Roosters win in golden point
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The irresistible run of Brad Fittler’s Roosters know no bounds, with yet another thrilling game resulting in yet another positive result. Five days after going the distance with the Warriors, the Roosters were once again forced into golden point, this time securing victory.
With Brett Hodgson and Todd Payten making last-minute returns from injury, the home side opened the scoring in the 5th minute when a neat John Morris grubber found an open Robbie Farah. Farah appeared to be offside but replays were favourable.
The Tigers continued to look impressive in possession, however the Roosters turned the tide quickly when a Iosia Soliola pass set up Amos Roberts in the 13th minute. A simple but effective play led to Roberts second try after 25 minutes. The Six minutes before half time, Braith Anasta’s persistence in kicking to the defensive wing of Benji Marshall paid dividends, with Joel Monaghan juggling a high ball before stepping past a defender and crashing over. While the Tigers were chancing their arm on risky sideways movements, the Roosters completed twenty of twenty-one sets in the first half, despite playing an expansive game themselves.
The match was left on a knife edge at half time when Ben T’eo charged over two minutes before the break, with a penalty goal early in the second half reducing the margin to 16-14.
The next period was dominated by sloppiness of the Tigers and the inability of The Roosters to land the killer blow. A hip injury to Robbie Farah was a catalyst to the Tigers woes, but with the game for the taking, Hodgson delivered a superb round-the-corner pass to John Morris, who sent an open Liam Fulton under the posts with twelve minutes remaining.
The most contentious decision of the match provided the Roosters an opportunity to steal the game. A towering Anasta bomb was safely negotiated by Hodgson, however referee Tony Archer ruled Chris Lawrence had illegally shoved Setimanta Sa. Replays suggested Sa may have in fact provided the push. On the next set, the Roosters spread the ball to the left with Mitch Aubusson sneaking over. A near sideline conversion from Amos Roberts put the Roosters infront. Moments later, Fulton was felled by a Lopini Paea high shot. Marshall nailed the penalty to leave the match locked at 22-22.
Anasta had two opportunities before fulltime to repeat his heroics of Sunday, with two long range field goal attempts falling short. The second - with twenty seconds left - hit the crossbar from 40m out.
Anasta and Amos Roberts both missed field goal shots in the opening minute of golden point, but the Roosters five eighth would eventually have the final say. Anasta faked a kick, stepped past Payten, passed around his back to Roberts, who found Monaghan with a loopy but pinpoint pass. Monaghan used his pace and strength to reach out and score the clincher. The play was risky but it delivered the ultimate dividend. “I couldn’t keep having shots, so that’s why I ran it”, Anasta said.
The win not only puts the Roosters within one point of the top eight, it also keeps the door open for Souths, Gold Coast, the Dragons and Canberra.
Fittler’s record now reads four wins and a draw. “It just feels like were not going to lose”.
The Tigers could have all but clinched their spot in the finals, however they now find themselves in a battle to make September. “Put too much pressure on ourselves with mistakes”, said coach Tim Sheens. “We were strong enough to put ourselves in front. We should have won”
Fittler has almost certainly secured his long term future, with a deal expected to be completed early next week. “”My best job application is these blokes”
The night brought a heavy casualty list, with Soliola the most serious. His season is in extreme doubt a suspected torn patella, the same injury that decimated Antonio Kaufusi’s season. Ashley Harrison took no part in the extra time period, having succumbed to a rib injury. Robbie Farah picked up a hip problem, while Payten struggled in the latter stages with a shoulder concern.
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