Brisbane have put a nail in the coffin of the Sydney Roosters’ slim NRL finals hopes with a comprehensive 32-10 win at the Gabba.
Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan scored a career-first try in his 78th NRL game to get that monkey off his back amid a dominant display by the hosts’ forwards on Thursday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABVOVE: Daniel Tupou sets Roosters’ try-scoring record.
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Roosters winger Daniel Tupou became his club’s highest-ever tryscorer with his 140th career try to go past club legend Anthony Minichiello – who was on hand to watch his record get broken – but it came in the 71st minute when the game was gone.
The Roosters, on 22 competition points and two points outside the top eight with five rounds to play, do not deserve to play finals based on this performance.
Mathematically they are still a chance but their performances remain uneven.
They were clunky in attack, ill-disciplined and missed far too many tackles against the Broncos for a side with finals aspirations.
“We were well beaten. That was disappointing,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
“In these games against the top-four teams, we haven’t been threatening and we haven’t been able to score points.”
The Broncos (34 points) went top of the table, for two days at least before Penrith host Cronulla on Saturday, and appear destined for a top-two position.
“It was a really good win,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.
“That first half I don’t think I’ve seen us play as physical and as controlled.”
Meanwhile, Robinson hailed Tupou (a three-time premiership winner) as one of the greatest wingers of all time after the 32-year-old broke the Sydney Roosters all-time try scoring record.
“He is one of the best Polynesian players to play the game because of his consistency and longevity,” Robinson said of Tupou.
“He has played for Australia, NSW and for Tonga. The guy is an absolute credit to his community and to the Roosters.
“I feel like for us he is one of the best wingers of all time. It is just disappointing tonight (with the loss) but it is never disappointing when you break records.”
Tupou is regarded as one of the greatest modern day aerial threats. He showcased that skill in the 2013 grand final with a classic try and has made a habit of big plays in big games ever since.
His 140th career try came after snaffling a Luke Keary bomb.
“To do it off a kick was the right way to do it,” Robinson said.
Minichiello was there to watch Tupou, as he was the previous week against the Gold Coast Titans in Robina.
“It was great. Mini’ knew Toops was a great chance of scoring,” Robinson said.
Tupou’s achievement was the highlight of an otherwise disappointing display by the Roosters who must win their last five games to play finals in 2023.
“There is always belief. Until someone says there is zero per cent chance … if there is a chance then you attack it,” Robinson said.
The Roosters host Manly at the SCG on Thursday night where they will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their 2013 grand final win over the Sea Eagles.
Robinson said it would be a great occasion but added that “seventeen guys playing footy wins games, not nostalgia on the sidelines”.
“We go home to the SCG in an important reunion for our 2013 team. So we look forward to it but you have to look at (the Broncos loss) and say, ‘What do we need to improve?’ … not just cross your fingers and have a good game next week,” he said.
“The belief in who the players are and our system is there…but we need to make a fist of it week-on-week from here.”
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