NRL great Billy Slater has described the Roosters’ elimination final win as “one of the greatest victories ever by a Roosters team” after the side was left in chaos during a crazy second half.
Early in the second half with the score 6-6, skipper James Tedesco was sent to the sin bin only moments after Joey Manu left the field with a hamstring injury, while Joseph Suaalii also didn’t return from the sheds due to a concussion.
Tedesco’s absence cost his side six points, however the team charged ahead when he returned to finish 13-12 winners thanks to a Sam Walker field goal.
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Post-game, Slater went on to describe it as an “incredible victory” while Sharks premiership-winner Paul Gallen was scathing of the side’s spine.
”Big games … You get limited opportunities, when those opportunities come you’ve got to take them with both hands and I thought the Sharks had plenty … and come up with two tries, it just wasn’t enough,” he said on Nine’s coverage.
“When the game was on the line, in the back end of the game in the last five minutes there, their No.6, No.7 and No.1 didn’t combine once, not once did they combine.
“That’s probably where I’m most disappointed, they had field position, they had opportunities but they didn’t come together.”
Teddy gets sent as Roosters suffer major blows
Cronulla started strong when Sione Katoa finished off a brilliant Nicho Hynes cut-out pass to give the Sharks a lead inside the first 15 minutes. Braydon Trindall then missed a regulation conversion which in the end proved to be part of the difference.
Hynes took the kicking duties and slotted a penalty goal after Walker was put on report for a high shot with the Sharks leading 8-0 at half-time.
The Roosters then came out of the sheds without Suaalii, who suffered a category-three concussion.
Manu was first to score in the second half but only minutes later he pulled up lame during a run before going off two sets later. Tedesco was sin-binned for a professional foul straight after Manu left to send the Roosters into serious trouble.
Walker pinned for high shot
“It’s chaos on the sidelines,” Slater said.
“There’s two back-rowers in the centres now, you’ve got Angus Crichton on the left-hand side and Siua Wong on the right-hand side, Junior Pauga’s gone onto the right wing, there’s been a whole reshuffle, no fullback.”
A try to Ronaldo Mulitalo came immediately after, with Hynes kicking a penalty goal nine minutes later.
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The six points with Tedesco off the field wasn’t enough, and Siua Wong’s superb try levelled it up in the 67th minute.
Walker kicked a field goal to make it 13-12 before the Sharks had two opportunities to add one point, however Tedesco and Luke Keary charged down both attempts.
Hynes rues missed field goal opportunity
Post-game, Roosters hooker Brandon Smith heaped praise on his club’s inspirational leaders.
“I put the game down to probably Tedesco and Luke Keary, that’s just pure determination to get after those drop kicks. Nicho’s a good drop-goal artist, as well,” he told Nine’s Emma Lawrence.
“That just goes to show who they are in this team, they’re the two main leaders in this team and they came up with the goods.”
It’s not all good news for the Roosters though with Walker on report for the high shot while the halfback also noticeably had concerns with a knee after giving the goal-kicking duties to Billy Smith.
Manu was ruled highly unlikely to play by the Roosters’ medical staff.