NRL Finals Week 2: Roosters Cruise Through, Warriors Upset in Thriller

Edward Briggs

The second week of the NRL finals produced two very different contests. The Sydney Roosters put the Cronulla Sharks to the sword to book their place in the preliminary finals, while Newcastle survived a frantic finish at Eden Park to eliminate the Warriors by just two points. The Roosters now await their preliminary final, while the seventh-placed Knights face Penrith next week.

Sydney Roosters 46–10 Cronulla Sharks

The Sydney Roosters have booked their place in the preliminary final in emphatic fashion, dismantling the Cronulla Sharks 46-10 in front of 39,000 fans at Allianz Stadium.

It could hardly have been a worse opening for Cronulla. Lindsay Collins crossed in just the second minute after the Roosters broke through the middle, before Nicho Hynes was forced from the field for a HIA, which he subsequently failed.

Cronulla had opportunities of their own, but couldn’t turn pressure into points. The Roosters went down the other end and Daniel Tupou exposed a mismatch with Sione Katoa, leaping above the Sharks winger to claim the ball and score.

Cronulla eventually found a response through Katoa, before Ronaldo Mulitalo followed after some clever work from Blayke Brailey created space around the ruck. The Sharks had wrestled their way back into the contest, but Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to take the line on gave the Roosters an 18-10 advantage at half-time.

The Sharks had plenty of attacking ball early in the second half, but their execution repeatedly let them down. Connor Watson extended the Roosters’ lead after Mark Nawaqanitawase kept the ball alive in a superb attacking passage.

From there, the floodgates opened.

Braydon Trindall lost the ball with the try line in sight, while Teig Wilton was denied after being ruled to have made a double movement. Cronulla were running out of answers and the Roosters took full advantage.

Nawaqanitawase crossed for his first, Rob Toia rose above the Sharks defence to score, and Siua Wong combined with Cherry-Evans before Nawaqanitawase chased through Wong’s kick for his second.

Hugo Savala’s conversion made it 46-10, and although both sides continued looking for something late, errors brought the game to its conclusion.

The Roosters now move into week three of the finals, while Cronulla’s season is over.

Newcastle Knights 12–10 New Zealand Warriors

The Newcastle Knights have survived one of the tensest games of the finals series, edging the Warriors 12-10 in front of a record Eden Park crowd of 48,511.

There was little between the teams throughout a scrappy contest, with handling errors repeatedly killing promising attacking movements.

The Warriors struck first in the 14th minute when Leka Halasima ran around Dominic Young before powering through Phoenix Crossland. Taine Tuaupiki converted for a 6-0 lead, although the Warriors had already had one try ruled out when the Bunker determined Francis Manuleleua had knocked the ball on.

Newcastle eventually found a response through Fletcher Sharpe. Bradman Best broke through and got past Jacob Laban before Sharpe finished the movement behind the posts. Sandon Smith converted to level the scores at half-time.

The Knights then took the lead early after the break. Young raced down the right touchline and beat Chanel Harris-Tavita to score, with Smith again converting.

The Warriors had chances to respond, but could not turn their opportunities into points. Halasima appeared to have crossed in the 61st minute, only for the try to be ruled out for obstruction involving Sharpe.

Both sides continued to find holes, with Kurt Capewell, Greg Marzhew and Kalyn Ponga all making linebreaks, but the errors kept coming. By the 65th minute, Newcastle had made 15 errors to the Warriors’ 11.

Halasima eventually got his second try in the 70th minute after going over following contact from Young. Tuaupiki missed the conversion, however, leaving Newcastle clinging to a 12-10 lead. He subsequently left the field for a head injury assessment.

The Warriors had one final chance to force golden point or steal the game. A challenge over a Marzhew strip was unsuccessful, while a late kick chase involving Tyson Frizell and Halasima went to the officials with just 52 seconds remaining. The clock stopped as the decision was reviewed, but no penalty was awarded.

The seventh-placed Knights now face Penrith at Accor Stadium in the preliminary final, while the Warriors’ season comes to an end after a remarkable home campaign.