Mark Nawaqanitawase has returned from his whirlwind State of Origin debut to star in the Sydney Roosters' 27-8 defeat of Cronulla and claim bragging rights over frequent tormentor Ronaldo Mulitalo.
Sunday's win at Allianz Stadium lifts the Roosters back into the top four and comes after a rough patch that had yielded three losses from their previous four games.
Five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans paid tribute to the Roosters' representative contingent, who backed up from Wednesday night's Origin II and proved the difference.
"It's not easy (backing up)," the former Maroons captain said.
"Even on the last game of the round, all of that time, you do get that time to recover but you also have time to think about how sore you've become as well."
