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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft

NRL: Sydney Roosters 28-12 South Sydney Rabbitohs – as it happened

James Tedesco
NRL 2020: Sydney Roosters host South Sydney Rabbitohs as play continues in Round 3 of the rugby league season in Australia. Follow our live blog in the build up to kick-off tonight with the latest news, team lists and reaction. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Summary

The oldest rivalry in Australian rugby league had to wait a little longer than usual to be rekindled but when it did the Roosters made up for lost time against the Rabbitohs. The premiers arrived with an 0-2 record but made a mockery of that over the 80 minutes with the returning Boyd Cordner and debutant Josh Morris demonstrating that at full strength Sydney’s Easts remain a force to be reckoned with.

A six-point half-time lead felt unders for the Chooks after they defended with control and attacked with craft, in particular Luke Keary’s kicking game. But the game was won in a blitz after the interval when they crossed twice before the Bunnies had mentally left the sheds.

The Rabbitohs rallied and were the better team for large portions of the second half but this Roosters outfit has shown over a number of years that they are formidable defensively, and even with the fatigue of a first game back in ferociously fast conditions they stood firm.

James Tedesco did James Tedesco things, scoring a beautiful solo try and gaining 295m - almost 100m more than anyone else on the field. Jake Friend led all comers for tackles and his captain’s challenge late in the game was the decisive turning point, especially after he followed it up soon after with his own kick-chase try.

That score showed up Latrell Mitchell, who had a mixed night under the spotlight against his former side. His fast hands in the line helped create his side’s opening try, but he was found wanting positionally and fumbled one bomb.

Stay tuned for more NRL action right here as sport slowly eases its way back into life following the Covid-19 shutdown. Thanks for your company tonight.

Updated

FT: Roosters 28-12 Rabbitohs

The premiers are back.

Boyd Cordner
Boyd Cordner impressed on his return to footy for 2020. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

TRY! Roosters 28-12 Rabbitohs

77 mins: That captain’s challenge has iced this game. The Bunnies make no ground from their own line and the Roosters hold it safely up their jumpers for most of a set before Jake Friend snipes off the back of a ruck and grubbers through to an unguarded in-goal to seal the deal. Latrell Mitchell was busy wrestling off the ball. Hmmm.

Flanagan extends the margin to 16.

74 mins: Captain’s challenge from the Roosters goes Jake Friend’s way! JWH was penalised for losing possession at the ruck but replays indicated it was knocked from his grasp as he was staggering to his feet by the retreating Sironen. That feels like a huge momentum changer. At a stroke the Rabbitohs go from threatening attacking possession to having to find at least ten points in under five minutes from their own line.

73 mins: It’s a disappointing meat and potatoes set from the Bunnies and it ends with a kick gobbled up by Tedesco, scrambling to safety in a forest of legs and boots. Souths compound the situation by conceding a penalty early in Sydney’s set.

71 mins: The Roosters are defending stoutly but they are being asked to do a lot more tackling than they’d like at this late stage in the game. A Souths penalty 20m out hands them a prime attacking opportunity.

69 mins: Some rapid play-the-balls by South Sydney see them drive from one end to the other. Gagai was to the fore stepping in from the right flank with Cook orchestrating matters at the ruck. Once more though they are repelled by a blue wall within inches of the line. The balance of power has shifted in the past 10-15 minutes though with the Bunnies appearing to be coming home the fitter. Can they make it count in time?

65 mins: The fifth handling error of the night from Souths (to Easts four) releases the pressure on the Roosters further. Some party tricks down the left edge resemble a Fiji rugby sevens training drill more than the NRL but it stretches the Rabbitohs’ defence allowing Keary to nail his kick and earn a repeat set with a chase that ends with a tackle in-goal.

64 mins: Both sets of players look weary, especially the Roosters, after that long spell of defending they were forced to do. A solid set of six and kick gives them field possession and invites the Rabbitohs to respond conservatively with ball in hand.

TRY! Roosters 22-12 Rabbitohs

61 mins: The Bunnies feel like they’ve had something like six of the last seven sets, and after huffing and puffing they finally blow the house down, Tom Burgess bulldozing over from close range with three blue jerseys hanging off him. Reynolds slots an easy two. This one’s not quite done yet.

Updated

59 mins: Souths are digging in here. A line break sees Graham flying down the right before Tupou hauls him in. Brett Morris is then alert to slap away a dangerous kick into the right corner. They are a well-oiled defensive machine the premiers.

57 mins: Souths can’t capitalise though and the Roosters clear. A graphic has just popped up showing metres gained - Tedesco is 100m ahead of the pack.

