The Sydney Roosters were far too good for the St George Illawarra Dragons, stampeding to a massive 42-6 victory in what can only be described as a most dominant display.
Basically, the Roosters were very, very good. The Dragons' second half capitulation was awful. I don't know what more one can say about this match.
We witnessed a semi-competitive first half. I don't know what happened in the second 40 minutes. I will stop short of saying the Dragons players gave up. No one ever wants to use those words to describe a professional football team.
As individuals they didn't give up. However, there can be no doubting that as a group, the Dragons players lost touch with the contest and disappointed badly in the second half of the match.
Once players become isolated in their own thoughts, lose communication with their teammates and start acting as individuals, all is lost.
They were blown off the park by a committed Roosters line-up.
Despite the fact the Roosters dominated both possession and field position, the Dragons showed tremendous resilience in defence to keep the halftime score very respectable, trailing by only 6-14.
The Dragons actually started the second stanza in what appeared to be a positive frame of mind. However, the effort and the self-belief only lasted a few sets of six.
When the Roosters opened the second half scoring in the 48th minute, it led to an onslaught of attacking football that produced further tries in the 51st, 54th and 59th minutes of play; followed by another try in the 73rd minute when Rooster fullback Blake Ferguson put an exclamation point on his team's emphatic victory.
The Roosters have just come through a highly successful period in the club's history having won three consecutive minor premierships from 2013-2015. This year has been very frustrating for them on so many levels. The loss of key players in the off-season, injuries, self-inflicted suspension, topped off by a string of narrow losses, had resulted in them being at the wrong end of the premiership ladder all season. They will not be playing finals football in 2016.
What they have shown us late in the season though is that this downturn in fortunes will be very short lived indeed. Such a positive end to this season will provide great momentum and enthusiasm going into summer training. There is little doubt they will bounce back next year to be one of the better teams in the NRL.
In this victory over the Dragons they showed tremendous attention to detail in defence to completely dominate their rivals right across the park. The only try they conceded in the match came from a speculative cross field kick from Benji Marshall to halves partner Gareth Widdop. Otherwise, their defensive line was never really breached and they were totally without stress in dealing with the Dragons' attacking game.
In attack the Roosters' forward pack completely owned the advantage line and the middle of the field. The Roosters playmakers then went to work to produce some scintillating attacking raids and they completely obliterated the Dragons' defensive line.
It was a brilliant performance from the home side; one which will cause them more than a tinge of frustration and sadness that their season is due to end in a couple of weeks. They are currently going as well, if not better, than several of the teams still in finals contention.
Anyway, it hasn't been their year. I suggest there are plenty of blue skies ahead though.
The Dragons?
Well, I have been defending them pretty stoutly all season in the face of what I've described as very unfair criticism.
It's hard to defend this performance. Their meek demise undid a lot of the good work and improvement they had produced over the past six weeks. It must be terribly disappointing to all concerned.
Their defence gave out terribly. It became a rabble. I humbly suggest they suffered a case of severe case of hopelessness on the back of an attacking display that never looked like producing tries. Once they got 12 points behind it all became too hard for them, they lost confidence and deflated like a pricked balloon.
Take nothing away from the Roosters though. They put the Dragons in that negative state of mind through their own positivity. It was a terrific win.
I know it seems a long way away, but they have great cause to be excited about what next season might bring.
Phil Gould is the Executive General Manager of the Penrith Panthers.
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