Wests Tigers have been comprehensively beaten by the Sydney Roosters in their Round 9 match at Allianz Stadium — going down 36-4 on the night.
A hat-trick from Daniel Tupou was the key talking point of the night as the Roosters led from start to finish to end their previous run of four consecutive defeats.
After going close to posting the first points of the match through Mitchell Moses, Wests Tigers quickly found themselves down 4-0 as Tupou tip-toed down the sideline to plant the ball down millimeters from the edge after four minutes of play.
James Maloney was unable to add the extras from the sideline, leaving the score at 4-0.
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After some gritty goal-line defence from both sides, a 40/20 attempt from Robbie Farah after 22 minutes went agonisingly out on the full, and the Roosters soon took full advantage of their strong field position with a try to Sio Suia Taukeiaho — a try made possible following a smart tap back off a kick by Origin hopeful Boyd Cordner.
Cordner was again in the action moments later, this time picking up a good short ball from Mitchell Pearce before crashing over the line after 28 minutes.
Maloney had no problems with the extras, pushing the Roosters’ lead to 16-0.
A third try in the space of 10 minutes for the home side lead 22-0 after Tupou flew highest to snare a cross-field kick from Pearce after 31 minutes, which is how the scoreline would read at the break despite some promising attacks by the visitors.
Wests Tigers would start the second half the better of the two sides and were sensationally denied the first try after the break when Chris Lawrence leapt and wrestled the ball away from Mitchell Aubusson before planting it down. However, it was ruled as a clean take in-goal for Aubusson and the Roosters were able to work it up field from the 20m tap.
An infringement shortly after for offside would see Maloney push the lead out to 24 points, before Michael Jennings put Tupou over for his third try after 63 minutes.
That converted try was quickly converted by Maloney, while his halves counterpart, Mitchell Pearce, continued to stake his claim for an Origin — grubbering a loose ball ahead before narrowly beating Pat Richards to the try-line after 70 minutes.
Maloney’s conversion from that try took the home side’s lead to 36-0.
Desperate not to be held scoreless, Wests Tigers finally got across the try-line in the 76th minute through utility Dene Halatau, who crashed over for his first try since re-joining the Club after a good short ball from Luke Brooks on the right edge.
Richards was unable to add the extras, leaving the score at 36-4, which is how it would read at full-time as the Roosters continued their strong recent form over Wests Tigers.
Jason Taylor’s side will look to bounce back with a win when they take on the Newcastle Knights in their next match on Sunday, May 17 at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle.
NRL FULL TIME — Sydney Roosters 36 (Tupou 3, Taukeiaho, Cordner, Pearce tries; Maloney 6/7 goals) def. Wests Tigers 4 (Halatau tries; Richards 0/1 goals)
