Roosters 28 Bulldogs 24
You know what happened the last time the Roosters finished in the bottom four? They won it all the next. Everyone rolled out the near worst-to-first headlines, the comebacks, revival stories. Easy fodder.
Anyone think there's not a chance they will be recycled again? Maybe those NRL captains who pinpointed the Roosters as the team to beat in 2017 after trudging home last year in front of only Newcastle - yes, the Knights - knew better than most.
The Roosters have been talked up as the real deal, showed a semblance of looking the real deal and very well might be the real deal if an unbeaten start the year is any guide. They will win better games and undoubtedly play better, but points are all that matter at this time of year.
Trent Robinson won't care considering where the Roosters were exactly 12 months ago. Stay ahead of the game.
They will face sterner tests than a stoic and spirited Bulldogs, who eventually succumbed 28-24 in a brutal and at times breathtaking contest at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night. But they won't mind right now.
The Roosters lost Kane Evans in the warm-up, had Blake Ferguson punch a wall in the dressing room after exiting with a chest injury while the Bulldogs finished with Josh Jackson on the wing after injuries to outside backs Kerrod Holland (shoulder) and Will Hopoate (head).
But for all the bash and barge, the smallest man on the field shone brightest.
Luke Keary was where the Roosters were last year, down and pretty much out. What a world of difference a change of colours and a short trip across Anzac Parade make.
After whetting the appetite in round one, Keary served the main course in round two. He laid on two of the Roosters' five tries by hand, another by foot and ultimately proved the difference against the behemoth Bulldogs.
He wasn't alone though and had more than a few handy teammates for the supporting cast in a game where Michael Gordon's boot proved the difference after both sides scored five tries apiece.
The Roosters left Evans in the sheds before a ball had even been kicked – the Fiji international withdrawn with a calf complaint after the warm-up – and it could have been argued they left their minds inside too.
Just as Melbourne did to them in the opening round, the Bulldogs had two tries within the first 10 minutes with the helping hand from a couple of fumbling Chooks. Who said Des Hasler's men couldn't score?
While Holland's third-minute try was the free-flowing Bulldogs their fans have been yearning for, it came at a cost. The goalkicker declined to take the conversion attempt with a shoulder injury and trudged off barely five minutes later.
By the time he got back into the sheds his side were eight in front after Shaun Kenny-Dowall's dump out the back in a three-man tackle only surrendered possession and triggered Josh Morris to dart over in the corner.
Upset brewing? Maybe not.
Jake Friend booted the Roosters into the Bulldogs' red zone with a 40-20 and back-to-back sets later Boyd Cordner ran onto a sweet Keary offload to cut the margin to two.
As special as that was, Latrell Mitchell went one better. Hemmed towards the sideline, the 19-year-old prodigy poked the ball into the in-goal for Daniel Tupou to give the Roosters the lead. And still it wasn't Tupou's most impressive try of the night.
That came barely seven minutes later when Keary bombed to the corner and the one-time NSW winger ghosted behind an out-of-position Brenko Lee, shuffled to the flank to accommodate Holland's exit, and crashed over in the corner.
Gordon's late penalty padded the Roosters' buffer to eight points at the break, one the Bulldogs did their best to run down with the result in doubt until the dying moments.
Blake Ferguson profited from a Shaun Kenny-Dowall tap-back which had most thinking the result was beyond doubt shortly after half-time, but the Bulldogs found reserves most they thought they didn't have.
Brett Morris scored when he had no right to. And then James Graham found a hard-running Adam Elliott, who split a shuffling Roosters defensive line.
Mitchell Aubusson's burst looked to have settled it - laid on by Keary - but the Bulldogs bit back. Again. This time Josh Morris dashing over, ultimately in vain.
Sydney Roosters 28 (Daniel Tupou 2, Boyd Cordner, Blake Ferguson, Mitchell Aubusson tries; Michael Gordon 4 goals) defeated Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 (Josh Morris 2, Kerrod Holland, Brett Morris, Adam Elliott tries; Mbye 2 goals) at Allianz Stadium. Referees: Ben Cummins, Chris Sutton.
Originally published on The Sydney Morning Herald as NRL season 2017: Sydney Roosters survive Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs comeback.
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