid defence, even when Junior Pauga was marched for a high-shot on Connor Tracey after 73 minutes, and again later when Walker was binned for repeated infringements in the dying minutes.
Sydney held on for a 26-8 win catapulting them into the top four - they head back to Allianz to host the Tigers next round, while Canterbury will aim to keep themselves in the top eight next Friday when they host Cronulla at Accor Stadium.