Walker clinical, Dragons diabolical

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St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters

Sam Walker put on an attacking masterclass as his Roosters absolutely belted the Dragons 60-18. 

The very first run of the game by Jared Warea-Hargreaves saw him have a heavy collision with 3 Dragons defenders, one of whom was Moses Suli, who copped a head knock and was brough from the field with a concussion and immediately ruled out for the rest of the game.

In the fifth minute, Zac Lomax got a great flick to Tyrell Sloan who wrapped around and raced down the wing and chipped downfield. The ball bounced back towards the Dragons end, but evaded everyone. Ben Hunt regathered, passed back inside to Jack Bird who quickly passed to Jaydn Su'A who was tackled, the defender dropped off, he got back up and slammed the ball down for a spectacular try. Lomax converted.

In the 11th minute the Roosters struck back when Dominic Young was taken down by a legs tackle, but wasn't ruled to be held. He continued on, crawling over the line and slamming the ball down for a try. Sam Walker converted from the sideline.

The Roosters took the lead just 5 minutes later. After a strong run off his own line, Lomax offloaded back to an unsuspecting Hunt, who dropped the ball. Michael Jennings cleaned up and passed to Angus Chrichton who strolled in for a soft try. Walker converted.

A great run by Nat Butcher set up a great opportunity for the Roosters. On the next play, Walker at dummy half put a chip over the top and Joey Manu followed through and planted the rolling ball in the Dragons in-goal for a brilliant try. Walker again converted.

Just 3 minutes later, Walker grubbered through and as he chased the ball, Nu Brown ankle tapped him. Walker just got his hand on the ball and very nearly grounded it. The Bunker awarded him a penalty try. Walker converted.

4 minutes before the break, Luke Keary kicked cross-field. Manu tapped it back to Nat Butcher, who then got between two defenders and slammed the ball down for a try. Walker converted.

At halftime the Roosters had a commanding 30-6 lead.

11 minutes into the second half, the Dragons scored, when Jack De Belin ran onto a crash ball, stepped at the line and then scored against the upright. Lomax converted.

The Roosters replied shortly after when Keary ran to the line and slipped through to score. Walker converted.

Just after the hour mark had passed, a kick was put up by Walker. Two Dragons collided as they tried to field the kick, the ball came loose and Joey Manu cleaned up before strolling in to score in the corner. Walker converted from the sideline.

The following set, saw Watson at dummy half, running to the line before he offloaded to Angus Crichton, who broke through the defence, drew the fullback and then passed inside to James Tedesco in support who scored. Walker converted from in front.

With 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Dragons refused to quit. Tom Eisenhuth received a long cut-out pass from Lomax and he strolled in for an easy try. Lomax converted.

Inside the final ten minutes, the Roosters brought up 50 points when Walker on the last tackle and close to the Dragons line, grubbered through and Nat Butcher took it cleanly scored a clever try. Walker converted.

With just 3 mins left in the game, Egan Butcher produced a perfect behind-the-back flick pass which found Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who stepped inside the two cover defenders and then dived over to score. Walker converted. 

The Roosters whitewash finally came to an end, as the belted the Dragons 60-18.