Round 16
Raiders 42 d. Roosters 10

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

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

Canberra continue Roosters woes
Sun June 25, 2006
An unheralded Canberra outfit has moved six points clear on the Telstra Premiership table of the star-studded Roosters after an impressive 42-10 victory in the Nations Capital today.

Canberra were one of the favourites to take out the Wooden Spoon this year and after 16 rounds with 10 to play they now sit in the top eight with their destiny now firmly in their own hands. Coach Matthew Elliott maybe heading to Penrith next year but he hasn't allowed any distractions to get in his way as he will leave the Raiders on the best of terms with the club in excellent health for Neil Henry to take over in 2007.

Elliott has the Green Machiine playing to their strengths and they play a good basic brand of football. Critics refer to the Raiders as boring but no team that scores seven tries is boring, they are just well organised and play for good field position.

The Roosters on the other hand is a team glittered with stars, big names and enjoy remarkable positive coverage in the media. They signed the two current State of Origin players on the open market post 30th June and the majority of pundits had them finishing in the top four, let alone the top eight. The Roosters are now in equal second last position with Parramatta (who have been equally disappointing) and the New Zealand Warriors who started the season minus four points. Only South Sydney is preventing the Roosters from being a genuine wooden spoon contender this season.

Whereas Elliott has Canberra played to their strengths and relying on a stable format, the Roosters are anything but stable. Coach Ricky Stuart has been chopping and changing his side every week and has at times had too many stars in some positions and the team doesn't looked organised. For the Raiders game Stuart made only one change from the squad that lost to the Wests Tigers but included many positional changes including Brett Finch to hooker, Craig Wing to centre, Ryan Cross on the wing and rookie Josh Lewis taking over as halfback.

It was the bleakest result for the Bondi club since Mal Meninga collected 38 points from five tries and nine goals in the Roosters record 66-4 defeat in 1990.

The Roosters have prided on themselves being the Benchmark and Professional club in the game and their signings of high profile players each and every season rightly has fans demanding results. A few weeks ago Stuart said the Roosters were in a rebuilding stage and no club goes through any rebuilding when they were tipped to make the top four, signed the two current Origin players of the time on the post 30th June open market and have a roster that is the envy of most of the clubs in the game. That was simply an excuse to cover for the losses and buy Stuart some time with regards to his future from the Roosters management.

It was a good start for the Bondi boys when Amos Roberts intercepted a Raiders pass and sent Iosia Soliola racing away down the sideline where he was covered up by Clinton Schifcofske and Alan Tongue. The ball was spun wide on the next play with Ryan Cross scoring in the corner. Craig Fitzgibbon was unable to convert with the Roosters leading 4-0.

Veteran Jason Smith inspired Canberra's first try with a great flick pass on the inside with the inform Schifcofske scoring. The Raiders super-boot added the extras for Canberra to lead 6-4 and it was soon extended to 12-4 when Lincoln Withers streaked away to score with Schifcofske again converting.

Jason Croker, another one of Canberra's veterans was on the spot for Canberra's 3rd try when Schifcofske kicked down the short left side with Adrian Purtell putting it on the foot again where Cross made the most elementry of errors with Croker there to pick up the loose ball. Canberra led 18-4 with Schifcofske converting with the score remaining that way until half-time.

The opening stages of the second half was tight until Marshall Chalk showed great strength to score in the corner and Schifcofske's excellent conversion from the sideline pushed Canberra 20 points clear heading into the final 20 minutes.

Smith again showed his footballing class when he put Todd Carney into a gaping hole to score and Schifcofske's conversion made it 30-4 Canberra's way.

Dane Tilse scored his first try in the top grade when he went through some feeble Roosters defence and Schifcofske made it six from six as the Raiders all the sudden shot clear being up 36-4 in a great demolition job.

Finch crossed for the Roosters second try, which Fitzgibbon converted. But any hopes the Roosters had of finishing the match on a positive note was stopped by Adam Mogg or Adam Who by his critics in Sydney when he crossed for the final try of the match. Fittingly the Raiders captain had the final say of the match when he landed his 7th conversion for a haul of 18 points.

Schifcofske on his performance today and his form all season deserves to be the Queensland fullback for the State of Origin decider with Karmichael Hunt and Greg Inglis both out injured. Matt Bowen is dreadfully out of form and has been since his controversial omission from the Test team in May and Billy Slater has played 20 minutes in the last 10 weeks. Schifcofske for a long-time has been one of the most outstanding and consistent players in the game and his leadership this year at Canberra has been absolutely first class. The Queensland selectors will be crazy if they don't select him tomorrow.

Another shining light for Canberra was the performanc of Smith who continues to be a shining light in the game. Smith might be the oldest player in the Premiership this year, taking over the mantle from his brother Darren who retired from NRL football last year but he shows why he is one of the most pure and graceful footballers in the game today and over the last 15 years. Smith was just majestic and controlled the game to a tee where he relies on his subline skills and footballing brain to get him through. In an era where good athletes often shine out, it's good to see the pure footballer come out on top as footballers are more enjoyable to watch than well-trained athletes.

As for the Roosters, they have the bye next week and it couldn't come at a better time for the Bondi club. They could by the end of Round 17 be just four points out of 8th position and they have the team on paper to sneak into the Finals. However, do they have the spirit and desire to be there in September? That's the one thing holding back the Roosters as to whether they are a happy squad or not.

Unfortunately for the Roosters, their two Origin signings in Braith Anasta and Ashley Harrison have been the two worst buys and have not filled the holes that the Roosters wanted them to fill. Maybe the Roosters should take a leaf out of Melbourne's book and develop players from within as they've done with Cooper Cronk emerging as the form halfback in the Telstra Premiership this season, Ryan Hoffman developing into a class forward and Greg Inglis is without doubt the best young sensation in the game today.

If at the start of the season, we would be saying after Round 16 that Canberra defeated the Roosters 42-10 and they would be six points clear of them on the table, people would have said you are mad and a poor judge. Well it's all true and not a dream.

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