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Sonny Bill Williams' NRL return lasts 14 minutes, booed onto the field by Raiders fans
Sonny Bill Williams made his NRL return but James Tedesco was the star as the Sydney Roosters marched towards the top four by beating Canberra 18-6 on Saturday night. In the most hyped NRL return in years, Williams played 14 minutes after being booed onto the field by Raiders fans when he entered the field in the second half.
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He was hit hard by Dunamis Lui on his first touch, but still managed to get an offload away for Luke Keary and he finished with four touches in the middle. “The bus ride for the old 35-year-old wasn’t too good. But I loved being back in the game I grew up playing,” said Williams afterwards.
“It was fast, I expected that. I’ve never played in the middle in my whole career. It’s just special to be back playing with the lads.”
The dual-international left the field with eight minutes to play, with some miles in the legs in his first game since last turning out for Toronto Wolfpack in March. While Williams was the focus in his first NRL game in six years, Tedesco was again the standout.
“He’s a marvel,” added Williams. “There has been a lot of talk about me coming back in but for me, it’s about learning how I can play along side Teddy and run off him and feed off him. They are special individuals.”
Check out all the highlights from a top class game of footy! ? #EastsToWin #jmorris300
Watch- https://t.co/Cv3pmbzsXD pic.twitter.com/UKvDltJhvQ
— Sydney Roosters ? (@sydneyroosters) September 5, 2020
The Roosters No1 bagged his first double in almost three months, doing it himself both times in the crucial win. His second try was the most important of the match, taking the Roosters’ lead to 12 midway through the second half and giving them complete control.
On the back of some quick hands from Kyle Flanagan, Tedesco jinked and grubbered – taking a fortunate deflection – before collecting the ball himself and skipping over for his seventh try of the season.
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On a positive night for the two-time defending premiers, Keary and Angus Crichton got through their returns from injury unscathed while Jake Friend sat out the match through concussion. The win momentarily moves the Roosters to third and, given their superior for-and-against, wins in two of their remaining three games would wrap up a top-four spot.
Canberra, meanwhile, were left to rue their missed opportunities, scoring just one try despite 38 play-the-balls inside the Roosters’ 20-metre. Their path to a second successive decider is now far harder.
They will finish the round in fifth, and staring down the barrel of needing to play 22 weeks straight if they want to reach the grand final and lift the premiership. Their biggest weapon Josh Papalii finished the game with an injured shoulder, not returning in the second half.
Tedesco laid the first blow for the Roosters just a week after having a hand in five tries against Brisbane. After an error-riddled start to the game by the Raiders, Tedesco dummied and went himself to force his way through the line in the sixth minute.
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The champion full-back finished the game with 198 metres and a ridiculous 13 tackle busts. The Raiders’ lone try came courtesy of some smart play by John Bateman.
After Jordan Rapana leapt high to bat-back a George Williams kick, Bateman grubbered for himself to score and make it 6-6. But the Roosters regained the lead, when Flanagan put on a pin-point perfect cross-field kick for a jumping Daniel Tupou to score, and they never let it go.
Pure gold box office ? https://t.co/pa9eQdBOzO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 4, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Its a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend om the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside od World Cup years.
5 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
5 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
5 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
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