55 mins: The Rabbitohs have their first decent spell of the half, earning a repeat set on the Roosters’ line after a good kick chase forces Manu to adopt a safety-first approach. Before the line drop-out Friend becomes the latest player to walk off in a daze after a clash of heads.

54 mins: Souths’ Bayley Sironen is leaving the field for an HIA. He got his head in an awful position attempting a tackle, but he bounced back up straight away despite what looked an ugly mess. Not long afterwards it’s Liam Knight’s turn to come off for a check after copping a JWH forearm to the mush. The big Rooster is then placed on report for a high shot on Johnston.

Updated

TRY! Roosters 22-6 Rabbitohs

47 mins: Annnnnnd the Roosters score with ease. Keary causes mayhem through the middle and times his offload to perfection to feed Boyd Cordner who hits the line like a wrecking ball at an angle in from the left and he bludgeons his way over. Flanagan adds two. One-way traffic since half-time.

Updated

46 mins: Worse arrives shortly afterwards though when Ethan Lowe loses the ball after been flattened by three Roosters in contact.

Bankwest Stadium, twinned with Barnard Castle?

45 mins: It almost goes from bad to worse for Souths as Friend makes a linebreak with Tedesco on his shoulder. This time the Rabbitohs defence holds firm and the Roosters are forced to kick. Blistering start to the half by the premiers.

TRY! Roosters 16-6 Rabbitohs

42 mins: James Tedesco! How can you defend him in broken play? The ball spills loose as the Roosters attack just over halfway down the left, it’s flicked inside to Tedesco who wriggles free of one tackle then sprints 40m into the right corner, planting the ball over mid-tackle. Too good.

Flanagan drags his conversion attempt wide.

Updated

41 mins: We’re back underway at Bankwest Stadium.

The teams are back out for the second half. Both sides are near enough at 90% completion rates, roughly 50-50 possession, meaning fatigue is inevitable.

The Roosters seemed to have the upper hand for most of a breathless half that contained few breaks or clear scoring opportunities. The Rabbitohs will be delighted to reduce the deficit to just six so close to the hooter against such a formidable defensive unit. Brett Morris will receive plaudits for his chase down of Braidon Burns while Victor Radley’s star continues to rise, he ranks third for metres carried and tackles laid, some of those absolutely terrifying bone rattlers.

HT: Roosters 12-6 Rabbitohs

Rabbitohs in possession as the siren sounds with Reynolds dancing around the ruck but Tedesco is alive to the danger and he smothers the kick, heralding the interval.

Kyle Flanagan
Kyle Flanagan crosses for the second try of the night. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

39 mins: A rare straightforward couple of sets as half-time nears.

TRY! Roosters 12-6 Rabbitohs

36 mins: Eventually the repeat sets towards the end of a breathless half finally count for South Sydney. A couple of forward pile-drivers down the middle create space to exploit down that favoured left edge where Mitchell double-pumps to drag the Roosters a fraction out of position to allow Cameron Murray a smidgen of room and he bullocks his way over the line, grounding the ball - just - at the second attempt. Reynolds converts.

Updated

34 mins: The Rabbitohs are favouring their left wing as the main plan of attack and it gets them good territory for two sets in a row, but it’s the switches right to Gagai that look the likeliest route for a score. A second set ends with the winger almost crossing but a Keary offside earns a third bite of the cherry. That soon becomes a fourth with Ashley Klein getting increasingly frustrated with the Sydney defensive line.

31 mins: An infringement at the ruck gifts the Roosters a repeat set after the restart. They approach the line confidently, but after Tedesco fails with a burst the ball is recycled to the right only to be intercepted by Burns! He dashes 40m before being scragged, throwing the ball left to Johnston but he’s hauled down as well! Incredible scrambling defence from the desperate Roosters chasers, Brett Morris in particular.

TRY! Roosters 12-0 Rabbitohs

28 mins: Tedesco v Mitchell for the first time tonight, and it ends with the Rabbitohs defending hammering his opposite number in the tackle. Not that Tedesco minds at all. Sydney retain possession and two tackles later Kyle Flanagan crosses under the posts after a wonderful end-to-end move that goes through hands down the left before Josh Morris chips through adroitly for the flying No7 to pounce on the ball as it dribbles over the line. Flanagan’s conversion was unmissable.

Updated

26 mins: Make that three stoppages with players taking some deep breaths before the scrum sets after a Keary grubber deflects off a green and red hooped sock and over the sideline.

24 mins: The Bunnies almost profit from a couple of hacks along the turf in broken play but Manu is alive for the Roosters in defence. This is as fast a game of rugby league as you could imagine. There is no pause from ruck to ruck and probably only two genuine stoppages all night so far. There will be some tired bodies out there.

