Slayin’ Smith destroys Dragons

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Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons

Sandon Smith has delivered a playmaking masterclass to completely bamboozle the Dragons and get the Roosters season back on track, in their traditional ANZAC Day clash.

The Roosters opened the scoring in their first set of the game when they shifted the ball to the left edge to Daniel Tupou who found space. He drew the defender then flicked the ball inside to Sandon Smith, who brushed off Clint Gutherson on his way to scoring a try. Smith then converted his own try.

5 minutes later, Valentine Holmes come up out of the defensive line and absolutely smashed Hugo Savala, forcing him to lose the ball backwards. Sione Finau picked up the loose ball and then raced 80 metres to score a brilliant try against the run of play. Holmes converted to level the scores.

The Roosters reclaimed the lead in the 16th minute when Billy Smith switched from the left side to the right, then threw a ball behind Robert Toia which bounced out to Mark Nawaqanitawase, who fielded it and just managed to get across the line for a try. Sandon Smith converted.

Sandon Smith kicked a penalty goal in the 32nd minute, then 4 minutes later he extended the Roosters score even further when a Roosters pass was almost intercepted by Jacob Liddle, who knocked the ball up. As Liddle went to regather it, Sandon Smith claimed it, ran through the defensive line and up to Gutherson, who fell for a semi-shimmy and Smith scored under the posts. He then converted his own try. At halftime the Roosters led 20-6.

Sandon Smith got sent to the sin bin 5 minutes after play resumed for a high shot. The Roosters received a penalty after they had a try disallowed and Savala kicked the penalty goal.

2 minutes later, Zach Dockar-Clay out of dummy half, got an offload away in the defensive line to Blake Steep in the clear. Steep ran up to Gutherson and sold him a dummy before continuing on to score under the posts. Savala again converted.

The Dragons hit back 2 minutes later when Gutherson on the left edge, got a lovely offload away to Holmes. Holmes made a break down the left wing before turning it inside to Kyle Flanagan who scored. Holmes added the extras.

Shortly after Smith returned from the sin bin he made a clever run into a small gap and then put in a brilliant grubber while being tackled and James Tedesco planted it for a try. Smith converted.

Just before the hour mark, Smith landed a penalty goal. Six minutes later Smith made a break after a brilliant run from dummy half, drew Gutherson before passing inside to Tedesco, but the veteran fullback couldn't hold the pass.

Tyrell Sloan scored a try in the 73rd minute which Holmes converted before Tedesco responded with a try from dummy half of his own 4 minutes later, which Smith failed to convert.

90 seconds before full time, the Roosters scored yet again when Victor Radley offloaded inside to Tedesco who drew Gutherson before passing inside to Savala, who strolled in to score. Smith converted to take his personal tally for the night to 22 points.