Young five-eighth-seeded Sam Walker played for the Sydney Roosters in their 26-12 win over Manly, the result leaving the Sea Eagles after winning two rounds of the season without a win.
In the early game of Friday night, defending champions Penrith survived a late battle against St George Illawarra to win 20-16 at Kogarah.
At SCG, Walker and James Tedesco both made statements for the Roosters, who led 22-0 at halftime en route to recording their first win of the season.
The Roosters were forced to resist a brutal second half in which Manly had the majority of the ball, while Connor Watson (shoulder) and Sitili Tupouniua (concussion) lost.
Walker made the Roosters’ first attempt as he took the defensive line with confidence, going his way before translating Drew Hutchison.
He almost made another attempt as he stepped in front of the line again and made a flat chip kick, only to have Jason Saab save Manly just for the day.
On another occasion, Walker linked up well with half-partner Luke Keary, went on the line and found his half-bridge and allowed Nat Butcher to cross.
The 19-year-old also had a key moment after the break, predicted a Sea Eagles kick from a scrum and turned early to hit a Sprint Saab on the ball.
Tedesco was also brilliant after being quiet in the Roosters’ first round against Newcastle.
He sent Daniel Tupou for a try, and twice forced line dropouts.
Butcher and Tupouniua Sak tried first half as part of a dominant roosters pack, while Siosiua Taukeiaho totaled 199 yards.
Among the Premier League favorites, the difference in the Huns was clear as they broke the line six times in the first half after failing to score at all last week against the Knights.
They also ran more than double the amount of yards the Sea Eagles had before the break, controlling 65 percent of possession.
Injuries aside, her only other problem could be putting Victor Radley on report for a high shot after she was also penalized for a late hit.
Tom Trbojevic was quiet again for the Sea Eagles as the Roosters kept packing numbers on him in defense, while more stops in play this year seemed to limit his impact on tired defenders.
The fullback bombed the Sea Eagles’ best chance of the first half as he dropped a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber under the post.
Their first attempt came through Karl Lawton from the dummy half, while Cherry-Evans grabbed one late on the backs of Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick.
Panthers down Dragons
Penrith made it two wins in a row by defeating St George Illawarra on the back of a double from Viliame Kikau.
Kikau helped himself to two attempts in the first half at Kogarah Jubilee Stadium, before the Dragons nearly outscored the Panthers, with a late attempt to line up Zac Lomax for a frantic final four minutes.
To celebrate his 100th NRL match, Kikau charged a Ben Hunt kick in the 10th minute to run 40 yards untouched.
That was far too lenient! His shot came in from the right hand side but Mark Kikau managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop.
Both sides enjoyed round-1 victories, but at halftime on a Friday night, the Panthers seemed to be heading for a comfortable victory.
They went on to take a 20-6 lead, in two of their attempts, while Dragons striker Jaydn Su’a was on target for a later tackle on the half from Sean O’Sullivan.
The only highlight for St George Illawarra was 19-year-old backer Tyrell Sloan, who made a great effort as he flew through the air to collect a Hunt Kick in the 23rd minute.
The second half brought some disturbing injury news to both sides.
Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough was helped with an arm injury before Panthers winger Brian To’o left the field with an ankle injury.
Prop James Fisher-Harris did not return after the break due to a head injury.
The Dragons continued to search with a wealth of ball possession and Su’a shot the right edge.
They lost to Lomax and the Sins for an obstruction, but unlike the first half, they did not concede any points while a player was down.
With the Dragons trying to find a way through the Panthers’ defense, Jack Bird was ordered by the field’s independent doctor.
Tariq Sims made his return in the first year of school after playing in the NSW Cup last week, while George Burgess could come under the microscope of the match review committee for late and high contact on Jarome Luai.
Penrith goes to Bathurst next round to take on Newcastle. The Dragons meet local rivals Cronulla in Wollongong.
AAP / ABC
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