Round 3
Roosters 56 d. Raiders 20

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Sydney Roosters
Amos Roberts [WG] 12 Pts; 2t, 2/2g
Craig Fitzgibbon [PR] 12 Pts; 6/8g
Anthony Minichiello [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
Anthony Tupou [BE] 8 Pts; 2t
Ryan Cross [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Ashley Harrison [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
Iosia Soliola [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Brett Finch [DH] 4 Pts; 1t

Canberra Raiders
Alan Tongue [LK] 8 Pts; 2t
Clinton Schifcofske [FB] 4 Pts; 2/4g
David Howell [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Lincoln Withers [HB] 4 Pts; 1t



Roosters blow Raiders apart in second half demoltion
Sun March 26, 2006
The Sydney Roosters have come from 20-10 down to defeat the Canberra Raiders 56-20 in front of just under 10,000 fans at Aussie Stadium, scoring eight unanswered tries as they romped to an easy victory.

Canberra came out firing as they looked to avenge the 70 points they conceded last week with Alan Tongue scoring in the 14th minute. The Raiders 4-0 lead was short lived when Iosia Soliola scored outwide with Craig Fitzgibbon landing a great sideline conversion to give the Roosters a two-point lead.

More tit-for-tat with David Howell scoring in the 27th minute to regain Canberra's lead only for Amos Roberts to score four minutes later for the Roosters to push out to a 10-8 lead.

Lincoln Withers scored two minutes before halftime to give the Raiders a 14-10 lead with Clinton Schifcofske landing his first goal of the afternoon. Tongue's second try six minutes into the second half gave Canberra fans false hope of an upset victory leading 20-10. Canberra did have their chances to further their lead with Adrian Purtell squandering one certain try.

The Roosters onslaught in the final 29 minutes where they scored eight tries and 46 points sent danger signals to all the other NRL clubs that they really have to beat the Roosters in the opening 60 minutes or otherwise they are gone. Roberts, Anthony Minichiello and Anthony Tupou all helped themselves to doubles as the Bondi boys enjoyed complete freedom to move and showcased their vast skills.

One concern for Roosters coach Ricky Stuart will be their poor starts to matches but they are much easier to fix than poor finishes. Poor starts just comes down to poor attitude from the outset and the Roosters have the players on paper to ensure it won't be happening too often. Poor finishes however often results in lack of fitness, ability or mental application and the Roosters show they have none of those three weaknesses, even last week scoring an unanswered 18 points against the Storm to nearly snatch victory from an impossible situation.

Canberra for two weeks in a row have leaked in more than 50 points but they have played two of the NRL's three hot shots from this season in the Knights and Roosters. Next week the Raiders host the undefeated Panthers but despite Penrith's good start to the season, they aren't in the class of Newcastle or the Roosters and should be a much more competitive encounter.

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