Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker has orchestrated a 26-8 defeat of Canterbury that ensures his side will finish the weekend in the top four for the first time since March.
Fetalaiga Pauga was sent off for an ugly high shot on Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey in the last eight minutes and the Roosters were then reduced to 11 men after Walker pulled a professional foul.
But the Roosters’ lead never looked under threat, the side confirming victory at a rainy Central Coast Stadium even without their four State of Origin representatives.
Despite a breakout game from ex-rugby sevens star Jeral Skelton, the Bulldogs struggled for consistent opportunities, in no small part due to their poor ball-handling in the wet.
Across the first 75 minutes of Saturday night’s game, Canterbury enjoyed only two tackles in the Roosters’ 20.
But the Tricolours had no shortage of opportunities, Walker setting up all four tries.
In the first half, he threw the last pass to Dom Young that helped Easts to their first try from a scrum play, then threaded a kick through the line for Nat Butcher.
When Skelton spilt the ball during the first set after halftime, the visitors were in position to extend their lead through when Walker kicked for Terrell May – immense with 213 run metres.
Looking to bounce back from his omission from the NSW side for Origin II, Canterbury’s Matt Burton was a bit player after being shifted to centre as Bronson Xerri’s injury replacement.
He missed a tackle on Joey Manu that allowed the Roosters to march up-field for their fourth try, scored by Blake Steep after yet another pinpoint pass from Walker in the final 15 minutes.
Axed for last week’s game for missing the Roosters’ mid-season review, Brandon Smith kicked a crisp 40/20 that put his side in position for its second try and a 14-4 halftime lead.
The hooker was busy out of dummy-half, running for 77 metres in the first half before having his minutes curtailed in the second 40.
In his first NRL game this year, Bulldogs winger Skelton came up with a contender for tackle of the year, jamming in to absolutely flatten a sore and sorry Pauga in the first half.
He had a hand in both the Dogs’ tries, first tearing away to put Jaeman Salmon over on the right edge, and then dashing away for a length-of-the-field effort.
Pauga looks certain to spend time suspended for the shot that ended Tracey’s night and could be joined on the charge sheet by Walker, who hit Jacob Kiraz with a far milder high shot early on.
In an amusing subplot, referee Grant Atkins needed to stop play in the first half after finding a mobile phone on the turf, presumably left behind by a pitch invader who had rushed the field earlier.