22 mins: Ooooh, the Roosters really should score there. Keary breaks into open field after a lovely offload by Tupou, but he inexplicably doesn’t pass to the bursting Tedesco who was a certain score. Instead he weaves towards the left wing and accepts the tackle. Nothing comes of the resulting field position. Huge let-off for Souths.

Updated

21 mins: Tedesco has been quiet so far but he crosses the line only to be held up. From the next play Reynolds does well to snuff out danger underneath the posts. Easts look stronger and smarter.

19 mins: The Rabbitohs make it within inches of the line after a fifth tackle play that included their longest passing chain of possession of the night. It ended with Graham bulldozing his way with momentum but Josh Morris was too strong one-on-one. The next Roosters set concludes with Latrell Mitchell spilling a routine punt. I’m social media will be fine.

Updated

17 mins: The Roosters have their first decent attack for ten minutes or so but after Friend snipes down the blind side towards the left wing he throws a poor pass in front of Flanagan and the attack peters out.

15 mins: The Rabbitohs go to the air for the first time but Brett Morris is comfortable under the high ball. This is relentless footy with hardly any breaks and a swift turnaround between sets. I wonder if the players are going to burn themselves out? The Roosters don’t make a lot of ground, offering Souths another chance to build, their third or fourth in quick succession, but Gagai spills possession in contact and the threat passes.

12 mins: Souths get to halfway before a penalty gifts them decent attacking territory for the first time tonight. They probe down the left before handing debutant Dargan kicking duties on the last tackle but his grubber is hoovered up by the silky Tedesco and the Roosters regroup.

10 mins: Knock-on against the Roosters as they try to pick their way down the right edge on the second tackle around 20m out. The Rabbitohs need some controlled possession.

9 mins: Keary’s kicking game is on point tonight so far. After the Roosters marched 80m downfield he found a cute space behind the defensive line but in front of fullback Mitchell to allow his chasers to force a line drop-out.

7 mins: The Roosters restart with a solid set, forcing the Rabbitohs to build from their own line. They advance a long way though, helped by a repeat set for a ruck infringement, before a sloppy grubber goes dead and Easts clear their lines.

... and not on Nine.

TRY! Roosters 6-0 Rabbitohs

3 mins: First penalty of the night goes to the Roosters after Knight went in high as the third man on Waerea-Hargreaves in midfield. That leads to the first decent attacking opportunity of the match and the premiers take full advantage. Patient build up for four tackles ends with Luke Keary kicking precisely to the left corner where the leaping Daniel Tupou times his jump to perfection to clutch the mark and land safely over the line with green jerseys hanging off him. The touchline conversion from Kyle Flanagan is good.

Updated

2 mins: Solid, unspectacular opening sets from both sides. I’m following this on C9 where the piped noise does not appear to be part of the broadcast, giving the match that eerie preseason feel.

Peeeeeeeppppp!

Here we go! 112 years since these clubs first went at it, they do battle in perhaps the oddest circumstances yet.

The players are making their way out into the middle of Bankwest Stadium. We’ll be underway shortly.

The Cowboys have sealed the deal 36-6 over the Titans. Looks like another long slog in store for the 0-3 Gold Coast outfit.

Conditions are perfect at the deserted Bankwest Stadium. It’s cool, dry and still in Western Sydney, ideal for such a massive contest.

Bankwest Stadium
Bankwest Stadium will be empty for one of the biggest clashes in rugby league. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

We’re only ten minutes or so away from kick-off, but time to plough through this bit of fun from Gavin Willacy about the history of rugby league broadcasting in the UK.

As a public service, if you’re unfamiliar with Richard Madeley, who is featured in the story above, here’s an insight into his unironic Alan Partridge stylings.

Ah-ha!

The NRL, like sporting competitions around the world, are having to innovate while crowds are unable to attend matches in person. Mike Hytner has peeked behind the curtain to see how matchdays are being made to look as realistic as possible.

Nine’s coverage of tonight’s match very quickly went from a panel introduction to this message from Souths owner Russell Crowe. It felt a bit like rugby league’s version of the Queen’s speech.

Rabbitohs XVII

One late change for Souths with Tom Amone completing the interchange bench in place of Patrick Mago. Plenty of attention on 22-year-old debutant Troy Dargan who partners skipper Adam Reynolds in the halves, not to mention the numero uno.

