Live Coverage | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round 22

Successful return for Metcalf in Warriors' big win

Richard Becht & photosport.nz, warriors.kiwi

Luke Metcalf made a successful return from his long injury layoff to help the Warriors to a big 46-10 win over Parramatta Eels in tonight’s Round 22 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup clash at Go Media Stadium.

Sidelined for four months after breaking his right leg in late March, the 25-year-old was heavily involved in a 40-minute stint before making a scheduled exit from the match at halftime.

He and halfback Te Maire Martin created havoc down Parramatta’s right edge as the Warriors bolted to 30-0 lead with five converted tries in the first 31 minutes.

Responding to last Friday night’s shock loss to Western Suburbs Magpies, the Warriors were in a ruthless mood as they stretched the Eels almost every time they were in possession.

Winger Motu Pasikala showed great strength as he wrestled his way over for the opening try in the ninth minute before a Paul Roache bust up the middle created a try for his captain Kalani Going 12 minutes later.

There was a double for second-rower Jacob Laban, one coming as he ran through and shook off multiple defenders, while Roache caught Parramatta out with a try from dummy-half.

The Warriors lapsed just before the break conceding a try, but were back on the scoreboard two minutes into the second half with a Taine Tuaupiki try to restore their 30-point advantage.

The Eels came back with a second try but it would be their last as the Warriors finished off the contest with Pasikala going long range for his second try, followed by Eddie Ieremia-Toeava with his side’s eighth try of the day.

The Warriors’ 12th win of the season bounced them up to 29 points and back into third spot for now.

Western Suburbs Magpies v Sydney Roosters

Roosters with big win in battle of bottom two

Stewart Moses

Game Summary

The Sydney Roosters have moved five points clear of their last-placed opponents, the Western Suburbs Magpies, after recording a much-needed and very impressive 64-6 win at a sunny Lidcombe Oval this afternoon.

Both sides came into this clash down on troops from their previous outings, particularly the Roosters missing Sandon Smith and Suia Wong. But it didn’t bother the visitors as they raced out to a 34-0 lead by halftime and were never headed in the contest.

Having defended an early penalty, the Roosters scored first off the back of their first penalty when they went from one side of the field to other with both halves, Jake Elliott and Hugo Savala, along with fullback Callum Gromek combining to send winger Tyreece Tait over in the northwest corner untouched. It gave the visitors a 4-0 lead after just five minutes of play.

The Roosters absorbed plenty of pressure from the hosts before scoring again, this time a long-range effort with back-rower Salesi Foketi breaking the line from inside his own half before putting his centre Kyron Fekitoa on an uninterrupted run to score behind the posts. Savala had the easiest of conversions to push the Roosters’ lead out to 10 after 19 minutes.

The Roosters scored again soon after off the back of several repeat sets, when Elliott jinked and stepped his way through the heart of the Magpies' defence to score underneath the posts from close range to give the visitors a commanding 16-0 lead after 22 minutes.

To make matters worse for the home side, they conceded another converted try from the ensuing set when Tait scored his second of the afternoon to give the Roosters an imposing 22-0 lead after 24 minutes of play.

Having defended another attacking raid from the Magpies, the Roosters showed some flair to attack from 10 metres out with Fekitoa bursting clear down the left touchline, before passing inside to Elliott who produced an audacious flick pass to Gromek to score behind the posts and further the lead to 28 after 29 minutes.

Off the back of another penalty, the Roosters stretched their lead to 34 just three minutes from the main break when Zach Dockar-Clay scored from close range.

It took 10 minutes of the second half for the Roosters to resume their scoring spree in the 50th minute when a quick play-the-ball enabled Dockar-Clay to burst out of dummy-half before putting Gromek into the clear to score his second try of the afternoon, to bring up 40 unanswered points for the visitors.

The Roosters swept to the right to open the Magpies' left-edge defence when Tait sprinted down the touchline before finding Tyler Moriarty backing up inside to score next to the posts in the 63rd minute, to continue the Roosters' push towards a 50-plus score-line.

The Roosters indeed brought up the half century in fairly soft fashion with a simple one off the ruck try scored by interchange forward Hayden Barton from close range giving the visitors a 52-0 lead.

