Records have tumbled as the Sydney Roosters demolished the North Queensland Cowboys 82-12 on Thursday night in what Andrew Voss described as a “slaughter”.
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The 82 points were the third-most in history and the most by any team since 1935, while Roosters halfback Sam Walker finished with a personal haul of 36 points.
That was the most by a Roosters player since Dave Brown, who put up 38 and 45 points in two games in 1935.
The extraordinary 70-point margin was also North Queensland’s biggest defeat in history and the most points the club has conceded in a match.
Walker and fullback James Tedesco had a hand in everything during a clinical first half as the Roosters raced out to a huge lead, combining for four tries and four try assists in the opening 40 minutes.
Whether it was due to the five-day turnaround or a hangover game after beating their big brothers Brisbane, the Cowboys lacked the line speed and aggression that was on display in round 21.
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Robbo speaks following huge 70-point win | 03:14
Fresh off one of their best performances of the season, Thursday’s shellacking was safely North Queensland’s worst showing of 2026 – conceding a club record 82 points.
It was a night of lowlights for the Cowboys but Sydney’s 10th try was perhaps the most egregious as Rob Toia scored directly from a scrum without having a hand placed on him.
“I’m sorry but that is awful scrum defence,” Cooper Cronk said in commentary on Fox League.
“When you mark up man to man you know they are going to come back that way so you need to break from the scrum quickly to protect the inside shoulder of the centre.
But Jake Clifford just stood there. He turned inside on Robson. Sam Walker did a really good job to get on the outside and be a decoy but Rob Toia just steamed onto that football.”
Toia scores in ‘terrible defence’ | 00:50
HORROR HALF IN TOWNSVILLE
It’s no surprise that thousands of fans streamed to the exits at halftime as boos rained down on the shellshocked Cowboys.
North Queensland equalled its record for most points conceded in a first half (48) as Sydney strolled in eight converted tries.
The Roosters had almost twice as many runs and almost three times as many metres as their opponents, tearing the Cowboys defence apart with fast play-the-balls and offloads.
Cowboys captain Reuben Cotter revealed coach Todd Payten challenged the players to lift in the second half, only for the opposite to happen.
“Todd just said we had a choice to make, to go out there and show some actions and care for the jersey and not let it get more embarrassing, which it did. There is not much to say really,” Cotter told Channel Nine.
Drinkwater near disaster error | 00:22
RUTHLESS ROOSTERS
Thursday marked the Roosters’ sixth win in a row, North Queensland’s biggest losing margin, and the most points conceded in club history.
Leading by 42 points at the break, some people thought the Roosters would let their foot off the throat in the second stanza, especially when Tedesco was granted a 40-minute earlymark.
That was simply not the case as Sydney ran in another six tries to shatter a number of NRL records.
With a star-studded roster chock full of representative players, the Roosters are hitting their straps at the perfect time.
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Walker MAGIC caps off epic performance | 00:39
SCOTT BEATEN AGAIN
It looks great when he takes them, but Scott Drinkwater’s propensity to go for the intercept instead of making a tackle was brutally exposed.
Sydney’s eight first-half tries came off the back of just six linebreaks and 16 missed tackles, demonstrating the team’s ability to convert its chances.
The Cowboys fullback had a night to forget with a few aspects of his game, but the bare minimum fans expect from players is to put their body on the line in defence.
Chooks’ ‘historical’ first half showing | 03:24
STAT ATTACK (via Fox Lab)
– 82 points is the third highest team score all time – and the most by any team since 1935 (St George 91, Roosters 87 both v Canterbury). 74 is the next highest score.
– 48 first half points from the Roosters is the equal most in Premiership history (Newcastle 48-0 v Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium in 2003)
– The 70 point margin is the equal fourth biggest in Premiership history, Biggest since Cowboys defeated the Tigers 74-0 in 2023. Roosters second biggest win (87-7 v Canterbury in 1935).
– Roosters the first team in Premiership history to score 70+ points three times (Scored 72 v Wests Tigers in 2022).
– 1918 run metres for the Roosters. Their fourth most on record. They made 11 linebreaks to 3.
Fox Lab POTM – Sam Walker’s 36 points is the equal fourth most ever by a player in a Premiership match. Ryan Papenhuyzen scored 36 against the Tigers last season. His 24 first half points is the equal most on record with Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm v Broncos Rd 4, 2021). Only Dave Brown has scored more points in a match for the Roosters. His first career hat-trick and had a hand in four other tries.
– James Tedesco did not return from half time with an ankle injury. He scored two first half tries, the 30th double of his career and set up a further three. He scored three tries against the Knights last week.
– Three tries for Mark Nawaqanitawase. It was his fifth three plus try tally. He has only three try droughts of longer than one game, broken with try tallies of 3,4,3. He now has 40 career tries from his 39 games.
– Hugo Savala scored the second try double of his career.
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