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Dane Gagai 3. Campbell Graham 4. Braidon Burns 5. Alex Johnston 6. Troy Dargan 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Cameron Murray 13. Liam Knight. INT: 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Ethan Lowe 16. Bayley Sironen 19. Tom Amone

Roosters XVII

For the Roosters, captain Boyd Cordner will make his first appearance of 2020, while Josh Morris will make his club debut at left centre. Only one late change to report with Lindsay Collins and the now benched Isaac Liu trading places.

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 17. Lindsay Collins 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley. INT: 10. Isaac Liu 14. Sam Verrills 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Nat Butcher

The NRL has behaved in a very NRL way en route to resuming the season, and for all its inelegance and brass neck it has worked a charm, as Nick Tedeschi explains.

The league has endured: organisational inertia at NRL HQ; outspoken opposition in the corridors of power; broadcasters who wouldn’t pay; players who baulked at a pay cut; referees who threatened industrial action; players who flouted social distancing rules; anti-vaxxers who had the potential to stop a return; and the typical rugby league bickering that has felled so many in the past. Yet the NRL will on Thursday become the first major Australian sports league to resume since the coronavirus shutdown. And the game is not where it is today because it flowed with the current of the worldwide pandemic; it is where it is today largely, if not solely, due to one man – Peter V’landys.

But the impact of Covid-19 will still be felt on the on-field product, as Larissa O’Connor outlines.

The game will be adjudicated by a single referee for the first time since 2008; an adjustment welcomed by many fans and one that will net savings for the cash-strapped NRL... New to the NRL rule book is the awarding of six additional tackles for ruck infringements. The change was trialled back in 2012 in a high-scoring Indigenous All Stars game, but shelved ever since. For current players, the new law is virtually untested and teams would be well advised to watch the early games this round to gauge how the rule will be enforced, how it may open up attacking opportunities and to what extend it could wear down defending sides, particularly in the latter stages of a game.

There’s some rugby league happening right now, if you’re itching to get stuck in. The Cowboys are turning over the Titans in an all-Queensland affair.

For all the afterglow of the return of live sport, it nearly ended in disaster for Brodie Croft who was on the verge of missing out in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.

The young halfback twice recorded temperatures above the permitted limit of 37.2C when he arrived at Suncorp Stadium, threatening to throw the Broncos’ preparations for the round three game against Parramatta into chaos. Croft was put in a holding room where he waited 15 minutes before taking a third test, which he passed. The NRL’s strict new biosecurity rules require all players to have their temperature taken upon entry; if they fail the test, they will not be allowed to play.

Nick Tedeschi liked what he saw.

It was 67 days since the last NRL match was played. The world has changed due to Covid-19, and so has rugby league. The game looked different, felt different and sounded different. It was no less engaging though. Its essence – brute force the showcasing of speed and skill and athleticism – remained the same.

In case you missed last night’s curtain re-raiser, the Eels thumped the Broncos.

Preamble

Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the NRL’s Friday night blockbuster Sydney derby between Easts (AKA the Roosters) and Souths (AKA the Rabbitohs). We’re underway at Bankwest Stadium around 7.55pm local time.

As I’m sure you’re well aware by now, footy’s back! How are you feeling about it? Let me know on Twitter @JPHowcroft or email: jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com

I thought last night’s restart went as well as could be expected, once Brodie Croft chilled out prematch anyway. I am an advocate for the piped crowd noise. I thought that aspect was delivered very well indeed, and with the long passages where the camera didn’t pan to empty rows of seats you could easily be forgiven for being hoodwinked into thinking it was business as usual.

But clearly this is not business as usual, and not just in the staging of the competition. On the pitch these two heavyweights arrive with plenty of questions to be answered. The Roosters have set the standard over the past two seasons but went winless in their two fixtures before lockdown. The Rabbitohs went one from two but then found themselves at the centre of plenty of unwanted attention during the hiatus with Cody Walker suspended for two matches for an incident that resurfaced from back in December, while Latrell Mitchell reminded the world rugby league players don’t always make the best life choices.

Which is a nice segue into tonight’s match-up, which is of course Mitchell’s first appearance for the Bunnies against the Chooks, the side he left in the offseason following a soap opera of negotiations that ended with the star landing nearby, but crucially in his preferred fullback role. He’s probably the only person in the country pleased that fans are unable to attend tonight’s match.

But there’s plenty more to consider when the longest rivalry in the history of Australian rugby league resumes. The Roosters should be close to full strength with skipper Boyd Cordner making his first start of the campaign, and he will line-up alongside experienced new recruit Josh Morris. They will be looking to avoid becoming the first premiers to go zip-three since 2009, and only the third in the NRL era.

Let’s get it on!

There’ll be plenty of echos around the Bunnymen at a deserted Bankwest Stadium tonight. Boom, and indeed, tish. Bring on the Dancing Horses.

Updated

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