From the next set more points ensued when a last-tackle kick was allowed to bounce enabling the Roosters to regather and allow Moriarty to score his second try for the day underneath the posts, extending the lead to 58-0 with five minutes remaining.

The home side finally gave their faithful something to cheer about with a 78th-minute try to Cayne Nicholas, converted by Jayden Sullivan.

Talking Points

• This match was the first time the two teams have played one another at Lidcombe Oval in the NSW Cup.
• The Roosters enjoyed a golden period midway through the first half, maintaining possession throughout to score tries in the 16th (Tait), 20th (Elliott) and 23rd minutes (Tait) to turn the game on its head.
• The 40-0 win is the first win at NSW Cup level that the Sydney Roosters have enjoyed over the Western Suburbs Magpies, since their return to the competition. The win also atones for their 44-4 loss to the Magpies just three rounds earlier.
• Sydney Roosters interchange forward Xavier Va’a was ruled out for the remainder of the game after a sickening head clash early in the second half.
• Western Suburbs interchange forward Jordan Miller was placed on report in the 68th minute.

Key Moment

The Roosters produced some stunning plays during their first-half onslaught but none better than the 90-metre effort started by Kyron Fekitoa, who found five-eighth Jake Elliott back inside who then turned the Magpies' cover defence inside-out with an audacious, reverse flick pass to put fullback Callum Gromek away for a brilliant team try.

What's Next?

The Magpies will be looking to remain in touch with the Roosters, given the latter have the bye next weekend, when they travel to Newcastle next Sunday to take on the Knights.

Newtown Jets v South Sydney Rabbitohs

Jets storm in to finals contention

Daneie Geddes

Game Summary

The Newtown Jets have fought their way to a win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in front of a home crowd at Henson Park, with a hard-fought 38-16 result in Round 22.

The Rabbitohs had a fast start and looked like they would do it easy when Leo Te Hau found his way into the corner to open the scoring campaign for South Sydney.

They went back-to-back straight away, with Peter Mamouzelos burrowing his way to the line for a 10-point lead 14 minutes in.

Just when things looked to be running away, some defence from Newtown's Jayden Berrell was just what they needed to shift the momentum, forcing an error with South Sydney coming off their own line.

Liam Ison capitalised on the opportunity with a clever pass out to winger Siteni Taukamo for his second try from just five matches. Chris Vea’ila converted to trail by a 10-6 margin.

The home side continued to hang in and when they got their opportunity, they pounced with a Berrell flick pass to Niwhai Puru, and the Jets took the 12-10 lead with a successful Vea’ila conversion.

Newtown didn't have to wait long to score again, with a Jordan Swann offload to Berrell, who found Kristian Dixon to put them in front 18-10 right on the stroke of halftime.

A set piece from the scrum yielded more results for the Jets less than two minutes into the second half with Taukamo going in for his second try of the match to extend the Jets' lead to 22-10.

Playing with all the momentum, the Jets struck again from in front in the 50th minute with a no-look pass from Liam Ison which led to a Kristian Dixon double.

Ison, fresh off an NRL debut, was all class with his seventh try of the season just minutes later, followed by a Blake Hosking effort for a 38-10 lead.

When it seemed it would be one-way traffic, the Rabbitohs stemmed the tide with Shaquai Mitchell charging his way over the line. Hawkins added the extras to make it a 22-point ball game with only minutes left on the clock.

The Jets closed out their 13th win of the season, 38-16, to keep their finals flame flickering ahead of a huge clash against the North Sydney Bears next week.

Talking Points

• The Rabbitohs have now lost five of their past six matches, but sit five points clear of last place and will be optimistic about avoiding the wooden spoon.
• Newton's Liam Ison, fresh off an NRL debut, was all class for the Jets with his seventh try of the season and having a hand in several others.
• In just two games, the Jets' new winger Kristian Dixon has four tries.

Key Moment

Newtown's Jayden Berrell forced an error from the Rabbitohs just 15 minutes into the first half. This crucial moment provided the momentum the Jets needed to find their winning ways, leading the charge for their first points of the game.

What's Next?

Next week the Jets prepare to go head to head with ladder leaders the North Sydney Bears, while the Rabbitohs head to New Zealand to take on the Warriors.

Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders

North Sydney Bears v St George Illawarra Dragons