Sam Walker’s race against the clock is officially on after the Roosters trounced the injury-hit Sharks to book a date with the Dolphins in next week’s grand final qualifier where their halfback could return from injury.
The Roosters snapped a four-game losing streak thanks to a second-half onslaught as they kicked clear late to win 46-10 in front of almost 40,000 people at Allianz Stadium.
It sets up a week of storylines with Walker hoping to make a stunning return from a syndesmosis injury he suffered against the Dolphins just a few weeks ago.
The Queensland halfback has been running and was seen kicking a soccer ball before Saturday night’s match, although the Roosters have plenty of depth in that position.
A week after he missed a late field goal against Penrith, veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans reminded everyone why he’s been one of the best playmakers of the modern era with a try and three assists.
He laid on the first try of the night for Lindsay Collins and then put on some fancy footwork to score one of his own as the Roosters fired an early warning shot to the Dolphins who will be fresh but have had defensive issues this year.
The Dolphins have only been around for a few years but already have some special memories against the Roosters after they stunned the world to beat them in their first game in 2023.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Sharks were on the back foot from the opening two minutes when superstar halfback Nicho Hynes suffered a head knock that ruled him out of the contest.
The former Dally M Medal winner came off in the second minute when he was trampled by barnstorming back-rower Salesi Foketi.
Hynes failed his head injury assessment, with Niwhai Puru thrust into the contest alongside Braydon Trindall who was in his second game back from a shoulder injury.
Trindall set up two tries with a couple of lovely passes but also gave up two costly seven-tackle sets in the second half with poor kicks that were claimed in goal.
He had the chance to cut the margin to eight points midway through the second half but was denied by a brilliant Billy Smith tackle that dislodged the ball.
Cronulla suffered another blow 20 minutes into the game when the returning Mawene Hiroti limped off with a knee injury after he landed awkwardly while chasing through a kick.
MAGIC MARK
We didn’t get the same spice from Mark Nawaqanitawase and Ronaldo Mulitalo as we did earlier in the season, but we did see one of the sweetest passes of the year as the wingers put on a show.
Nawaqanitawase was kept fairly quiet for the first 50 minutes of the contest but he only needed one play to give his side the boost they needed when the former Wallaby produced a trademark behind the back flick pass.
That sparked some hot potato play that saw the ball go from the right to the middle of the field where Connor Watson danced through the defence to give the Roosters a 14-point lead.
The all-star winger then sealed it with he crossed untouched after some slick passes following a brilliant run from Angus Crichton, before he scored another to bring the crowd to its feet.
NEW YEAR, NEW ME
Things are going to look very different in the Shire next year with a number of long-serving Sharks set to leave.
Cameron McInnes, Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa and Siosifa Talakai are just some of the players moving on from one of the most settled squads in the NRL.
But coach Craig Fitzgibbon has plenty to look forward to with young prop Jesse Colquhoun standing tall on Saturday night, as did veteran forward Addin Fonua-Blake who carried the side with 120 metres in the first half.
They were brave considering what happened in a frantic first half, but questions will remain over whether they have the spine to genuinely challenge for premierships.
Originally published as Nicho Hynes suffers game-ending head knock as Roosters put on a show to set up week of Sam Walker headlines