NRL: Roosters defence stops streak

Aidan Guerra of the Roosters is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images

Roosters 13 Warriors 6
For a match that was a stalemate in wet conditions early on, the action five minutes before halftime and 10 minutes afterwards marked this game.

A Todd Carney field goal took the Roosters seven points clear with four minutes to play - but it was the incidents both sides of halftime that really made the difference.

For starters, there was a unique call to video referee Pat Reynolds to check for a try at both ends in the 44th minute. Roosters wing Joseph Leilua knocked on and Simon Mannering touched down - but Leilua then picked up the loose ball and sprinted 100 metres to touch down.

Rather than being a '12-point try' Reynolds eventually found in the Warriors' favour. But he was not as generous shortly afterwards with a James Maloney bomb retrieved by Krisnan Inu and fed to Maloney on the inside. Reynolds found what seemed a non-existent knock-on in the scramble.

The early second half drama followed the home side breaking a 0-0 deadlock in the 36th minute when lock Aidan Guerra hit close to the line, exposing a fissure in the Warriors ruck defence. That was reinforced by an Anthony Minichiello grubber which found Kiwis centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall on the right edge to establish the 12-0 halftime lead which, in the end, was the winning of the game.

The prospect of the Warriors posting six straight wins and equalling their second longest winning streak in the club's history were snuffed out. They could not produce a line break all match - courtesy of the Roosters' excellent defensive line.

Last week's bye had little impact on the Warriors but they could not capitalise despite having the most of the territory and possession in the first 20 minutes in pouring rain. They had a 100 per cent completion rate during that period - a stark contrast to the 55 per cent overall in the win over the Rabbitohs -but the Roosters defence held.

The Warriors' handling was sublime at times with fullback Kevin Locke and wing Manu Vatuvei showing some deft touches; it often looked more like they were diving for catches in the cricket outfield. Locke had a spill that put his side under pressure five metres from the line early in the second half but a prompt error by the Roosters won him respite.

The Roosters also spilt plenty and that saw them camped in their own 20 metres for the first quarter. Yet they were resolute and able to repel a Warriors side that had already beaten them 24-12 in round five.

Debutant halfback Shaun Johnson and Maloney produced a variety of attacking kick options but no Roosters defensive weakness was exploited. The Roosters had some easy let-offs, like when Feleti Mateo went solo with a chip kick, isolating himself and leaving the defence an easy exit.

Johnson had a sound first outing. He did not look overawed even getting the ball flat-footed and beyond his control on occasion. He slipped through some well-weighted grubbers, hoisted some intelligent bombs to put Minichiello under pressure and chased strongly on defence.

Fellow debutant Steve Rapira ran strongly off the interchange bench until he suffered a wrist injury with nine minutes to go. He looks set to have plenty to offer later in the season.

Kenny-Dowall also left the field with an ankle strain midway through the second half.

The Roosters win means they stay in 13th but move to 10 points. The Warriors stay in sixth on 16 points.

Roosters 13
A. Guerra, S. Kenny-Dowall tries, B. Anasta 2 goals, T. Carney field goal

Warriors 6
S. Mannering try, J. Maloney goal

Halftime: Roosters 12-0