2025 UK Pre-Season Friendlies
27 days ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
The Sydney Roosters have comfortably accounted for the Manly-Warringah Sea-Eagles in a dominant display all across the park, spearheaded by brilliant fullback James Tedesco.
Tedesco, playing his 250th NRL game, proved he's still one of the games elite players, with a magnificent performance.
The game though got off to an insane start, with the very first tackle of the match resulted in Tolutau Koula copping a heavy head-knock which saw him ruled out with a concussion after just 12 seconds.
Play resumed and on the second tackle of the game, Jake Trbojevic clashed heads with Matt Lodge, which resulted in the Manly forward also coming off for an HIA. He was later cleared to return to play.
The Roosters opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Tedesco, 5 metres from the Manly line, ran to the defence, propped and then dished a sweet ball to Victory Radley who ran off the back fence onto the pass and scored under the posts. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii converted.
Suaalii landed a penalty goal in the 25th minute and then 6 minutes later, the Roosters extended their lead further courtesy of a beautiful short-side play. Tedesco wrapped around the back, creating the extra man, then linked with Daniel Tupou who turns it back to Tedesco in support, who barged over to score. Suaalii converted from out wide.
The Roosters crossed again just 4 minutes before halftime when Sandon Smith cleaned up a stray pass that went to ground. He then dummied and stood up Daly Cherry-Evans with his step and then explosive speed, breaking the line and racing away to score. Suaalii converts.
With just seconds left in the half, Manly got themselves on the board when Cherry-Evans put up a genius chip close to the Roosters line and Haumole Olakau'atu received a perfect bounce and he regathered to score. Reuben Garrick failed to convert. At halftime, the Roosters held a comfortable 20-4 lead.
The Roosters wasted little time to extend their lead once play resumed, crossing within the first 2 minutes of the second half when Tedesco held up a lovely pass for Tupou, who then dived over to score in the corner. Suaalii converted from the sideline.
Suaalii kicked another penalty goal in the 54th minute. Three minutes later, Tedesco used his speed and a change of direction to barge over to score near the posts. Suaalii converted.
Manly scored in the 59th minute when Cherry-Evans kicked across-field to the unmarked Tommy Talau, who got a poor bounce. Talau got a hand on the ball, but then reached out to reel the ball in before it hit the ground and managed to force it for a try. Garrick converted.
Sandon Smith kicked a penalty goal in the 66th minute. Manly responded in the 74th minute when Luke Brooks hit Ben Trbojevic with a short flat ball at the line, and the youngest Trbojevic busted through the line and scored a good try. Garrick converted.
With just over 4 minutes remaining, Luke Keary kicked to the right corner where Joey Manu caught it, then got a good offload away to the unmarked Dom Young and the winger scored. Smith failed to convert, the Roosters producing a dominant 40-16 victory.
Sydney Roosters 40 - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Crowd: 40818
Halftime Score: Sydney Roosters 20 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 4
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - James Tedesco
2 points - Sandon Smith
1 points - Connor Watson
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (40)
Tries: Victor Radley, James Tedesco (2), Sandon Smith, Daniel Tupou, Dominic Young
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (5/5), Sandon Smith (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2/2), Sandon Smith (1/1)
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (16)
Tries: Haumole Olakau'atu, Tommy Talau, Ben Trbojevic
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (2/3)
Penalty Goals: